The Essenes and Jesus

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the evidence found in the Dead Sea Scrolls which were written and guarded by the Essenes, a Judaic sect that prospered before and during the time of Jesus Christ. This paper ponders the available evidence that suggests that Christ had a strong connection to the Essenes and that some of his most renowned teachings in fact came from the Essene leader. This paper details the findings regarding the history of the Essenes people. The majority of scholars believe that the Essenes originated after the Maccabean revolt, which occurred around 167-160 BCE. The writer of this well-researched paper describes the culture and traditions of the Essenes community. The Essenes' daily life was one of simplicity and of worship. The teacher of righteousness was the leader of the Essenes and provided instruction as to how to read and interpret their texts.

From the Paper:

"The Essenes' daily life was one of simplicity and of worship. "They were mainly agriculturalists and arboriculturists, having a vast knowledge of crops, soil and climatic conditions which enabled them to grow a great variety of fruits and vegetables in comparatively desert areas and with a minimum of labor." They were against slavery, and had neither wealthy nor poor members, as both conditions were considered deviations from the Law. Purely a communal sect, they established their economic system based on the Law and believed that all material needs would be provided by the Law. On the Sabbath, which occurred from Friday evening to Saturday evening, they devoted themselves to "study, discussion, the entertaining of visitors and playing certain musical instruments, replicas of which have been found." All other days, they would rise before sunrise in order to study and meditate, bathe in cold water, dress in white garments, work in the field, eat a meal and pray, and then end their day in further study and meditation."

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