Podcasts about Qumran

Israel's strikes on Iran have exposed more than military vulnerabilities—they've revealed the deadly consequences of Iran's religious zealotry. Drawing parallels with the biblical spies in Parshat Shlach and the doomed sectarians of Qumran, Rabbi Dunner explores how absolutist ideology—whether ancient or modern—is not the path to purity or righteousness, but rather to chaos and ruin.

Hello Beloved. ”THE MYSTERIES OF GOD HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”For those that knock - and demand the truth….text everything and bring it into light. Today we dip our toe into the lost books of teh bible and how the walk of Jesus far outstretched in what is portrayed in the bible according to the validity of the Essenes ( lost books of the bible discovered ). This is not a religious belief conversation, it is a historic overview of curiosity and deeper revelation of truth through a open mind and heart. That said…..LET'S HOP IN! POINT BLANK: One of the greatest spiritual enigmas of all time—the kind that makes you tilt your head and whisper, “Wait, what?”—is the missing 18 years of Jesus's life.You know the ones.The Gospels tell us about his birth, his moment of brilliance at age 12 in the temple, and then… silence.Until he reappears at 30, ready to turn the world inside out.It's as if the most formative years of the most influential spiritual teacher in history were tucked away behind a curtain.But what if that curtain is ready to be pulled back?Exploring the Lost YearsNow, I'm not here to sell you on conspiracy theories or fringe ideas just for the thrill of it.But I am here to explore the beautiful, messy, and fascinating mosaic of possibilities that suggest Jesus's “lost years” were anything but idle.There's a growing body of scholarship, oral tradition, and even ancient manuscripts that hint Jesus may have spent these years not in obscurity, but in study, in pilgrimage, and in deep spiritual practice across some of the most sacred lands on Earth.The Essene ConnectionLet's start with the Essenes.These weren't your average desert dwellers.They were a mystical Jewish sect living near the Dead Sea, devoted to ritual purity, communal living, and a prophetic vision of a coming teacher who would uplift humanity.Some scholars, like Edmund Bordeaux Szekely in The Essene Gospel of Peace, suggest Jesus was trained by them—immersed in their practices of fasting, healing, and spiritual discipline.The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947 at Qumran, echo teachings of divine justice, purity, and a “Teacher of Righteousness” that feel uncannily similar to Jesus's later message (see: Vermes, G., The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English).Echoes of KabbalahAnd then there's the thread of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition that dives deep into the nature of God, the soul, and the cosmos.Lawrence Gardner, in The Magdalene Legacy, proposes that Jesus was not just a preacher but a mystic—someone who understood the Tree of Life, the sacred geometry of creation, and the divine spark within all beings.When Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “I and the Father are one,” he's not just being poetic.He's articulating a mystical truth that resonates deeply with Kabbalistic teachings on unity and divine emanation.Journeys to EgyptBut the trail doesn't stop in Judea.It winds its way south to Egypt, where the ancient Mystery Schools taught the secrets of resurrection, inner alchemy, and soul initiation.Gerald Massey, in The Historical Jesus and the Mythical Christ, draws parallels between Jesus and Osiris—the Egyptian god of death and rebirth.Manly P. Hall, in The Secret Teachings of All Ages, even suggests Jesus may have been initiated in the Great Pyramid itself, undergoing the sacred rites of transformation.Egypt wasn't just a place of pyramids and pharaohs—it was a spiritual university, and Jesus may have been one of its most dedicated students.The Indian SojournAnd then—this is where it gets really juicy—there's India.Yes, India.The land of sages, yogis, and the Upanishads.The connection begins at his birth, with the Magi—wise men from the East, possibly Hindu rishis—who followed a star not just in the sky, but in their inner vision.In Indian spiritual tradition, the “star in the east” refers to the third eye, the gateway to divine insight.Their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—were traditional offerings for newborns in India, not just symbolic tokens.Fast forward a few decades, and we find the most intriguing account of all: The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ by Russian journalist Nicolas Notovitch.In the late 1800s, Notovitch claimed to have discovered Tibetan manuscripts in a monastery in Ladakh, describing the life of “Issa”—a name used for Jesus—who traveled through India, Nepal, and Tibet.These texts describe a young man fleeing societal expectations, studying the Vedas in Puri, challenging the caste system, and preaching universal love and nonviolence.Later, in Tibet, he studied Buddhist sutras—teachings that echo in his later messages about humility, renunciation, and inner peace.Now, Notovitch's claims were met with skepticism, of course.But Swami Abhedananda, a respected Indian monk, later traveled to the same monastery and corroborated the existence of the texts.Paramahansa Yogananda, in his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, also referenced Jesus's time in India, emphasizing the harmony between Christ's teachings and the yogic path of self-realization.This wasn't about borrowing ideas—it was a soul recognizing truth across borders.The Aquarian GospelAnd if you're still with me (thank you), let's talk about The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, written by Levi H. Dowling in 1908.Dowling claimed to have transcribed the book from the Akashic Records—a kind of cosmic memory bank.The Aquarian Gospel offers a sweeping narrative of Jesus's travels through India, Persia, Greece, and Egypt, learning from every major spiritual tradition of the time.Whether or not you believe in the Akashic Records, the book paints a compelling picture of a Jesus who was not only divine but deeply human—curious, humble, and committed to understanding the universal truths that bind us all.Mainstream PerspectivesOf course, mainstream Christianity has struggled with these ideas.The Gospels are silent on these years, and the Church has historically resisted narratives that suggest Jesus learned from other traditions.But let's be honest: the Bible has been edited, translated, and reinterpreted countless times.Can we really say we have the whole story?Or is it possible that what we've been given is just one chapter in a much larger, richer tale?A Bridge Between WorldsBecause here's the thing: When we allow ourselves to explore these possibilities—not as dogma, but as sacred curiosity—we begin to see Jesus not just as a figure of worship, but as a bridge.A bridge between East and West.Between the mystical and the practical.Between the divine and the human.His teachings on inward prayer, fasting, and the kingdom of God within mirror the meditative practices of yoga and the self-inquiry of the Upanishads.His parables echo the allegorical wisdom of Egyptian initiation rites.His message of love, compassion, and inner transformation is, in essence, the heart of every great spiritual tradition.And maybe, just maybe, that's the point.That truth is not a possession, but a path.That divinity is not a hierarchy, but a homecoming.And that Jesus, in his lost years, wasn't lost at all—but walking the long, sacred road that would prepare him to light the way for us all.Your thoughts? xo Kassandra. PS: Look for the next drop on our Lady Sophia and her uprising of the Divine feminine.Sources:* Szekely, E. B. (1981). The Essene Gospel of Peace.* Vermes, G. (2004). The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English.* Gardner, L. (2005). The Magdalene Legacy.* Massey, G. (1900). The Historical Jesus and the Mythical Christ.* Hall, M. P. (1928). The Secret Teachings of All Ages.* Notovitch, N. (1894). The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ.* Abhedananda, S. (1922). Journey into Kashmir and Tibet.* Yogananda, P. (1946). Autobiography of a Yogi.* Dowling, L. H. (1908). The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.Thank you for being open to this journey.Keep seeking, keep questioning, and above all—keep your heart open to the divine mystery that is always unfolding.Love KassandraThe Light Between is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Light Between at thelightbetween.substack.com/subscribe

