Antigonus Socchæus (I)

I. ANTIGONUS SOCCHÆUS, Sadoc’s Master, who was head of the Sadducees. Antigonus taught, that a pure and disinterested worship should be paid to God. Be not like slaves, said he to his Disciples, let not the view of rewards only be the motive of your obedience; obey without interest, without the hope of receiving any fruit from your labours. Let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Sadoc his Disciple not being able to reconcile himself to such a disinterested spirituality, interpreted his Master’s maxim in a quite opposite meaning. He concluded from it, that there were no rewards or punishments to be expected in another life; and that it was necessary to do good and to avoid evil in this, without any motives of hope or fear. This, say the Jews, was the original of the Sect of the Sadducees. Antigonus was a great Master and Teacher of the Jewish Law, and succeeded Simon the Just in this employment, who was High Priest from the year of the World 3702. to 3711. before J. C. 209. before the vulgar Æra 213.

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