Sadducees: Who Are the Sadducees in the Bible? (PLUS VERSES)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

The late Second Temple period (circa 165 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.) was marked by significant upheaval and transformation in Jewish history. 

This period witnessed a series of dramatic events: the temporary rededication of the Jerusalem temple to Olympian Zeus that triggered the Maccabean Revolt; the establishment of an independent Jewish kingdom under the Hasmoneans; and the reign of Herod the Great, who ruled Judea as a client king for Rome from 40 to 4 B.C.

Amidst this turmoil, various Jewish sects and movements emerged, each interpreting Mosaic Law in distinct ways. Among these groups were the Sadducees, a sect known for their unique beliefs and significant influence during the Second Temple period.

While all these groups adhered to Jewish law, their disagreements over interpretation and practice often set them apart, leading to considerable theological and political debates.

In this article, we’ll explore the Sadducees' origins, beliefs, and role in the religious and political landscape of their time. We’ll also delve into the primary sources that provide insights into their lives, examine their interactions with Jesus, and highlight notable figures within this sect. 

By understanding the Sadducees, we can gain a clearer picture of the complexities of Jewish society during one of its most pivotal periods.

For a deeper dive into the historical and mythical layers of the Gospels, consider enrolling in the online course “The Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John” by Dr. Bart D. Ehrman.

In this course, Dr. Ehrman offers a scholarly look at these fundamental texts, revealing the traces of history among the layers of myth. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your understanding of early Christian writings and their historical context.

The Sadducees: What Sources Do We Have?

Our understanding of the Sadducees is limited because they didn’t leave behind their writings. Instead, our knowledge comes from sources that were often hostile toward them. They include:

This inherent bias in the sources complicates our ability to construct an accurate historical picture of the Sadducees. Among the mentioned sources, Josephus provides some of the most detailed accounts, though his Pharisaic background often colors the descriptions.

In his works, such as The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus portrays the Sadducees as aristocratic and conservative, holding significant power in the Temple priesthood but being less popular among the common people. Despite the value of Josephus' accounts, his negative portrayal necessitates a cautious approach to his descriptions.

The Sadducees in the Bible are primarily mentioned in the New Testament Gospels. Unfortunately, they are also depicted as opponents of Jesus, challenging his teachings and authority. For instance, Sadducees have debates with Jesus, particularly regarding the resurrection. We’ll see why in a later part of this article. 

Various passages, such as Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27, record these interactions. However, the New Testament's perspective is influenced by the early Christian community's conflicts with the Sadducees, affecting the objectivity of these accounts.

Rabbinic literature, including the Mishnah and Talmud, mentions the Sadducees sporadically and usually in a confrontational context. The Sadducees are often depicted in debates with the Pharisees (Perushim) and occasionally with a group called the Boethusians (Baitosim), who are sometimes associated with or considered a subset of the Sadducees.

Lester L. Grabbe, in An Introduction to Second Temple Judaism, encapsulates the challenge historians face: 

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“The Sadducees have been everyone's whipping boy. No Jewish group today claims to be heirs of the Sadducees... There are a few passing statements in the NT (generally hostile), as well as a few brief references in Josephus (also not usually complimentary), and in a few rabbinic passages a group called the Saddugim are found in debate with the Perusim. The Perushim are also found in debate with the Boethusians (Baitosim), who have also often been identified or associated with the Sadducees. At best, the information is very meager, and most of the sources are hostile. This means that any historical reconstruction must be considered very uncertain.”

Given the paucity and partiality of the sources, reconstructing a reliable history of the Sadducees is fraught with challenges. Any historical analysis must be approached with caution.

However, before we delve deeper into their beliefs and practices, here is a table depicting New Testament verses where Sadducees are mentioned: 

This table highlights the contentious relationship between the Sadducees and early Christians as recorded in the New Testament, further illustrating the challenges in obtaining an unbiased understanding.

Now, let's roll up our sleeves, grab our historical magnifying glasses, and dive into the world of the Sadducees to uncover who they were and what they believed in!

Who Were the Sadducees?: Beliefs and Practices

The Sadducees were members of the priestly class and the aristocracy, comprising the wealthy elite of Judean society, particularly the influential families of Jerusalem. As Bart D. Ehrman notes in The New Testament: A Historical Introduction:

“During Jesus’ day, the Sadducees were the real power players in Palestine. They appear to have been, by and large, members of the Jewish aristocracy in Jerusalem who were closely connected with the Jewish priesthood in charge of the Temple cult.”

This connection to the Temple granted them significant religious authority and political influence.

Moreover, the Sadducees' primary concern was maintaining the “status quo.” They sought to preserve political and social stability to protect their economic interests and elite status. This conservative approach extended to their interactions with foreign rulers; they favored cooperation with the Romans to ensure their position of power remained unchallenged.