Part 2 of our interview with Matthew Goff and Dylan Burns continues the discussion we started in Part 1 about the relationship between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library. Goff and Burns explain the significant differences between the two, such as their different dates and locations of origin. But they also explore the similarities, with their mutual interest in more ancient writings, such as how some important figures from Genesis—such as the Book of Watchers, with its myths of evil origins— came from Enoch; and how Melchizedek was the priest associated with the Christ figure. This is part two of a two-part series. The first episode in the series was released May 7, 2025. Read the book they co-authored, The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices. It's open source, so it's available for free! Dr. Dylan M. Burns is Assistant Professor of the History of Esotericism in Late Antiquity at the University of Amsterdam. He earned his doctorate in Ancient Christianity at Yale University in 2011, before holding research positions in Copenhagen, Leipzig, and Berlin. Among his books are Apocalypse of the Alien God: Platonism and the Exile of Sethian Gnosticism (2014), Did God Care? Providence, Dualism, and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy (2020), and The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices (2022). Dr. Matthew Goff joined the faculty of Florida State's Religion Department in 2005. He completed an M.T.S degree in 1997 at Harvard Divinity School and finished his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 2002. He studied under John Collins and wrote his dissertation on a Qumran text entitled 4QInstruction. His publications focus on the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient Judaism, and his most recent book is The Apocrypha: A Guide (Oxford, 2024). His current book project is on demons and monsters in ancient Judaism and early Christianity.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Ever have a moment when you don't see it and then you see it? The classic picture of an old women or a young beautiful woman depending on what you see?    Here's a more detailed look at the reasons:    1. Lack of Historical Evidence: Missing Persian References: . Some scholars questioned the book's historical accuracy, pointing to the lack of mention of the characters and events described in Esther within Persian historical records.  Not Found at Qumran: . The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of Jewish texts dating back to the period when the Book of Esther was thought to have been written, did not include the Book of Esther, further fueling skepticism about its authenticity.  2. Theological Concerns: Absence of God's Name: . The most significant theological issue was the complete absence of God's name in the Book of Esther. This was seen as unusual compared to other books in the Old Testament.  Interpretations of Divine Providence: . While some argued that the book implicitly suggests divine providence through the actions of the characters, others felt the lack of explicit mention of God undermined its theological purpose.  3. Jewish Canon Formation: Delayed Inclusion: The Book of Esther was not included in the earliest forms of the Jewish canon, and it was debated whether it should even be included at all.  Nationalistic Pride: Some suggest that the book's inclusion in the Jewish canon was influenced by a desire to celebrate the Jewish people's triumph over Haman and to provide a sense of national identity.  4. Christian Canon Formation: Deuterocanonical Status: The Book of Esther was not universally accepted by Christians from the beginning. Some Christians, like Jerome, considered it canonical, while others, like Athanasius, classified it with the Apocrypha, a collection of books considered useful but not part of the official canon.  Influence of Jewish Canon: Ultimately, Christians largely adopted the Jewish canon, which included the Book of Esther, leading to its inclusion in Christian Bibles as well. 5. Additions to the Septuagint: Greek Version: An alternate version of the Book of Esther in Greek, which included references to God and additional passages, was also debated. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Septuagint version of Esther, while the Roman Catholic Church preserves the Greek additions as "Additions to Esther"   God is not mentioned in Esther ANYWHERE… SO WHERE IS HE? HE IS EVERYWHERE!     - Queen Vashti won't give it up From Vashti's defiance to Mordecai's sleepless night, seemingly random occurrences contribute to the ultimate deliverance of the Jews.     - Esthers beauty over 25 million women   - Jew chosen to be queen   - Mordecai hears about a plot   - King can't sleep and they read Mordecai's story   - Haman used like a puppet in Gods hand   - 2 parties to set up Haman's demise   - Haman's advance on queen Esther   - The Pole set up for Mordecai used for Haman   - The Jews enemies are identified and then killed due to the timing and they get the take of those they kill

