This is a continuation of a series of articles on a new video, entitled as above, which has recently appeared on the market, challenging earlier date projections and interpretations of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Just a little background follows in case you missed last months article: The Dead Sea Scrolls were found 1947 - 1950 in the nearby caves at Qumran, Israel, an ancient Essene community, now in ruins. The original scrolls were dated by theological scholars back to 150 to 100 BC. which is now in contention. A Dr. Thiering has asserted that the contents of the scrolls suggests that the actual writing occurred from approximately 60 BC. to 70 AD., the time of the early Christian Church and Christ.Further, Dr. Thiering and other theologians have recently developed and applied a new technique for interpreting historical documents of the time to both the scrolls and New Testament, giving an entirely different interpretation than presently held. The new technique simply interprets a document from the mind set and language meaning of the applicable historical period and from the socio-cultural and political perspective of that time. In the case of the scrolls and New Testament, when a Hellenistic world view and mind set is applied: Jesus Christ becomes the "Wicked Priest" ( so called by his enemies) while John the Baptist, the guru he left, is the "Teacher of Righteousness". The scrolls specifically explain how Christ acquired this name.
Christ objected to the forgiveness of sins in exchange for money, common practice in his time. He also claimed that anyone, including himself, could become a high priest, the "Light'. But John the Baptist already claimed to be the light because of his priestly birth. It was John who stood in front of the Menorah that stood for the temple, giving substance to the claim that he was the light. Jesus was not of a priestly birth, but declared that he was the "Light of the World". He wore the white vestments of a high priest. He claimed that the Hebrew priesthood was unnecessary and that every person was a "priest" in the eyes of God. Thus, this act of defiance gave him the name of the "Wicked Priest".
Stories in the New Testament, like the Dead Sea Scrolls, come to us in a first century world view where the earth is flat with heaven above. the New Testament, the "wicked" refers to Christ, while the "righteous" refers to John the Baptist. Jesus told and taught his disciples the "truth" which was put in parables for those not yet ready for such knowledge. Actually, what he was drawing reference to was the "detailed" history of his time which is easily understood using the new interpretation technique. For example, what is meant by "It is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle that a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Well, in Christ's time, a monk was referred to as a "camel" and the Kingdom of Heaven was a direct reference to Qumran. The parable was merely stating that a monk had graduated to the level of a scribe and was qualified to copy Qumran text.
The New Testament is written with two levels: The first, outer level is intended for "babes" to understand elementary doctrine and morals. The second, inner level gives a concealed history of what happed to Jesus and his disciples. Dr. Thiering's new technique exposes the second level as not supernatural, but based on logical historical events. Early Christianity was a movement which reformed an existing religion - Judaism. It took the best elements, its high ethical standards, monotheistic approach, while exposing and rejecting what Judaism had degenerated into:
a. an obsessive concern with an imaginary holiness by the high priests.
b. rejection of outsiders, gentiles and unclean.
c. financial exploitation, particularly for absolution and salvation.
We are just beginning to develop a truthful, consistent and accurate historical picture of Jesus and the early Christian Church. Jesus was made to suffer on the cross because of political affiliations, religious fantasy, bigotry, and hatred in the name of holiness. This fantasy has been carried across the centuries and still persists, obscuring the message that Jesus and his followers taught and modeled 2,000 years ago:
a. peace and non-violence
b. love and forgiveness
c. healing and spiritual teaching
Christ taught and demonstrated that we are all children of God, filled with goodness. He encouraged the lay Jews and Gentiles to assume responsibility for their own spiritual growth. He taught that everyone was a minister/priest, not just a few because of some birth right.
Perhaps now we can learn the true meaning of Christianity, putting the miracles and children stories, such as the virgin birth, to rest.
All the Conditions of Happiness are Within You; Meditate & Attune to It.
