Scriptures and Sectarianism: Essays on the Dead Sea Scrolls (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament)

The Dead Sea Scrolls include many texts that were produced by a sectarian movement (and also many that were not). The movement had its origin in disputes about the interpretation of the Scriptures, especially the Torah, not in disputes about the priesthood as had earlier been assumed. The definitive break with the rest of Judean society should be dated to the first century BCE rather than to the second. While the Scrolls include few texts that are explicitly historical, they remain a valuable resource for historical reconstruction. John J. Collins illustrates how the worldview of the sect involved a heightened sense of involvement in the heavenly, angelic world, and the hope for an afterlife in communion with the angels. While the ideology of the sect known from the Scrolls is very different from that of early Christianity, the two movements drew on common traditions, especially those found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Cover Preface Table of Contents Acknowledgements Chapter One. Introduction. What Have We Learned from the Dead Sea Scrolls? The origin of the collection The Scrolls and the Bible The phenomenon of re-written scriptures A biblical canon? The Scrolls and Judaism The Scrolls and Christianity Conclusion Part One: Scripture and Interpretation Chapter Two. The Transformation of the Torah in Second Temple Judaism The transformation of Torah Ancestral law in the Hellenistic period Antiochus Epiphanes The Temple Scroll and Jubilees Halakah and Sectarianism Chapter Three. Changing Scripture The case of Deuteronomy The second century BCE Rewritten Scriptures Jubilees The Temple Scroll The question of fraud Chapter Four. Tradition and Innovation in the Dead Sea Scrolls The nature of the Scrolls collection The sectarian ideology Pseudepigrapha in the Scrolls The Torah re-written The sectarian view of revelation The role of the Teacher An oral tradition? A distinctive view of tradition Scripture and interpretation Conclusion Chapter Five. The Interpretation of Genesis in the Dead Sea Scrolls The earliest interpretations Ben Sira Wisdom texts in the Scrolls 4QInstruction The Instruction on the Two Spirits Conclusion Chapter Six. The Interpretation of Psalm 2 The relation between 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 2 in 4Q174 The messianic interpretation of Psalm 2 Psalm 2 in the Pseudepigrapha The Psalms of Solomon The Similitudes of Enoch 4 Ezra 13 The Scrolls The Florilegium again Chapter Seven. The Book of Daniel and the Dead Sea Scrolls Explicit citations Allusions to Daniel in sectarian literature Texts related to Daniel The Prayer of Nabonidus (4QPrNab) The Pseudo-Daniel texts The Aramaic Apocalypse The Four Kingdoms Text Conclusion Part Two: History and Sectarianism Chapter Eight. Historiography in the Dead Sea Scrolls Apocalyptic Historiography The Pesharim Historiographical texts among the Scrolls The so-called “annalistic lists” Conclusion Chapter Nine. Reading for History in the Dead Sea Scrolls The Damascus Document The Hodayot The Pesharim Conclusion Chapter Ten. “Enochic Judaism” and the Sect of the Dead Sea Scrolls The Essenes The Hasidim A split in the emerging movement “The Qumran Community” The Essenes revisited Enochic Judaism and the Scrolls Conclusion Chapter Eleven. Sectarian Consciousness in the Dead Sea Scrolls The yahad Creation and Election 4QInstruction Part Three: The Sectarian Worldview Chapter Twelve. Covenant and Dualism in the Dead Sea Scrolls Covenantal Nomism A sectarian covenant? The Two Spirits Persian dualism The provenance of the Instruction Covenant and dualism Chapter Thirteen. The Angelic Life Angelic afterlife Angelic afterlife in the Scrolls Fellowship with the angels in this life The Yahad The Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifi ce Personal transformation Permanent or temporary transformation Resurrection and transformation Chapter Fourteen. The Essenes and the Afterlife Josephus and Hippolytus Essene eschatology according to Josephus Does Josephus refl ect a Semitic belief? The evidence of the rule books Hippolytus and the Scrolls Conclusion Chapter Fifteen. Prayer and the Meaning of Ritual in the Dead Sea Scrolls The Meaninglessness of Ritual? Prayer in Dead Sea Scrolls Discourse and ritual in covenant renewal Confession and ablution Conclusion Chapter Sixteen. The Eschatologizing of Wisdom in the Dead Sea Scrolls The eschatology of 4QInstruction Engraved is the ordinance An inheritance of glory Wisdom and Eschatology The derivation of eschatological wisdom 4QInstruction and the Dead Sea sect Epilogue Chapter Seventeen. