Pharisaism, Its Aim and Its Method

"Pharisaism, Its Aim and Its Method" by R. Travers Herford is a serious book from the early 1900s that wants to explain what the Pharisees really believed and did. Rather than just seeing them as enemies of early Christians, the author tries to understand their religious ideas. He thinks Pharisaism is still important because it helped shape Judaism. The book starts by explaining that it will show the Pharisees' beliefs from their own point of view, instead of the usual Christian one. The author insists it's vital to see the Pharisees as real people with true beliefs, not just as fakes. Then, the book looks at the history of Pharisaism, from its beginnings to its effect on Judaism, including how they studied the Torah and created synagogues. By laying this groundwork, the author is gearing up to dig further into what the Pharisees believed, so that we can understand how the New Testament viewed them.