Najstarsze zachowane teksty biblijne odkryto dopiero w XX wieku. To teksty z Qumran, datowane od II w. p.n.e. do I w. n.e. Żaden z nich nie jest jednak oryginałem, to też odpisy. – W przypadku Biblii nie mamy autografu, czyli tak zwanego pierwopisu, tego, co sam napisał autor – mówi prof. Marcinem Majewski, biblista z Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II, wykładowca Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego i autor popularnego kanału na YouTubie. Rozmawiamy w Krakowie o skomplikowanej materii badania przekładów Biblii.W skład Starego Testamentu wchodzą tylko teksty napisane oryginalnie po hebrajsku, we fragmentach używa się też aramejskiego. Nowy Testament napisano po grecku, choć dobór niektórych słów wskazuje, że językiem ojczystym Jezusa był aramejski. – O ile judaizm i islam przyjmuje tylko tekst oryginalny, czyli hebrajski i arabski, jako tekst natchniony, to w chrześcijaństwie nawet nie mamy żadnego słowa Jezusa, poza powiedzmy „abba”, które Jezus powiedział w swoim własnym języku, bo cała Ewangelia jest napisana po grecku – opowiada mój gość. Aż do XX wieku większość tłumaczeń Biblii była dokonywana nie z języków oryginalnych, tylko z Wulgaty, czyli łacińskiego przekładu z końca IV wieku.Na tłumaczy na każdym polu czekały pułapki. Język hebrajski jest spółgłoskowy, zapisane słowa można różnie interpretować w zależności od tego, jakie samogłoski się doda. W ten sposób nawet św. Hieronim, autor Wulgaty, „dorobił” Mojżeszowi rogi, interpretując słowo krn jako keren (róg) zamiast dużo rzadszego karan (jaśnieć). Do tego słowa zapisywano bez interpunkcji, a czasem nawet bez odstępów.Mamy też problem z przekładaniem zjawisk kulturowych. W języku biblijnym ośrodkiem ludzkich emocji są… nerki. Serce pełni u człowieka zupełnie inną funkcję. – Serce oznacza raczej rozum, wolność albo podejmowanie decyzji, a nie jest związane z uczuciami – tłumaczy biblista. Kiedy tłumacz nie bierze pod uwagę kontekstu kulturowego, czytelnik jest zaskakiwany słowami: „ucieszą się me nerki” albo „zadrżały mu nerki”.Poszczególni tłumacze interpretowali niejasności zgodnie z wybraną przez siebie doktryną, ale jedno mieli wspólne: często łagodzili i formalizowali język, żeby pasował do uroczystej liturgii. A oryginalna Biblia wcale nie była taka formalna. – Biblia jest tekstem bardzo ludzkim, bardzo dosadnym i skierowanym do człowieka, to nie jest tekst pisany pod liturgię – wskazuje profesor. – Pamiętajmy, że Biblia jest literaturą, i to dobrą literaturą.W odcinku usłyszycie masę ciekawostek tłumaczeniowych (dlaczego Adam mógłby być Ziemowitem?), dowiecie się, czy porządny biblista potrafi się doliczyć, ile zna języków obcych, czym się różnią trzy najstarsze Ewangelie od najmłodszej Jana, gdzie w Biblii widać kształtowanie się judaizmu jako religii monoteistycznej i czy Mojżesz przeszedł naprawdę przez morze, czy raczej przez zarośnięte trzcinami jeziorko.

