| − | The '''Sadducees''' were a political Jewish group that sided with the ruling party, most notably Rome at the time of [[Jesus]]. They were unpopular with the masses as a result, and their adversaries the [[Pharisees]] eventually became the Jewish leaders instead. Made up mostly of aristocrats, they had a vested interest in the status quo, and rejected all religious writings except the Torah. They denied the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul and the existence of angels (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8). They rejected the oral traditions followed by the [[Pharisees]]. | + | The '''Sadducees''' were a political Jewish group that sided with the ruling party, most notably Rome at the time of [[Jesus]]. They were unpopular with the masses as a result, and their adversaries the [[Pharisees]] eventually became the Jewish leaders instead. Made up mostly of aristocrats, they had a vested interest in the status quo, and rejected all religious writings except the first five books of the [[Bible]] (commonly called the [[Torah]]). They denied the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul and the existence of angels (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8). They rejected the oral traditions followed by the [[Pharisees]]. |
| | The influence of the Sadducees disappeared after the first Jewish revolt against Rome and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1985, Pg. 1483</ref> | | The influence of the Sadducees disappeared after the first Jewish revolt against Rome and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.<ref>NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1985, Pg. 1483</ref> |
| − | The main written authorities for the teaching of the Sadducees are the New Testament and the works of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. According to the former, the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the body, and did not believe in angels or spirits (Mt 22:23; Acts 23:8). More can be learned from Josephus, but his evidence is to be received with caution, as he was a Pharisee and, moreover, had the idea that the Sadducees were to be paralleled with the Epicureans. The Talmud is late; before even the Mishna was committed to writing (circa 200 AD) the Sadducees had ceased to exist; before the Gemara was completed (circa 700 AD) every valid tradition of their opinions must have vanished. Further, the Talmud is Pharisaic. The early church fathers - Origen, Hippolytus, Epiphanius and Jerome - have derived their information from late Pharisaic sources. | + | The main written authorities for the teaching of the Sadducees are the New Testament and the works of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. According to the former, the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the body, and did not believe in angels or spirits (Mt 22:23; Acts 23:8). More can be learned from Josephus, but his evidence is to be received with caution, as he was a Pharisee and, moreover, had the idea that the Sadducees were to be paralleled with the Epicureans. The Talmud is late; before even the [[Mishnah|Mishna]] was committed to writing (circa 200 AD) the Sadducees had ceased to exist; before the Gemara was completed (circa 700 AD) every valid tradition of their opinions must have vanished. Further, the Talmud is Pharisaic. The early church fathers - Origen, Hippolytus, Epiphanius and Jerome - have derived their information from late Pharisaic sources. |