Which description best characterizes the Sadducees?

• A. A priestly aristocratic group that accepted only the written Torah and collaborated with Romans.
• B. A popular healing cult devoted to temple priests.
• C. A Samaritan faction opposing the temple in Jerusalem.
• D. A military order formed during the Maccabean revolt.

Answer: (A)

Understanding who the Sadducees were in the Second Temple period helps explain why this description fits best. They were a priestly aristocracy centered in the Jerusalem temple, holding elite status within the priestly ranks. They insisted on the written Torah as the sole authoritative Scripture and did not accept the oral traditions that the Pharisees emphasized. This stance, combined with their political and social role in temple life, often aligned them with Roman authority to maintain order and preserve their leadership. Because of these features, the description of a priestly aristocratic group that accepted only the written Torah and collaborated with Romans accurately captures their identity.

The other options don’t align with who the Sadducees were: they were not described as a popular healing cult devoted to temple priests, they were not a Samaritan faction opposing the Jerusalem temple, and they were not a military order formed during the Maccabean revolt.