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/language

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

This is the first Syriac reader for the New Testament. It guides the reader through the Syriac New Testament Peshitta, glossing the uncommon words and parsing difficult word forms. It is designed for two groups of people. First, for students learning Syriac after a years' worth of study this series provides the material to grow in reading ability from the primary texts. Second, this series is designed for scholars, linguists, theologians, and curious lay people looking to refresh their Syriac, or use them in preparation for their work of study, and teaching. The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible: The New Testament (Gorgias Press, 2023) immerses the reader in the biblical texts in order to build confidence reading Classical Syriac as quickly as possible. To achieve this, all uncommon words that occur fewer than 25 times in the Syriac New Testament are glossed as footnotes. This enables the beginner or intermediate student to continue reading every passage unhindered. Therefore, this book complements traditional language grammars and is especially ideal for beginner and intermediate students learning to read Syriac. However, even advanced readers will appreciate the glossing of the occasional rare word. Other features include: Maps from the New Testament period with Syriac place names Paradigm charts of Syriac nouns and verbs A glossary of all the words not glossed below the text The base text is the Antioch Bible which includes the Peshitta for the canonical Syriac books, and later translations (probably Philoxenian) for the rest which makes this ideal for readers. For listeners who are interested in buying this tool for themselves, Gorgias has offered a 10% discount code for listeners of this podcast through the end of May 2025. If you order through the Gorgias website, simply enter the discount code NBNNTR10% at checkout. The book can be purchased from Gorgias here. A preview of the book can be found here. Timothy A. Lee is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on textual criticism of the Greek and Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical interpretation, ancient history, and theology. Some of his work is published in journals such as Revue de Qumran, Textus, the Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, and Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha. He has three previous degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Durham. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Is There a Connection Between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library? An Interview with Dr. Matthew Goff and Dr. Dylan Burns (Part 1) Professors Matthew Goff and Dylan Burns realized there were some surprising commonalities between the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi Library. Traditionally, these ancient writings are studied separately, despite their modern discoveries around the same time and relatively close locations. With Dr. Goff's expertise in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Dr. Burns' expertise in the Nag Hammadi Library, they could describe why both are so important for an understanding of the evolution of Judeo-Christian religions. This is part one of a two-part series. The second episode in the series will be released on June 4, 2025. Read the book they co-authored, The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices. It's open source, so it's available for free! Dr. Dylan M. Burns is Assistant Professor of the History of Esotericism in Late Antiquity at the University of Amsterdam. He earned his doctorate in Ancient Christianity at Yale University in 2011, before holding research positions in Copenhagen, Leipzig, and Berlin. Among his books are Apocalypse of the Alien God: Platonism and the Exile of Sethian Gnosticism (2014), Did God Care? Providence, Dualism, and Will in Later Greek and Early Christian Philosophy (2020), and The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices (2022). Dr. Matthew Goff joined the faculty of Florida State's Religion Department in 2005. He completed an M.T.S degree in 1997 at Harvard Divinity School and finished his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 2002. He studied under John Collins and wrote his dissertation on a Qumran text entitled 4QInstruction. His publications focus on the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient Judaism, and his most recent book is The Apocrypha: A Guide (Oxford, 2024). His current book project is on demons and monsters in ancient Judaism and early Christianity. A written transcript is available here: https://earlychristiantexts.com/dead-sea-scrolls-and-nag-hammadi-library/.