Their political conservatism was matched by a religious conservatism that emphasized strict adherence to the written Torah. 

Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees rejected the concept of oral law, which allowed for new interpretations and adaptations of the written scriptures. They adhered strictly to the Torah’s texts and dismissed any traditions not explicitly grounded in these writings.

This conservative stance manifested in several key theological positions. For example, the Sadducees denied the concept of bodily resurrection, a belief strongly advocated by the Pharisees. Acts 23:8 summarizes this view: “The Sadducees say there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit.”

Since angels do appear in the Pentateuch (e.g. Genesis 19:1; Exodus 23:30), it’s possible, as Everett Ferguson notes, that Sadducees dismissed the elaborate angelology and demonology that developed after the composition of the Pentateuch. After all, their focus was on the plain meaning of the Pentateuch while eschewing later interpretative traditions. 

Moreover, they rejected the concept of fate or divine predestination. They believed in human free will and individual responsibility for actions, contrasting with the Pharisees, who acknowledged a balance between divine providence and free will.

The Sadducees also held a particular view on Temple worship and purity laws. As priests, they were deeply involved in the Temple's sacrificial system and rituals. They prioritized the Temple's central role in Jewish worship and saw themselves as the custodians of its practices and traditions.

However, with the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., the Sadducees faced a significant loss. Jewish worship, previously centered around sacrifices in the Temple, shifted to synagogues, where prayer, hymn singing, and the study of the Law and the prophets under learned teachers became the new focuses.

In other words, the Sadducees, who had based their authority on roles as Temple priests, lost their influential positions. This shift marked the end of their characterization as a distinct group, as the Pharisaic traditions that adapted to the synagogue model came to dominate Jewish religious life.

To make it easier to understand the complex world of 1st-century Judaism, here is a table illustrating key differences between the Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. 

Having explored who the Sadducees were and what they believed, let's now dive into their tumultuous relationship with Jesus. If you're expecting a tale of friendship and mutual admiration, well, you might want to grab some popcorn — because this is more of a dramatic showdown than a buddy comedy.

Jesus and the Sadducees in the Bible: Points of Conflict

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus frequently quotes the law and juxtaposes his interpretations against the Pharisees and Sadducees. In Matthew, for instance, Jesus warns his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (16:6). 

In his Commentary on Matthew, Richard T. France points out that Jesus’ warning is presumably to be understood as a follow-up to the encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees in vv. 1-4. He notes: “Leaven here, in contrast to 13:33, is a symbol for the pervasiveness of something bad, as it is also in 1 Cor 5:6-8, where the imagery derives from the removal of leaven from the house to prepare for the Passover season.”

However, the most famous encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees is recorded in Mark 12:18-27. In this passage, the Sadducees, who deny any form of afterlife, pose a hypothetical question to Jesus about a woman who marries seven brothers in succession, each dying without leaving children. 

They ask Jesus whose wife she will be in the resurrection. Jesus responds by explaining that when people rise from the dead, they are “like angels in heaven,” thus indicating that earthly marital status is irrelevant in the afterlife.

In his study A Marginal Jew, John P. Meier comments on this encounter, stating:

“I maintain that, when the arguments from discontinuity are joined to the arguments from coherence, the most probable conclusion is that the debate with the Sadducees over the resurrection in Mark 12:18-27 does reflect an actual incident in the ministry of the historical Jesus that took place, naturally enough, in Jerusalem... Whether Jesus engaged in any other debates with the Sadducees we cannot say.”

Despite the uncertainty about additional debates, this particular exchange highlights the sharp theological divergence between Jesus and the Sadducees. Moreover, Jesus probably based his teachings on the resurrection primarily on his authority. 

As Meier notes: “We have here the peremptory, authoritative, ‘it-is-so-because-I-say-it-is-so’ style that is typical of the charismatic leader.” It isn’t surprising, therefore, that the Sadducees found this Galilean teacher difficult to tolerate. 

Furthermore, as an apocalyptic Jew with a message that strongly criticized the religious elite, including the Sadducees who managed the Temple, Jesus encountered significant resistance.

The episode known as the "cleansing of the Temple," recorded in all four Gospels, vividly reflects Jesus' view of the Temple authorities. He overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out those selling animals for sacrifice, condemning the commercialization of sacred space.

This act was more than a protest against corruption. To quote a great scholar Ed P. Sanders, this episode represented an “enacted parable,” symbolizing Jesus' belief in the imminent coming of Judgment Day when the Son of Man would destroy those opposed to God and establish His kingdom. 

The Sadducees, being staunch defenders of the Temple and its sacrificial system, found Jesus' actions and teachings particularly threatening.

