StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity" is about the most fundamental religious archeological discovery. The scrolls have helped people gain more understanding of the forms of Judaism and Christianity that existed after the second temple period…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98% of users find it useful
Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity"

Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity Introduction The Dead Sea scrolls got discovered on the shores of the Dead Sea from which they acquired their name the Dead Sea scrolls. The discovery of these scrolls got seen as the most fundamental religious archeological discovery. The scrolls have helped people gain more understanding on the forms of Judaism and Christianity that existed after the second temple period. Information on the nature of Judaism religion can be easily accessed with the nature of religion as a monolithic religion put in question. This can be attributed to the content of the scrolls which indicate a religion that was far from being monolithic. This paper seeks to discuss how the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls impacted on people’s understanding of Judaism and Christianity that existed after the second temple period. Impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls The second temple period was the period after the Israelites came from exile in Babylon. After the exile, the temple in Jerusalem got built again to retain the city as a center of religious activities (Peters 43). This led to the period that followed the building of this temple to be referred as the second temple period. Before the Dead Sea scrolls got discovered, information on the nature of Christianity and Judaism in this era was mostly available from the Bible. The scrolls, however, served to confirm some of the information previously available while contrasting some of this information. According to information obtained from the scrolls, the Dead Sea scrolls got written during the period between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE. Most scholars believe that the scriptures got written by the Essenes, a sect in the Jewish community. During the time when this scrolls got written, Judean groups struggled to acquire and sustain both religious and political leadership. The scrolls, therefore, acted as primary sources on how the Jewish related to the outside world during the second temple period. The Jewish religious life, from these scrolls, gets depicted as both diverse and complex. One aspect of these scrolls that make them so fundamental is that most of the Jewish religious practices described in these scrolls, resurface later in Jewish and Christian scriptures. This serves as a proof that the religious activities could have been indeed practiced by the Jews (Peters 45). As pointed earlier, before these scrolls got discovered, second temple Judea got viewed as a monolithic civilization. Earlier scholars always believed that this idea of a monolithic society got uniformly supported by earlier sources. These sources included Josephus Flavius, the New Testament Gospels as well as rabbinic scriptures (Peters 46). However, these scriptures provided a view of diversity in regard to the second temple Judea which can now be identified and supported by the Dead Sea scrolls. The scrolls refer to several Jewish sects such as the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. One purpose served by these scrolls is that they clarify people’s understanding of the Jewish sects. This includes their contrasting world views and practices. However, all the sects in the Jewish community seemed to agree on the centrality of the Bible. The Bible got viewed as the most fundamental religious scripture by all the sects that formed the Jewish community. This was despite the fact that the sects differed on other concepts of sacred literature. Consequently, the non-biblical scriptures indicated varying discrepancies. Each sect interpreted the scriptures with a different approach from the other sects. Despite these differences, each sect respected and followed its interpretation of the scriptures (Peters 48). The Essenes were the strictest of these sects in regard to the observance of the law. This could be partially associated to the aspect that a large group of this sect had retreated to the wilderness. The differing religious scriptures indicate disputes about religious issues such as the temple and priesthood. The Sadducees interpreted the scriptures in a more literal way than the Pharisees. From these scrolls, the Sadducees dominated the temple and the religious rites associated with it. The only precepts recognized by the Sadducees were those directly derived from the Torah. As a result, this sect refuted the concept of immortality of the soul as it did not go in hand with the teachings from the Torah. The sect further did not believe in the existence of angels and were consequently unpopular among the common people. The Pharisees, unlike the Sadducees, were keen in observing both the oral and the written law. The sect was flexible and willing to adapt to varying circumstances in regard to application of the law. The Pharisees believed in life after death. As a result, the sect believed that all the dead will one day resurrect. The Essenes got regarded as a separatist sect. Most of People from this sect retreated to the wilderness of Judea and formed a monastic community (Peters 50). They, however, shared material possessions, got committed to work and observed worship and other religious activities. The sects further differed in their beliefs on the religious calendar. This provided further discrepancies in their religious activities. Another theme found in these scrolls is the theme of apocalypticism. Apocalytpticism in the second temple period formed a remarkable influence on the politics and ethics of the Judaism. Consequently, some scholars view Christianity as a religion that got born from Jewish apocalypticism. Jewish apocalypticism has been argued by some scholars as a result of interactions with Persians. According to the information provided by the scrolls, Hebrew prophecy was one of the fundamental foundations of the Jewish apocalypticism (Peters 53). Jewish apocalypticism points to the final struggle against evil and God’s judgment. This information, though, provided in most of the Old Testament books; provide an insightful understanding to readers on the concept of apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity during the second temple period. The scrolls further address the crisis that led to the Essenes getting segregated from the mainstream Judaism. This segregation gets believed to have taken when the Maccabean princes Jonathan and Simeon took over the office of the high priest. Most of the Essenes could not put up with these two rulers and consequently denounced them. As a way of separating themselves from these perverse men, most of the Essenes retreated to the deserts. Consequently, the sect lost most of its relation with the Jewish community. The Essenes’ calendar got based on the solar system which further indicated the discrepancies in beliefs held by the three main sects of Judaism. The calendar of the Essenes consisted of 364 which was unlike that of the common Jews which was lunar and consisted 365 days. However, it still remains unclear how the sectarian got reconciled. The calendar started on a Wednesday, the day in which it got believed God created the luminaries. All the festivals in this calendar constantly fell into the same day of the week. It is equally worth noting that most of the scriptures in these scrolls that describe the Essenes seek to establish whom the sect believed they were. However, the contents of these scrolls have not always served to benefit Christianity, according to some scholars. In their documentary, the Dead Sea scrolls deception Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh argue that the driving factor why most of the scrolls have been suppressed is the fear by the Vatican that these scrolls may damage Christianity (Peters 56). Some scholars have, however, opposed this notion arguing that the scrolls can best serve to improve understanding of early Christianity. John Allegro at one point wrote to John Strugnell telling him that if the analysis and interpretation of these scrolls continues, there may be no religion such as Christianity in the near future. However, the effect of this analysis and interpretation remains to be realized fully. This illustrates the mixture of reaction that resulted from the discovery of the scrolls. Some scholars continue to hold that these scrolls pose a threat to Christianity. Others believe that the scrolls are fundamental to a better understanding of the religion’s history. While the debate over their importance does not promise to end any time soon, the scrolls can be seen to have had profound importance already to Christianity. One of the importances of these scrolls has been confirmation of the previously available scriptures. Most scholars have in several cases referred to this as the most fundamental impact of these scrolls on Christianity. Conclusion The discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls was one of the most fundamental religious discoveries. Although debate over the scrolls continues to spark varying opinions, the scrolls have played a vital role in relating the previously available information on the second temple period with the new information provided in these scrolls. This information has contrasted with the previous information that depicted Judaism during this period as a monolithic religion. The scrolls divide Judea into three main sects which are the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. Each of these sects differed from the others in most of their religious beliefs and practices. One can conclude, therefore, despite the apparent threat these scrolls may seem to pose to Christianity as a religion, their impact on the religion should not be underestimated. Works Cited Peters, Dorothy M. Noah Traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Conversations and Controversies of Antiquity. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008. Print. Read More
Tags
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Dead Sea Scrolls : Judaism & Christianity Essay”, n.d.)
Dead Sea Scrolls : Judaism & Christianity Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1498417-dead-sea-scrolls-judaism-christianity
(Dead Sea Scrolls : Judaism & Christianity Essay)
Dead Sea Scrolls : Judaism & Christianity Essay. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1498417-dead-sea-scrolls-judaism-christianity.
“Dead Sea Scrolls : Judaism & Christianity Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1498417-dead-sea-scrolls-judaism-christianity.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Dead Sea Scrolls: Judaism and Christianity

