Topical Bible: The Resurrection: Denied by the Sadducees

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The concept of resurrection is a central tenet in Christian theology, symbolizing the victory over death and the promise of eternal life. However, during the time of Jesus, the belief in the resurrection was a point of contention among Jewish sects, particularly with the Sadducees, who denied this doctrine.

Sadducees' Beliefs and Influence

The Sadducees were a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, known for their aristocratic status and priestly lineage. They held significant influence in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Unlike the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, angels, and spirits, the Sadducees rejected these doctrines, adhering strictly to the written Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) and dismissing oral traditions and interpretations.

Biblical Account: The Sadducees Challenge Jesus

The Gospels record an encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees, highlighting their denial of the resurrection. In Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, and Luke 20:27-40, the Sadducees approach Jesus with a hypothetical scenario intended to ridicule the concept of resurrection. They present the case of a woman who marries seven brothers in succession, each dying without leaving offspring, and question whose wife she will be in the resurrection.

In response, Jesus rebukes their misunderstanding of the Scriptures and the power of God. He states, "You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven" (Matthew 22:29-30). Jesus further affirms the resurrection by referencing God's declaration to Moses at the burning bush: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Matthew 22:32). He emphasizes that God is "not the God of the dead, but of the living," underscoring the continued existence of the patriarchs and the reality of the resurrection.

Theological Implications

The Sadducees' denial of the resurrection reflects a broader theological debate within Judaism regarding life after death. Their rejection of the resurrection was rooted in their interpretation of the Torah, which they believed did not explicitly teach this doctrine. However, Jesus' response highlights the continuity of God's covenant and the hope of eternal life, which is fulfilled in the resurrection.

The resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming the belief in life beyond the grave and the ultimate redemption of creation. The Sadducees' challenge and Jesus' subsequent teaching serve to clarify and reinforce the doctrine of resurrection, which is further expounded upon in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul elaborates on the significance of the resurrection, stating, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised" (1 Corinthians 15:13), emphasizing its foundational role in the Christian gospel.

Conclusion

The Sadducees' denial of the resurrection and their confrontation with Jesus provide a critical context for understanding the development and affirmation of resurrection theology within early Christianity. Through this encounter, Jesus not only refutes their skepticism but also reveals the transformative power of the resurrection, which lies at the heart of the Christian hope.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 22:23
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 20:27
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 23:8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ's Refutation of the Sadducees, and Affirmation of Catholic ...
... For since the Sadducees indeed denied the resurrection, whilst the Lord affirmed
it; since, too, (in affirming it,) He reproached them as being both ignorant ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xxxvi christs refutation of the.htm

The Jewish Sadducees a Link Between the Pagan Philosophers and the ...
... It is, however, against other Sadducees that we have now to prepare ourselves, but
still ... [7303] For if the resurrection of the flesh be denied, that prime ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter ii the jewish sadducees a.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... in his day - unless heretical sects - neither denied that Resurrection, nor would
they have so argued with the Jewish Patriarch; while the Sadducees no longer ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Sadducees.
... Still, it is not unlikely that the Sadducees went so far, in their opposition to ...
They would hardly have denied Immortality and the Resurrection, if they ...
/.../section 25 the sadducees.htm

The Question as to the Resurrection. Ch. 20:27-40
... He was now attacked by the Sadducees who were ... They denied the immortality of the
soul and believed ... to immortality but specifically to the resurrection of the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/e the question as to.htm

Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus.
... [The disbelief of the Sadducees manifested itself in a triple form, for they denied
the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits (Acts 23:8), but ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cix jewish rulers seek to 2.htm

Additional Evidence Afforded to us in the Acts of the Apostles.
... resurrection which he would not appear to impair, he really confirmed in the opinion
of the Pharisees, since he rejected the views of the Sadducees, who denied ...
/.../chapter xxxix additional evidence afforded to.htm

Whether the Bodies of Women Shall Retain their Own Sex in the ...
... Jesus Himself also, when asked by the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, which
of the seven brothers should have to wife the woman whom all in succession ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 17 whether the bodies of.htm

The General Purport of this Work the Heretics, Marcion, Apelles ...
... 6940] before the appearance of our modern Sadducees, [6941] as ... shall lay down a law
for our own resurrection. ... might deny the flesh of Christ, denied also His ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter i the general purport of.htm

Controversy
... The Sadducees denied the existence of angels, the resurrection of the dead, and
the doctrine of a future life, with its rewards and punishments. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 66 controversy.htm