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament. The Case of the Suffering Servant The Essenes and the New Testament A foretaste of Christianity? Debate renewed in the 1990’s The “suffering servant” The servant in the Hodayot The Self-Exaltation Hymn 4Q541 Servant and messiah? The Servant and Jesus A common scripture Bibliography Index of Ancient Names and Sobriquets Index of Modern Authors Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Sources The Dead Sea Scrolls Include Many Texts That Were Produced By A Sectarian Movement (and Also Many That Were Not). The Movement Had Its Origin In Disputes About The Interperation Of The Scriptures, Especially The Torah, Not In Disputes About The Priesthood As Had Earlier Been Assumed. The Definitive Break With The Rest Of Judea Society Should Be Dated To The First Century Bce Rather Than To The Second. John J. Collins Illustrates How The Worldview Of The Sect Involved A Heightened Sense Of Involvement In The Heavenly, Angelic World, And The Hope For An Afterlife In Communion With The Angels. The Essays In This Volume Are Divided Into Three Main Sections, Dealing With Scripture And Interpretation, History And Sectarianism, And Sectarian Worldview. The Opening Essay Provides An Overview Of What We Have Learned From The Scrolls, And The Last Essay Discusses The Relation Of The Scrolls To Early Christianity. Dust Jacket. Introduction : What Have We Learned From The Dead Sea Scrolls? -- The Transformation Of The Torah In Second Temple Judaism -- Changing Scripture -- Tradition And Innovation In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Interpretation Of Genesis In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Interpretation Of Psalm 2 -- The Book Of Daniel And The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Historiography In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Reading For History In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Enochic Judaism And The Sect Of The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Sectarian Consciousness In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- Covenant And Dualism In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Angelic Life -- The Essenes And The Afterlife -- Prayer And The Meaning Of Ritual In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Eschatologizing Of Wisdom In The Dead Sea Scrolls -- The Dead Sea Scrolls And The New Testament : The Case Of The Suffering Servant. John J. Collins. Collection Of Texts Partly Published Previously. Includes Bibliographical References And Index-1 Of 17 Chapters Is Unpublished. "The Dead Sea Scrolls include many texts that were produced by a sectarian movement (and also many that were not). The movement had its origin in disputes about the interperation of the Scriptures, especially the Torah, not in disputes about the priesthood as had earlier been assumed. The definitive break with the rest of Judea society should be dated to the first century BCE rather than to the second. John J. Collins illustrates how the worldview of the sect involved a heightened sense of involvement in the heavenly, angelic world, and the hope for an afterlife in communion with the angels. The essays in this volume are divided into three main sections, dealing with Scripture and Interpretation, History and Sectarianism, and Sectarian Worldview. The opening essay provides an overview of what we have learned from the Scrolls, and the last essay discusses the relation of the Scrolls to early Christianity." Résumé de l'éditeur The Dead Sea Scrolls include many texts that were produced by a sectarian movement (and also many that were not). The movement had its origin in disputes about the interpretation of the Scriptures, especially the Torah, not in disputes about the priesthood as had earlier been assumed. The definitive break with the rest of Judean society should be dated to the first century BCE rather than to the second. John J. Collins illustrates how the worldview of the sect involved a heightened sense of involvement in the heavenly, angelic world, and the hope for an afterlife in communion with the angels. The essays in this volume are divided into three main sections, dealing with Scripture and Interpretation, History and Sectarianism, and Sectarian Worldview. The opening essay provides an overview of what we have learned from the Scrolls, and the last essay discusses the relation of the Scrolls to early Christianity.