The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds in the 20th Century. Within the Qumran Caves the scrolls that were found date from the Time of Jesus and are to date the most ancient copies of the Old Testament to be found, with the omission of the Book of Esther. Many brothers and sisters in Christ rejoice over this finding, that it serves as a proof the Scriptures have not been changing across at least millennium. 

While I do not dispute that they are indeed an incredible find for history and archaeology, I do want to warn theologically they are dangerous. The people who kept these scrolls were ascetics knowns as The Essenes, who practiced secret ries and kept secret beliefs. Secret knowledge is very dangerous, that was what the false sect known as the Gnostics believed, and it is my conclusion that The Eessenes and their secret knowledge is what Jesus Christ outright confronts in the Last Book of the Bible, “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you” (Revelation 2:24). In addition Jesus goes out of his way to distance himself from these Secret Secets, “ I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.” (John 18:20)

Secret knowledge is what Free Masons and other mystery cults purport to possess. They lure people in with these promises of ‘deeper truths’, “depths of Satan really,” (Revelation 2:24), and then those caught up in their teachings tend to lose their grip on reality and become slaves to a false doctrines, “ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 

Our Lord Jesus warning us against secret knowledge should be enough to dissuade us from getting involved in mystery cults or esteeming those like the Essenes. Sadly in the case of Essenes the Dead Sea Scrolls have become a door to many Christian brothers and sisters. They becoming ensnared by odd doctrines and rites in the scrolls, and it is for this reason that I urge you stay away from these books. It is not the Old Testament alone that is in the Dead Sea Scrolls, there are many works and books that are apocryphal and strangely mystical. Indeed, the Essenes were mystics, and for that reason they should be suspect. The fact they kept their teachings secret, not their rites, they are open about their purification rituals and so forth, but the ‘secret gnosis’ they keep hidden and we should not seek it out. Our Lord did not hide The Truth, He even said, “But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” (Luke 4:43). Our Savior did not hide His Teachings, He shared them among the masses like when He gave the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and He taught his Disciples who published what He said in the gospels ans epistles that nake up our New Testament. There was no mystical approach to Jesus’ Teaching. While yes on some things the Essenes and Jesus agreed such as not taking vows (Matthew 5:35-37), and in some cases be celibate for the Kingdom (Matthew 9:12), that does not exonerate or make the Essenes as safe sect to study, nor their teachings sound. For the Essenes lived ascetic lifestyles, and the Apostle says, “ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colosssians 2:23). Jesus our Lord even says about ritual washings, “ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup  and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!” (Matthew 23:25). The Lord was concerned with the inner heart, not the outer body. With Monasticism, men often become proud, and the Essenes are not exempt. The Esseenes taught not to eat meat, when the apostle says ,”They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:3) and Jesus says, “ It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles anddishonors him.” (Matthew 15:11). Jesus made all foods clean, “Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)” (Mark 7:19), but the Essenes had a radical vegetarian diet. 

The Enemy of our Souls is hard at work in dececieving if possible the saints, “there will be many false christs and false prophets who will do signs and wonders and will decieve many even if possible the Elect.” (Matthew 24:24). In the Greek is says is possible for the Elect to be decieved in that passage, and so we must be vigilant and diligent to not give any qaurter to confusion. 

Copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls are now readily available, even Penguin Publishers have made an edition. If you are scholar and know how to guard your hearr, “the peace lf God guard you heart and mind in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:7) then perhaps you have the fortitude to read them; although how can there be peace with false teachers? I even worry that to even let the secrets enter your mind is perilous. For  all saints I urge caution and to stay away from these texts, the same way I urge you stay away from the Secret teachings of Gnostic gospels and Masonic texts. Why would you entertain error? Essene or Gnostic? Why would you bother with secret knowledge, when our Lord Jesus says it is depths of Satan, “I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets of Satan” —as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you.” (Revelation 2:24) and that He never taught in secret, “Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret” (John 18:20). Do you not believe as I do that, “all the storehouses of wisdom and knoweldge are in Christ Jesus,” (Colossians 2:2-3)? What more do you need than knowin Christ?, “I count all things lost but knowing Christ Jesus, I discard all things, counting them as dung,” (Philippians #:8), “if you are a mature Christian you will accept this,” (Philippians 3:15). Mature Christianity is to disregard the false secret teachings of Essenes, Necoliations, Gnostics, and other sects that were deceived by the spirit of light, “for Satan disguises himself as a spirit of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Be wary, for many have become ensnared by the teachings outside the Canon of Scripture, the Trusted 66 Books of the Holy Bible. I urge you to be content, to trust in Christ and let Him, and Holy Spirit teach you (John 14:26). And what is taught by The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to you in the spirit will never contradict the Scriptures, for He is the same forever, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever..” (Hebrews 13:8). Amen.