Dead Sea Scrolls

[Salvatore Gonzales]

I'm looking for others who have studied all known
DSSs. I'm wondering how they influenced you, which
were your favorite, etc.

I liked "The Messianic Rule" and "The War Scroll."

I'm also interested in discussing "Yeshua, son
of Padiyah."

Thanks!

 

[koilias]

The Scrolls are a window into the first century. We have the documents themselves and no scribal hand between their interment until today has existed, which means we're reading the real thing (unlike all other documents from the time which were transcribed through numerous editors)--a true gift from HaShem, as study into the scrolls is revealing much about how first century Jews thought, especially the Essenes. The Scrolls were mainly written by a radical branch of the Essene sectarians.

I think the DSS are invaluable in understanding the opponents of Paul, which were conservative Jews very much influenced by the Essenes. These Essene-like Jews existed in many communities throughout the Diaspora. The Essenes believed one was righteous if and only if one adhered to their view of correct Halakhic purity. They called their Halakhic purity-doctrine the "Works of the Law". They got their name "Essene" from the Hebrew for "those who work Torah": "O'sim haTorah." Greeks could not really pronounce "O'sim" correctly, so they called them "Essene".

Notice how Paul always combats the doctrine "Works of the Law" in his letters. He is NOT combatting the Torah wholesale! HE IS ONLY ATTACKING THE ESSENE HALAKHA!! He is not attacking the Rabbinic halakhic approach to Torah, in fact, he is upholding it! Barukh HaShem for giving us the DSS so we can now understand the context of his letters!

With Paul the Law IS ALWAYS GOOD, "The works of Torah", however, is always bad.

 

[Salvatore Gonzales]

Koilias,

I just re-read Paul a few weeks ago and he really reassured me.
His letters did a wonderful job of calling wandering Churches
back to the path. I'm concerned to see emerging doctrines
that really seem to deny many basic concepts of the Bible.
The Christian Church seems headed into yet another major schism.

Ever notice how many Churches seem to ignore Paul
and his writings altogether?

My readings of the DSS seemed to show that there were
some different viewpoints on the Messiah and the final
battle. They were also very strict when it came to
behavior --when you messed up they kicked you out
for a few days, or permanently!

 

[israelthebride]

We have a Study web site with a page one can seek "Answers" to several questions.

Dead Sea Scrolls being one of them.

http://www.israelthebride.org/answers.htm

Please come and seek "Answers for your questions.
Love, RICOEL

 

[Linda8]

Notice how Paul always combats the doctrine "Works of the Law" in his letters. He is NOT combatting the Torah wholesale! HE IS ONLY ATTACKING THE ESSENE HALAKHA!! He is not attacking the Rabbinic halakhic approach to Torah, in fact, he is upholding it! Barukh HaShem for giving us the DSS so we can now understand the context of his letters!

.

Does Rabbinic halakhic approach enable avoiding anger at a human Messiah

regarding his forgiveness of sins by words?

I believe the law does not allow a Jew like Yeshua to forgive sins.

Only G-d can forgive sins because even Moshe had to sacrifice to cleanse his sins but Yeshua was forgiving sins of others by word of mouth (wow!).

That was an area not allowed by Rabbinic halakha.
What does the Oral tradition say about that?

 

[Henaynei]

Does Rabbinic halakhic approach enable avoiding anger at a human Messiah

regarding his forgiveness of sins by words?

I believe the law does not allow a Jew like Yeshua to forgive sins.

Only G-d can forgive sins because even Moshe had to sacrifice to cleanse his sins but Yeshua was forgiving sins of others by word of mouth (wow!).

That was an area not allowed by Rabbinic halakha.
What does the Oral tradition say about that?

When Yeshua forgave those sins the rabbis saw that as gross blasphemy BECAUSE only G-d can forgive sins.

 

[Salvatore Gonzales]

Only G-d can forgive sins because even Moshe had to sacrifice to cleanse his sins but Yeshua was forgiving sins of others by word of mouth (wow!).

Yes, the power of the Word. I seem to recall a rabbi
who said something to the effect 'If you have faith
and tell the mountain to move, it will move.' Of course,
then there was the other who mediated too long, came
out spouting fire, and was told to go back for a while
and get his head on straight. Sorry I don't know exactly
where these examples are in the Talmud anthoology!

 

[koilias]

Yes, the power of the Word. I seem to recall a rabbi
who said something to the effect 'If you have faith
and tell the mountain to move, it will move.' Of course,
then there was the other who mediated too long, came
out spouting fire, and was told to go back for a while
and get his head on straight. Sorry I don't know exactly
where these examples are in the Talmud anthoology!

It's along these lines that the Rabbis criticized Yeshua. Yeshua was a radical, and that's why I follow him. He was one of these fire-spouting Hasidim.

When Yeshua said "So that you know that the son of man has power even to forgive sins, take up your mat, etc..." He meant son of man as in "ben-adam".

In other words, "So that you know that a human being has power to forgive sins, etc..."

Everyone was amazed, because HaShem did everything Yeshua requested, both healing the man and forgiving the man's sins! What Yeshua was doing was proving what kind of divine and intimate relationship mankind could have with HaShem!

This is more radical than even Christians dare to think.