Chapter 4.10
ESSENES
Who
were the Essenes? Is there a connection
with John the Baptist who was living in the
desert preaching repentance and baptism? [1]
First Word
Politicians: There was “a
movement” away from the Pharisees “Political Aspirations” and their
teaching which were laden with traditions and additional requirements to the Book of the
Law; and to a lesser degree they were moving away from the Sadducees
as well. You can draw a similar
comparison considering the Catholic Church during the Protestant reformation;
with the Protestants withdrawal and separation over tradition and doctrine.
The Essenes were a Jewish
sect that was partially celibate
living a strict communal life in the desert.
They dedicated themselves to the studying and copying of God’s
word.
Josephus, the Jewish
historian; A.D. 37-98; lived with the Essenes for three years and provides most
of the background information on the sect.
John the baptizer at some point,
most probably also lived among the Essenes; scripture does not indicate one way
or the other.
Corrupt Politicians: The Essenes rejected the Polluted Priesthood in Jerusalem and established a pure and true
community in the desert. They believed that they were the righteous
remnant and sole heirs to God’s covenant. They lived a life of exacting standards of
ritual purity and ethical practice.
The Essenes day
was spent copying hymns, scrolls, prayers, and The “Manual of Discipline” which was about methods and rules for living.
(Method of living and worship; Sounds like
Methodist)
Isaiah’s writings were followed
literally; “Make
straight in the desert a highway for our God.”[2] They
separated themselves awaiting God’s coming in the desert. They were the “Guardians of Mysterious Truths”
that would govern the life of Israel when the Messiah appeared. The name Essene
comes from a Hebrew word that means “pious” or “holy”. The sect did not refer to themselves as
Essenes, but were given that name by outsiders. We really don’t know how they
referred to themselves; there is much debate and speculation.
Not all Essenes
lived a communal desert life, but instead, lived in many cities and mingled
with society at all levels, and were well received by the Pharisees, and Jewish
populace. Their missionary outreach founded
Essene communes in all the villages and small towns of Judea. In Jerusalem that had their own gate called the
“Gate of the
Essenes”. They observed the
Sabbath; Jerusalem was the Holy City; the Temple was their Sanctuary.
Membership: There were some
4,000 plus Essenes in Palestine Syria. Those that joined were required to bring their
assets and share them with the group, divesting themselves of wealth; no one
was considered rich and no one poor.
Formal
Admittance:
There was a one year term for the Novice to manifest the qualities desired such
as; religious purity, a love of virtue , humility and contentment, deeds of
love and charity, frugality and freedom from bondage to material possessions,
then a second year term of testing before their formal admittance. (I don’t think I could ever pass this test)
Work
Ethic:
They observed a strict discipline; they begin their work day before dawn with
prayer, then went to their “Secular jobs” as they were best suited. At noon they washed in cold water and had
prayers and a simple meal, then at evening; bath, prayers, and a simple meal.
There
wages
were held in common possession in a community treasury so that all might
benefit as the need arose. They esteemed
frugality, but took care of the cost of treatment for all their sick and
maintained their aged populace with respect and dignity; they lived in
contentment.
Discipline: All labor was done as unto the Lord. “Love of God, Virtue and Man” was
the motivation to work. You don’t work, you
don’t eat; you would be banished from
the sect, no food stamps for the LAZY. This was a God thing, Communalism would not work in
the USA
Belief can be
summarized by their Monto, Love of God, Love of Virtue, and Love of Men,
they were strictly PACIFIST by nature and
had no weapons of war.
Their
leader
was known only as “The teacher of Righteousness”; we do not know
his name.
FAR OUT; consider this; they had the “War Scroll”
which was plans for The Final Conflict at
the return of the Messiah between “The Sons of Light” and “The Sons of Darkness”. The War Scroll describes an eschatological war
in which God and his angels join forces with the “Sons of Light” to battle against
the “Sons of
Darkness”. This plan was to
be kept secret until the Messiah appeared, and then they would instruct the
people in the “UNDERSTANDING”.[3]
The War Scroll is very similar in “concept” to the
Apostle John’s writing
(Not John the Baptist) of the “REVELATION”; the final war between good and evil. They
documented in detail the last great battle in which the Roman army destroyed
the Jewish state in A.D. 70. They also
had elaborate construction details concerning the Temple in Jerusalem.
New
Testament:
“So far”
there has NOT been any Essene writings found about
Jesus, John the Baptist or any other of the early Christians. They probably possessed NT writings and understanding as
they refer to “Sons
of Light” which is the designation for a Christian.[4] Either that or the Christians took the term
from them; this term is not found anywhere in OT scripture.
They lived the Qumran Valley for some 200 years. When the Roman’s attacked, they hid their
library in various caves where they remained for 2000 years waiting for the
Bedouin youth to chunk a rock inside and give us the greatest manuscript
discovery of our time.
Communalism: Webster:
A system of government in which communes sometimes on an ethnic or
religious basis, have virtual autonomy within a federated state. A small group of people living communally and
sharing in work and earnings. Everyone owns
it all; God is their source.
Communism: The state owns it
all; God has nothing to do with it.
Communalism works only when God is involved. When man puts himself before others, it
fails. The Essenes lived in communalism
for some 200 years. Everything including
their clothes was held in common; they ALL owned it ALL.
Note: The early Christian church was communalistic,
they sold everything they had and brought it to the believing congregation; they
most likely got the idea from the Essenes.
Some people were really not communal material. Ananias and Sapphira sold their land to give the proceeds to
the commune, but lied about how much they sold it for. God struck them dead;
it was not because they did not give all the money, it was because THEY LIED to the Holy Spirit.[5] IT’S IN THE BOOK
Acts 2:42-47 – EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNALISM
42 THEY DEVOTED
THEMSELVES TO THE
APOSTLES' TEACHING and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe,
43 and many wonders and miraculous signs were
done by the apostles.
44 All the believers
WERE TOGETHER AND HAD EVERYTHING IN COMMON.
45 SELLING THEIR POSSESSIONS AND GOODS, they gave to anyone as he had need.
[1] Matthew 3:1-2 – John
lived in the desert preaching repentance
[2] Isaiah 40:3 – Voice of
one crying in the wilderness; make straight in the desert a highway
[3] Daniel 11:33 – They will
have the plan and will teach it -- Daniel 12:9-10 – Close the prophecy up; keep
it secret till the end of time
[4] Luke 16:8 – The sons of
this world are more shrewd than the Sons of Light --
John 12:36 – Sons of Light, believe in the Light
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Believers are Sons of Light
[5] Acts 5:1-10 – Ananias and
Sapphira LIED about the money they gave.
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