Jesus, the Sadducees and Qumran

Abstract

JESUS, THE SADDUCEES AND QUMRAN 1 Mark xii. 18-27 gives the second of four temple 'debates' between Jesus and certain opponents or inquirers. 2 It is a pronouncement story in which attention is focused upon Jesus' twofold answer to the Sadducean denial of a resurrection. 3 The challenge takes the form of a resurrection riddle, a game not unknown among the rabbis. 4 The argument, which presents the idea of resurrection as an absurdity, doubtless was effective against the common view of resurrection life, that is, as an extension of the ' good life' of this age. 5 By asserting a fundamental difference in sexual relationships in the coming age Jesus dismisses their immediate question as irrelevant. 6 Turning to the basic issue, he appeals to Moses to show 'that the dead are raised'. Jesus' argument is one from inference and proceeds from several assumptions common to him and his opponents: Moses called God the God of Abraham; Abraham was dead; God is not the God of the dead. Therefore, Jesus concludes, Abraham's resurrection must be certain. Traditionally, the argument has been construed to teach primarily the immortality of the soul. That is, the 'soul' of the patriarch was still living; since the body is important to human