Expert: LEBoyd - 8/15/2007

Question
QUESTION: what were the requiremwnts for becomming a parasee

ANSWER: Bob,

We don't have the actual requirements for a Pharisee.  However, we know what their outward actions were and who some Pharisees were.  Based on that, it is clear that someone who was a Pharisee was extremely knowledgeable about the Old Testament Law and following all of these Laws.  They also were so afraid breaking the Law, that they created additional laws so as to stay far away from breaking the Old Law.

One of the most famous Pharisee was the Apostle Paul, who was known as Saul when he was a Pharisee.

Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: was Paul ever married and was being married a requirement for becoming a pharisee /

Answer
Bob,

Considering everything we have, it appears Paul was not married.  The following Scripture infers this:
1 Cor 7:1-7
7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

Likewise, it does not appear that you must or must not be married to be a Pharisee.