Contrary to the common assumption that Jesus' legal disputes with the Pharisees led to his execution, many scholars now recognize the crucial role the Sadducees played in his arrest and trial. As the real power players in Judea, the Sadducees — particularly the chief priests — were alarmed by Jesus' disruptive potential during the politically sensitive Passover festival. 

Jesus' public display in the Temple and his apocalyptic message could have incited unrest among the gathered pilgrims. To prevent a potential uprising, the Sadducees decided to remove Jesus by handing him over to the Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate, who had little tolerance for troublemakers threatening public order.

The relationship between Jesus and the Sadducees was thus characterized by profound theological and political conflict. Jesus challenged their authority and interpretations of the law, while the Sadducees perceived him as a direct threat to their control over the Temple and their collaboration with the Roman rulers. 

Famous Sadducees in the Bible: A Brief Overview

Even though there are no Sadducees today, their role during the Second Temple Period was significant, and some individuals were particularly influential. Among them, two notable figures stand out.

Caiaphas

One of the most notable Sadducees during the time of Jesus was Joseph Caiaphas, commonly known simply as Caiaphas. He served as the high priest of the Jerusalem Temple from around 18 to 36 C.E., during the governorship of Pontius Pilate.

Caiaphas was a central figure in the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. As a high priest, he was involved in the Sanhedrin's trial of Jesus and played a significant role in orchestrating Jesus' arrest and delivery to the Roman authorities. 

Most of my Christian friends see him, first and foremost, as a villain in the story of Jesus’ life and death. However, as a historian, I must warn against bias and anachronism. In The Historical Jesus, Helen Bond reminds us that there is no reason to assign particularly cynical motives to Caiaphas and his chief priestly advisers. 

She notes: “The maintenance of law and order, while good for Rome, was also good for the Jewish people. Realistically, the pursuance of a generally acquiescent policy towards Rome was the only way to survive — both for the priests and the people.”

In other words, Caiaphas’ collaboration with Roman authorities highlights the Sadducees' pragmatic approach to maintaining their power and influence. To learn more about this enigmatic figure, I recommend Helen Bond’s excellent study Caiaphas: Friend of Rome and Judge of Jesus?. 

Ananus ben Ananus (Annas)

Another prominent Sadducee was Ananus ben Ananus, also known as Annas. He served as high priest before Caiaphas, from 6 to 15 C.E., and continued to wield considerable influence even after his official term ended.

Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas and part of a powerful priestly family that dominated the high priesthood during the first century. 

In the New Testament, Annas is mentioned in the context of Jesus' arrest and trial. Although Caiaphas was the acting high priest, according to the Gospel of John (18:12-13), Jesus was first brought to Annas, potentially indicating his enduring authority and influence. 

Some have argued against the historicity of this episode, based on the fact that Annas retired more than 10 years before Jesus’ arrest. However, other scholars seem to think otherwise. 

In his Commentary on John, Craig S. Keener, for instance, asserts: 

"John’s report about Annas may well reflect historical tradition; it is independent from the Synoptics and not derived from John’s theology. John has no specific reason to preserve the names of high priests,196 but if he would preserve any, Caiaphas, who actually was a high priest at the time of the hearing, would make the most sense... Because Jewish law mandated the high priesthood for life, many Jews may have still considered Annas the appropriate official to decide important cases like this one.”

Furthermore, Annas played a role in the early persecution of Christians, as seen in Acts (4:5-7), where he is involved in the trial of the apostles Peter and John. 

These two figures, Caiaphas and Annas, exemplify the significant role the Sadducees played in the religious and political landscape of Judea during the time of Jesus and the early Christian movement.

Their actions and decisions were pivotal in shaping the course of events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus and the subsequent spread of Christianity.

Summing up

The Sadducees, despite their eventual disappearance from history, played a crucial role during the Second Temple period. Their influence extended beyond the religious realm, deeply impacting the political and social structures of Judean society.

Their pragmatic approach to cooperating with Roman authorities ensured their continued dominance until the Temple's destruction in 70 C.E. effectively ended their authority.

Throughout their interactions with Jesus, the Sadducees were in direct conflict with his teachings and actions. Their staunch adherence to the written Torah, rejection of the resurrection, and political conservatism put them at odds with Jesus' apocalyptic message and his critique of the Temple establishment.

In understanding the Sadducees, we gain valuable insights into the complexities of Jewish society during one of its most pivotal periods. Their story, though often overshadowed by other groups, is a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of Second Temple Judaism.

Finally, as we reflect on the fall of the Sadducees and the rise of new Jewish traditions post-Temple, it’s worth noting that history has a way of humbling even the mightiest. After all, the most powerful groups can end up as just a footnote — or, in the Sadducees' case, a cautionary tale about the dangers of resisting change.