The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The ... - josephprestonkirk

JAMES H. CHARLESWORTH 149
Evangelist through the Beloved Disciple, since it is probable that he had
been a follower of the Baptizer.
Let me now return to the position I merely intimated has become the
one that now seems most likely—in light of my research and thinking
since 1966. After more than forty years of work devoted to either the
Fourth Gospel or to the Dead Sea Scrolls (usually focusing on the Gospel
or on one scroll without thinking about the other), I am persuaded that,
while nothing can be clearly demonstrated, a likely scenario now looms
in credibility. It should be introduced for reflection. Let me now present
what I am convinced is the best explanation for the pervasive Essene
influences on the Fourth Gospel.
Not all Qumranites died in the attack on their abode in the Judean
wilderness in 68 C.E. Some probably fled southward to Masada and left
some scrolls, which archaeologists have uncovered. Others may have fled
eastward toward the safe Transjordan and others westward, probably to
Jerusalem. Some Qumranites were most likely still alive when the Fourth
Gospel was being written. It seems widely, and wisely, acknowledged
that some Essenes became members of the Palestinian Jesus
Movement. 173
The most striking and impressive parallels between the Dead Sea
Scrolls and the New Testament documents are in those compositions produced
by the second generation of Jesus’ followers. The influence from
the Essenes did not come most powerfully through John the Baptizer or
Jesus, although (as I have shown) the points of contact here are also intermittently
impressive. Paul was not significantly influenced by the
Essenes, but the Pauline School (which produced Ephesians, 2 Cor
6:14–7:1, and other documents) shows signs of Essene ideology and terminology.
Mark is not similar to the Dead Sea Scrolls, but Matthew certainly
contains significant affinities to the Qumran school of scribes. This
observation arouses in the attentive reader thoughts about the school of
Matthew. It is obvious that scholars have been perceiving in the products
of the Pauline School and the Matthean School the most impressive links
between the Essenes and Jesus’ followers. 174 The same conclusion makes
sense for the Fourth Gospel.
173. It is conceivable that none of the Qumranites ever joined the Palestinian Jesus
Movement. That still leaves most of the Essenes unaccounted for, since over 3,700 of
the 4,000 Essenes were living outside of Qumran in ancient Palestine, if Philo and
Josephus can be trusted. Did none of the Essenes join the Palestinian Jesus
Movement? Is that likely when Pharisees are clearly known to have joined it?
174. I have argued that “Essene thought probably had some impact on Jesus and
then Paul, but that the major and clearest influences can be dated to writings that