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The Sadducees

Sadducees traced their lineage to Zadok, the high priest under King David. They acquired

wealth and were politically and religiously conservative. To secure their inherited status, they

cooperated with Roman rulers.

Sadducees were associated with the priesthood, presided over Temple activities, and remained

close to the Torah.

The New Testament and Josephus (Jewish historian of the time) explain Sadducees did not

believe in resurrection.

“The Sadducees came upon them, annoyed because they were teaching the people and

proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:1-2).

“The doctrine of the Sadducees is this: That souls die with the bodies” (Antiquities 18.1.4).

The Pharisees

The Pharisees were pious and sought to democratize religion. For them, the family table was

the table of the Lord. They wanted to consecrate everyday life and specified in detail how to

love God.

Pharisees set clear guidelines for behavior on the Sabbath but were accused of being legalistic.

They were associated with legalism and hypocrisy (Mt. 23), but this negative portrayal is

exaggerated. Pharisees allowed for oral interpretation of the Torah to provide flexibility for

changing circumstances.

Pharisees undermined the Sadducees’ authority by relativizing the importance of the Temple

and its priests. Once Romans destroyed the Temple, Pharisees took over Judaism since priests

were out of business.

Unlike Sadducees, Pharisees neither inherited status nor earned a living from their religious life.

They earned their living from manual labor (Paul of Tarsus was a Pharisee and tentmaker).

Similar to early Christian belief, Pharisees believed in resurrection. Christians and Pharisees

also recruited from the same population. This competition may explain their negative image in

the New Testament.

The Essenes

The Essenes lived in communities apart from cities to avoid moral corruption.

Essenes were dedicated to living as pure a Jewish life as possible. Some were celibate, they

rejected riches, and had all things in common.

The Zealots

Zealots believed Israel’s problems were a result of Roman occupation. With the elimination of

Roman rule, God’s rule could be established. Zealots used guerrilla tactics to attack the

Romans.