Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Revealing the Jewish Roots of Christianity is a fascinating 2019 book by John Bergsma, who knows his stuff. In the book, he discusses the three main Jewish religious traditions from 2,000 years ago – the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes. The Essenes were the keepers of the scrolls, and there are many parallels between them and modern Christianity. In Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Revealing the Jewish Roots of Christianity, Bergsma draws on the scrolls and the Roman soldier turned historian Josephus. This is a great history book. Will you read it?
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls were an amazingly rich archeological discovery by accident. The book begins by telling this story. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found by accident in 1946 by Bedouins looking for gold. They did not find gold in those caves in Qumran. They found five scrolls dating back 2,000 years. They sold the scrolls they found, by the way, for 100 pounds.
Those five initial scrolls contain a nearly complete Hebrew version of the Book of Isiah. All told, there were 12 caves that contained scrolls, as opposed to the one cave that the original Bedouins discovered. Hundreds of scrolls were found. About a quarter of them contain biblical writings (complete translations of the books of the Bible). About three-quarters of the scrolls contain other religious writings.
The Israeli government undertook a huge archeological expedition lasting 12 years. In that mission, archeologists uncovered many things, including a nearly complete Essene house, complete with a ritual bath. These findings, combined with the writings of contemporary historians, have helped piece together what it was like to be an Essene. There are many parallels between them and modern Christianity. One striking parallel is the Eucharist.
Jesus the Scrolls and the Eucharist
In Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Revealing the Jewish Roots of Christianity, Bergsma lists seven parallels between the Essenes and the modern Eucharist. Here they are. They are striking. First, there were those who were invited to the apartment. Jesus invited the 12 apostles to ‘an apartment of their own,” just like the meals the Essenes had. Second, the Essenes, Jesus, and his disciples washed before the meal. Third, both had a prayer before the meal. Fourth, there was a blessing over the bread and wine before they were consumed.
Fifth, at the Last Supper, the disciples fought over who was the greatest to determine seating. Seating order was very important to the Essenes in the Community Rule. Sixth, the Essenes referred to their community as ‘the many,’ just like the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper – “This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” Seventh, there was a signing of a thanksgiving hymn by both the Essenes and at the Last Supper.
Being an Essen, Was Jesus One?
Jesus was not an Essene, but, as the examples from the Eucharist point out, he got many of his ideas from them. This Jewish sect, which does not pay attention to John the Baptist, who, according to Bergsma in the book, was Jewish.
Conclusion
The parallels between Jesus and the Essenes do not end with the Eucharist. Bergsma goes through many. But it is worth noting that two of the Passon exist. Upon entering Jerusalem, Jesus tells his disciples to look for a man carrying a water jar. This is strange. Women did all the housework, including fetching water, 2,000 years ago, except in Essene communities, which were segregated by gender. Males had to get their own water. The Last Supper was at an Essene apartment.
Second, when Jesus was arrested, a boy was clothed in a simple linen cloth. This was torn off, and he ran away naked. Who wore simple linen clothes? The Essenes. Who was this boy? John, author of a Gospel. Considering that the Last Supper is reenacted at every Mass, for the last 2 millennia, we have gotten a lot from the Essenes, and finding the Dead Sea Scrolls unlocked it all.
