The Sadducees were more literalists as it relates to their understanding of the 5 books of Moses.
Okay. That would be the Torah that was available in their time.
That is certainly your understanding and theirs, but there is no way that they could have followed some of the laws without explanation or expansion which is one reson why we understand that the body of oral law was complementary and contemporaneous.
Okay. I understand, and I appreciate that.
Yes. Joshua orally conveyed the written law, to the people. There was an explanation, and putting into meaning. Is this what you refer to as the oral law?
Of course that was centuries ago, but oral law would continue from various, should I say, rabbis, throughout the years down to this day.
In that case, the Mishna is a collection of which oral laws?
Sure -- you can look at scripture and realize that there is no way to understand it without some other text and yet people were able to follow it. You can look at verses like Deut 12:21 which references laws which are not in the written text and see that there were clearly other laws in play.
I understand. The other writings help in understanding other text.
Similar to my view, that the Bible interprets itself, in that one, or more text explains other texts.
At what point then would you say, there would be a completion?
For example, the book of the law was complete, and the king were supposed to read it, understand it, and put it into practice. There was no need for anything else written to support it... at least not that I have seen.. Was there?
Jesus was also able to quote oral law. I can give you loads of examples of that. In fact, what I find amusing is that, given the different sects of Jews, he repeatedly endorses the Pharisees and not the Sadducees, but the Pharisees are the ones who accepted the oral law.
Could you show me which oral law Jesus quoted please. Thanks.
Are you sure Jesus did not engage the Sadducees?
(Matthew 16:1-4)
(Matthew 16:6) . . .Jesus said to them: “Keep your eyes open and watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.. . .
(Matthew 16:11, 12) . . .But watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they grasped that he said to watch out, not for the leaven of bread, but for the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(Matthew 22:34-40)
The Sadducees may not have been as aggressive, and corrupt as the Pharisees, but they were not exempt from Jesus judgments.
Got to go. Be back later.