What distinguishes the Sadducees from other Jewish groups of the time?

The Sadducees are primarily distinguished by their denial of resurrection and spirits, which sets them apart from other Jewish groups, such as the Pharisees, who strongly believed in the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels and spirits. The Sadducees adhered strictly to the written Torah and rejected interpretations not found in these texts, leading them to deny concepts that were not explicitly stated in the scriptures they accepted.

In contrast, the other options reflect beliefs and practices that are characteristic of different Jewish groups. For example, the belief in oral tradition is fundamentally tied to the Pharisees, who emphasized interpretations of the Torah that had been passed down orally. Acceptance of the entire Old Testament is more representative of the broader Jewish beliefs during that time and does not specifically identify the Sadducees, who only recognized the Torah. Furthermore, a focus on community service is a value generally shared across many groups and does not serve as a defining characteristic of the Sadducees. Thus, the Sadducees' unique stance on resurrection and spiritual matters is what truly sets them apart from their contemporaries.