Ben Wilson

So it's unclear exactly what the Sadducees believed in terms of eschatology and the afterlife. But they did not believe in a resurrection the way the Pharisees did. And there's a political component to this. So here's what N.T. Wright says. The reason why Jewish aristocrats rejected resurrection might actually have less to do with theology than with sociology.

So it's unclear exactly what the Sadducees believed in terms of eschatology and the afterlife. But they did not believe in a resurrection the way the Pharisees did. And there's a political component to this. So here's what N.T. Wright says. The reason why Jewish aristocrats rejected resurrection might actually have less to do with theology than with sociology.

The real problem was that resurrection was from the beginning a revolutionary doctrine. It implied a reordering of power. a radical overhaul of the existing hierarchies of authority. For Daniel 12, resurrection belief went with dogged resistance and martyrdom. For Isaiah and Ezekiel, it was about Yahweh restoring the fortunes of his people.

The real problem was that resurrection was from the beginning a revolutionary doctrine. It implied a reordering of power. a radical overhaul of the existing hierarchies of authority. For Daniel 12, resurrection belief went with dogged resistance and martyrdom. For Isaiah and Ezekiel, it was about Yahweh restoring the fortunes of his people.

It had to do with the coming new age, when the life-giving God would act once more to turn everything upside down, or perhaps, as some might have said, the right way up. It was the sort of belief that encouraged young hotheads to attack Roman symbols placed on the temple, and that, indeed, led the first-century Jews into the most disastrous war they had experienced.

It had to do with the coming new age, when the life-giving God would act once more to turn everything upside down, or perhaps, as some might have said, the right way up. It was the sort of belief that encouraged young hotheads to attack Roman symbols placed on the temple, and that, indeed, led the first-century Jews into the most disastrous war they had experienced.

Thus, for those on top of the social pile, whether in Jerusalem or in Corinth, resurrection beliefs might be seen to threaten their established position.

Thus, for those on top of the social pile, whether in Jerusalem or in Corinth, resurrection beliefs might be seen to threaten their established position.

People who believe that their God is about to make a new world and that those who die in loyalty to him will rise again and share gloriously in the rule of that world are far more likely to lose respect for a wealthy aristocracy than people who think that this life, this world, and this age are the only ones that will ever be. Okay. So that's interesting, right?

People who believe that their God is about to make a new world and that those who die in loyalty to him will rise again and share gloriously in the rule of that world are far more likely to lose respect for a wealthy aristocracy than people who think that this life, this world, and this age are the only ones that will ever be. Okay. So that's interesting, right?

The chief priests, the Sadducees, they're the leading aristocrats. And so they have no problem saying, yeah, like this life is all there is. And so look, we must be blessed because we have it good in this life. We're wealthy, we're respected, we have the good life.

The chief priests, the Sadducees, they're the leading aristocrats. And so they have no problem saying, yeah, like this life is all there is. And so look, we must be blessed because we have it good in this life. We're wealthy, we're respected, we have the good life.

Whereas the Pharisees, who were not, you know, they weren't peasants, they weren't the lowest classes, but they were not in favor politically the same way that the Sadducees were. And so they and the Christians have more incentive to believe in a resurrection because it's their way of saying, yeah, well, that doesn't matter.

Whereas the Pharisees, who were not, you know, they weren't peasants, they weren't the lowest classes, but they were not in favor politically the same way that the Sadducees were. And so they and the Christians have more incentive to believe in a resurrection because it's their way of saying, yeah, well, that doesn't matter.

If we're in God's favor, then we're going to have it better than you in the resurrection. So I thought that was very interesting that there is that dichotomy. And I also found it very interesting. I didn't know that there was this disagreement that many Jews did not believe in any sort of afterlife.

If we're in God's favor, then we're going to have it better than you in the resurrection. So I thought that was very interesting that there is that dichotomy. And I also found it very interesting. I didn't know that there was this disagreement that many Jews did not believe in any sort of afterlife.

And certainly even up to the day, there's not the same emphasis on the afterlife that there is among Christians. Okay. One other note is how do we know that Jesus was real at all? You know, there are some people who tried to argue for a while that there was no historical Jesus, that this was all an invention of Paul.

And certainly even up to the day, there's not the same emphasis on the afterlife that there is among Christians. Okay. One other note is how do we know that Jesus was real at all? You know, there are some people who tried to argue for a while that there was no historical Jesus, that this was all an invention of Paul.

That theory has fallen out of favor and is not well regarded by mainstream historians at this point. But, well, how do we know then? One of the key pieces of evidence is a passage from Josephus, who was a well-regarded Jewish historian. This is what N.T. Wright says about it.

That theory has fallen out of favor and is not well regarded by mainstream historians at this point. But, well, how do we know then? One of the key pieces of evidence is a passage from Josephus, who was a well-regarded Jewish historian. This is what N.T. Wright says about it.