Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Heard, Christopher" <Christopher.Heard AT pepperdine.edu>]

To add to Peter's point, it's not just the NT, it's also Josephus who  
testifies to the continuing distinction and influence of the  
Sadducees in first-century CE Judea. Moreover, the Hasmoneans most  
definitely did not "succeed[] in uprooting Greek culture from the  
hearts of the Jewish people." Josephus, the NT, and Philo Judaeus  
testify amply (but non-uniquely) to this point.

On Aug 17, 2005, at 4:14 PM, Peter Kirk wrote:
> his statement surprises me, because the New Testament among other
> documents bears witness to the continuation of the Sadducees as a
> powerful force in the 1st century CE. Indeed Acts 4:17 tells us  
> that the
> High Priest himself was one of the Sadducees. And Acts 23:8 tells us
> that the Sadducees denied the resurrection, angels and spirits. How  
> does
> this tally with this picture of the Sadducees submitting themselves to
> quite different teachings 200 years earlier?

--
R. Christopher Heard
Assistant Professor of Religion
Seaver Fellow in Religion
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California 90263-4352
Professional Web Page: http://faculty.pepperdine.edu/cheard
Internet Resource Index: http://www.iTanakh.org
Personal Web Page: http://www.heardworld.com