In the theological schools of Judea the word of God had been set aside for human speculations; it was robbed of its power by the interpretations and traditions of the rabbis. 65 Self-aggrandizement, love of domination, jealous exclusiveness, bigotry and contemptuous pride, were the ruling principles and motives of these teachers.

I Judæas teologiske skoler var Guds ord blevet tilsidesat til fordel for menneskelige teorier. Det var blevet berøvet sin kraft ved rabbinernes fortolkninger og traditioner. Selvforherligelse, herskesyge, skinsyg tilbagetrukkenhed fra andre, fanatisme og hånligt hovmod var de fremherskende principper og motiver for disse lærere.