{ "id": "dict_005042", "term": "Sadducees", "slug": "sadducees", "letter": "S", "entry_type": "people_group", "entry_family": "historical_person_place", "tier": 2, "aliases": [], "short_definition": "Sadducees are a priestly and aristocratic Jewish group tied strongly to the temple establishment.", "simple_one_line": "Sadducees are a priestly and aristocratic Jewish group tied strongly to the temple establishment.", "tooltip_text": "Sadducees: a priestly and aristocratic Jewish group tied strongly to the temple establish...", "lede_intro": "Sadducees are a priestly and aristocratic Jewish group tied strongly to the temple establishment. The group's significance comes into focus when its identity, period, and relation to Israel, the church, or later Jewish-Christian interpretation are carefully specified.", "at_a_glance_definition": "Sadducees are the priestly-aristocratic Jewish group tied to the temple and known for denying the resurrection.", "at_a_glance_key_points": [ "They were closely associated with the Jerusalem establishment and priestly power.", "The Gospels and Acts highlight their rejection of resurrection and spirits.", "Their influence was tied strongly to the temple order that ended in AD 70." ], "description_academic_short": "Sadducees are the priestly-aristocratic Jewish group tied to the temple and known for denying the resurrection. The Sadducees are important because their denial of resurrection places them at odds with a major biblical hope and with the heart of apostolic proclamation.", "description_academic_full": "Sadducees are the priestly-aristocratic Jewish group tied to the temple and known for denying the resurrection. The Sadducees confront Jesus over resurrection and are prominent among those opposing apostolic preaching in Acts. Their doctrinal differences from the Pharisees provide important background for several New Testament scenes. Historically, the Sadducees were associated with the temple elite and with aristocratic interests in Jerusalem under late Second Temple conditions. Much of what we know about them comes through opponents or external observers. The Sadducees are important because their denial of resurrection places them at odds with a major biblical hope and with the heart of apostolic proclamation. Their role also exposes how institutional power can harden against truth.", "background_biblical_context": "The Sadducees confront Jesus over resurrection and are prominent among those opposing apostolic preaching in Acts. Their doctrinal differences from the Pharisees provide important background for several New Testament scenes.", "background_historical_context": "Historically, the Sadducees were associated with the temple elite and with aristocratic interests in Jerusalem under late Second Temple conditions. Much of what we know about them comes through opponents or external observers.", "background_jewish_ancient_context": "The Sadducees help explain debates over resurrection, angels, scriptural interpretation, and power structures around the temple.", "key_texts_primary": [ "Matthew 22:23-33 - Sadducees challenge Jesus on the resurrection.", "Acts 4:1-3 - Sadducees oppose apostolic preaching about Jesus' resurrection.", "Acts 23:6-8 - The Sadducees are distinguished from the Pharisees on resurrection and spirits." ], "key_texts_secondary": [ "Mark 12:18-27 - Jesus answers Sadducean denial of resurrection.", "Acts 5:17-18 - Sadducean jealousy contributes to apostolic arrest.", "Acts 23:6-8 - Luke explicitly contrasts Sadducean and Pharisaic doctrinal positions.", "Luke 20:27-40 - Luke's parallel highlights the same Sadducean challenge on resurrection." ], "original_language_note": null, "original_language_terms": [], "theological_significance": "The Sadducees are important because their denial of resurrection places them at odds with a major biblical hope and with the heart of apostolic proclamation. Their role also exposes how institutional power can harden against truth.", "philosophical_explanation": null, "interpretive_cautions": "Do not collapse Sadducees into a timeless stereotype or assume every reference uses the group in the same way. Ask who is in view, when they appear, and how Scripture or later history uses the group within the storyline.", "major_views_note": null, "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry touches resurrection, temple theology, authority, and the conflict between revealed truth and religious power.", "practical_significance": "The Sadducees remind readers that privileged religious status can coexist with doctrinal error and resistance to God's saving work.", "related_entries": [ "Pharisees", "Sanhedrin", "temple", "Resurrection" ], "see_also": [ "scribes", "Apostles", "Second Temple Judaism" ], "meta_description": "Sadducees are the priestly-aristocratic Jewish group tied to the temple and known for denying the resurrection. The Sadducees are important because their…", "jsonld_description": "Sadducees are the priestly-aristocratic Jewish group tied to the temple and known for denying the resurrection. 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