War Scroll (1QM)

The following paper examines the War scrolls or the 1QM scrolls found amongst the Qumran scrolls which relates to warfare in Ancient Israel.... The War scrolls, 1QM is made up of 19 columns.... The research examines the major content, history, interpretation and scholarly sources on the scrolls.... The paper focuses more on the interpretation of the Qumran scrolls in ancient Israel as well as the modern Jewish society....
10 Pages (2500 words) Research Paper

Communal Life at Qumran and in the Early Church

These scrolls now coined, The dead sea scrolls, contain a combination of biblical, historical, and societal documents.... he primary controversy surrounding The dead sea scrolls is the question of where they originated from.... De Vaux felt that it was the Essene that wrote the dead sea scrolls and then later hid them in the caves when they felt they were in danger.... He based his findings partly on the information within the dead sea scrolls themselves and partly on archeological conclusions drawn from findings at the Qumran site....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper

Judaism and Islam

As a matter of fact, the Jews take pride that “the oldest known parchments (the dead sea scrolls, produced shortly before the Common Era) are virtually identical to those produced today” (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs).... This paper "judaism and Islam" look into the customs and traditions of judaism and Islam along with the formation of the sacred texts of the two religions.... Among the many existing religions in the world, perhaps there are no other two religions that have been at odds with each other aside from Islam and judaism....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

World Religions: Judaism

This is especially a clear distinction between christianity and Judaism, which seem to have the same roots.... Unlike in christianity where those who practice christianity have a complete access to God without the need of a priest to mediate, Judaism uses a priest as the mediator between God and the ordinary person.... Monotheism One of the most important features of judaism is the fact it is a monotheistic religion.... judaism is the oldest still practiced religion which first introduced the concept of one and only one almighty god....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Description of Judaism

Summary In his preface, Sanders sets forth the chief aims of the book, namely “to argue a case concerning Palestinian Judaism” and “carry out a comparison of Paul and Palestinian Judaism”, while different bodies of literature are dealt with, including the early Rabbinic literature, the dead sea scrolls, apocryphal and pseudepigraphical works, Paul's letters, etc.... He has written several books on christianity and Judaism, with particular interest in the thought of Apostle Paul and its relationship to Judaism....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Jesus as founder of Christianity

That Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah or Christ, is the founder of christianity is held as an unquestionable assumption by many Christians is obvious, but careful scholarship requires that the assumption be qualified, if not refuted.... Identifying a founder of christianity then will require one to determine with which person did the religion originate, who established it, who introduced it as an idea or movement, and who gave it its structure and organisation....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Christianity and Judaism in Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt

The paper "christianity and Judaism in Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt" states that christianity in Ancient Rome and Egypt operated upon the doctrines of the Virgin Birth, Ordination and Salvation.... christianity in both Ancient Rome and Egypt had similarities.... The Egyptians would be more prominent with the doctrine of life in the future, but there would be no such doctrine in judaism.... The severe monotheism of judaism is different from the diminutive characterization of gods within the Egyptian pantheon....
6 Pages (1500 words) Term Paper

In What Ways can Jesus Be Considered the Founder of Christianity

This paper explores the origin of christianity along three axes: Jesus as the founder of christianity; Jesus as the originator of a Jewish Messianic sect that 'posthumously' became christianity; and the apostles as the founder of a Jewish sect that became christianity.... That Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah or Christ, is the founder of christianity is held as an unquestionable assumption by many Christians is obvious, but careful scholarship requires that the assumption be qualified, if not refuted....
8 Pages (2000 words) Literature review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us