The Dead Sea Scrolls-Your opinions on them......

Having the DSS say something about Jesus being an Essene is speculation beyond the scope of the actual manuscripts.

The Essenes were known before the DSS were found and it is debateable that the DSS were actually Essene documents, although they are the most likely candidates.

The manuscripts themselves are pivotal for textual criticism of the OT being our oldest surviving OT manuscripts. Comparisons to the Masoretic texts and the Greek LXX help improve our confidence in the accuracy reproducing the original autographs.

 

I've seen some of the scrolls, in the "Shrine of the Book" museum in Jerusalem. I've also been to the caves where the scrolls were discovered, at Qumran near the Dead Sea.

As to their historical or theological significance? I'm not qualified to assess either of those aspects.

 

The scholarly consensus on the DSS is that they represent the library of a group of Essenes (a "minority party" who had heavy influence from the book of Enoch and other first temple traditions) who had broken off from the Jerusalem establishment and formed their own community. They encompass a wide variety of text types, some of which are definitely sectarian and others which are not.

Other opinions have been given regarding the DSS community. Lawrence Schiffman thinks they were the product of a Sadducee community. Norman Golb thinks the community was a military fortress. Gabriele Bocaccinni thinks they represent a Zadokite party which had previously severed ties with the Essenes. Some have even gone as far as to say that the scrolls speak of Jesus and John the Baptist, but that is far-fetched.

So how do the DSS help US? They give us a snapshot of Jewish thinking from right around the time of Jesus. We need to keep in mind that the Essenes were critical of the Jerusalem priesthood - thus the opinions espoused in the sectarian documents do not represent the "norm" of second temple Judaism - but the background they give us is invaluable. Things like "how did Jews view the law?", "how was righteousness merited?", etc.

 

I have had the opportunty to study the Dead Sea Scrolls in Bible College this year, and from what I have seen it is reasonable to accept them as a true and accurate account and that they are genuine.

Bear in mind that some differnet religious groups of today have an agenda and use whatever they can find to try and appear that it backs up their claims. Look for example at the number of cults that misinterpret the KJV, although the Jehovahs Witness have their own translation, they cannot attack the KJV because it was used prior to their translation by members of the 144 000, yet they openly misinterpret it.

I dont believe that Jesus was an Essene, although I think there is a case to be made that John the Baptist had some contact with that group, the have in common that they were outside of the Temple and rejected the Temple system. Yet it is to long a bow to draw to say that he was an Essene.

 

The Dead Sea Scrolls are an interesting archaeological find. But regardless of what is contained in the scrolls, it has no bearing whatsoever on the preserved words of God that we have today.

The words of God have never been lost--not in the sands of Egypt, not in a false religious monastery, not in the Vatican library, not in caves in Qumran.

The preserved words of God have always been in use among Bible believing Christians throughout history, and today those words are properly translated into English in the KJV.

Why search for something that hasn't been lost?

 

Alrighty then, I am actually impressed.

It took Seven Posts for a serious inquiry about the historical validity of the DSS to become used as a soapbox for extra-biblical *word starting with 'h' I won't use cause it will get edited* regarding the King James Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

Lets try to do better next time shall we, I am sure we can make it post 2 or 3

So what about the Folks before the KJV was completed? Did they need to search for something that was lost? Did they have any reason to be actively engaged in ensuring the accuracy of the translations they used? Or were the Words of God preserved in the Gutenberg Bible, or perhaps it was the Geneva, or maybe Tyndale's print. Different translations and versions are simply a result of the fact the the scriptures were inspired by God in the original languages and must be carefully translated, and cared for by those who desire to have the truth. The KJV is one good example of why that is important, along with a few others.