Show Notes: Did John Baptize Yeshua into the Melchizedekian Priestly Order-Part 5 of our Melchizedek Series   Episode Title: Did John Baptize Yeshua into the Melchizedekian Priestly Order-Part 5 of our Melchizedek Series   Episode Description: In this episode, we explore the intriguing question of whether John the Baptist baptized Yeshua into the Melchizedekian Priestly Order. Join us as we delve into historical, theological, and scriptural insights to uncover the significance of this event. This is Part 5 of our Melchizedek Series, where we continue to examine the profound implications of the Melchizedekian Order in religious history.   Key Topics Covered:   The role of John the Baptist in Yeshua's baptism Historical context of the Melchizedekian Priestly Order Theological implications of Yeshua's baptism into the Melchizedekian Order Scriptural evidence supporting the Melchizedekian baptism Insights from scholars and theologians on the Melchizedekian Order   Episode Highlights:   Detailed analysis of the historical background of John the Baptist and Yeshua Examination of theological perspectives on the Melchizedekian Order Scriptural references and interpretations related to Yeshua's baptism Expert opinions and scholarly discussions on the topic

Get ready for an episode that dives into the depths of ancient spiritual warfare! We welcome back Dr. Merrill Greene, a scholar whose groundbreaking research explores the protective rituals of the Qumran community. From apotropaic magic (yep, we learned a new word) to exorcisms, we discuss how ancient Jewish practices influenced early Christianity and what that means for us today. We also tackle the controversial world of deliverance ministries, spiritual disciplines, and even the role of music in spiritual warfare. Oh, and did we mention the title of Merrill's dissertation is Sectually Transmitted Demons? Yeah, get ready for this one!https://www.weirdgod.com/Weirdness of God bookTimestamps:01:13 Apotropaic rituals vs. exorcisms02:17 What is apotropaism?03:46 Groundbreaking research on the Dead Sea Scrolls04:15 The contrast between apotropaism and exorcisms06:00 Spiritual warfare and ancient Jewish traditions06:41 The mezuzah as an apotropaic object07:07 The Passover as an act of spiritual protection08:30 Why the Reformation rejected spiritual protection rituals09:32 The dangers of monetizing spiritual practices11:33 How Merrill's dissertation challenged modern deliverance practices13:29 The armor of God as apotropaism15:01 Apotropaism in First Nations traditions17:32 The problem with rigid deliverance ministry rules19:23 Psalm 91 as an exorcistic text21:16 What is and isn't superstition?24:30 Jericho and the power of sound in warfare27:08 How spiritual disciplines impact supernatural protection30:33 The power of being part of a faith community35:33 The danger of exaggerated deliverance theatrics39:47 Joseph's divination cup and biblical divination41:08 Was the Essene community influential on early Christianity?46:38 Did the Qumran community invoke spirits against each other?48:53 Merrill's next book: Altered States of Consciousness in the Bible53:53 The stigma around altered states in Christianity56:30 Merrill's personal encounter with the supernatural58:46 Why charismatics need academic theology01:04:25 The church's fear of spiritual experiences01:06:39 Explaining Sectually Transmitted Demons01:11:37 Merrill prayer

In this episode you will learn about: The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 in the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea, are considered the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century. They contain over 900 manuscripts, offering profound insights into Jewish life and scriptural interpretation during the Second Temple period. The scrolls are attributed to a Jewish sect most likely the Essenes who withdrew from Jerusalem in protest against what they saw as a corrupt priesthood. They settled at Qumran, living in purity and waiting for the apocalyptic end of days. The discovery included stone vessels, ritual baths (mikvaot), and a scriptorium, all indicating a monastic, religious lifestyle deeply rooted in Scripture. There are three important historians that wrote about them: Philo of Alexandria, Josephus flavious and Pliny the Elder. Philo of Alexandria mentions that the essenes live in villages, not cities, to avoid moral corruption. They renounce wealth and personal property, living communally, they devote themselves to peace, agriculture, and virtue, rejecting war and slavery. Josephus flavius had the most information about the essenes, they reject pleasures, value virtue, and live communally without private property, they avoid marriage, live simply, and emphasize purity and ritual cleanliness, they follow strict discipline, practice daily prayers, and eat in sacred silence and their souls are believed to be immortal, and they view the body as a temporary prison. While Pliny the elder wrote only about the geographical location in his Natural history book and he says that the Essenes live near the Dead Sea, avoiding cities and women, they have no money, only palm trees and simplicity. Not much in details. Three Categories of Scrolls Biblical Canonical Texts: These are the oldest known Hebrew Bible manuscripts, predating the Masoretic Text our primary Hebrew Bible source by over 1,000 years. Every book of the Hebrew Bible was found—except Esther. Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphal Texts: These include works like 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees—books that were influential in early Judaism and Christianity, even if not canonized. Sectarian Texts: Unique to Qumran, these writings detail community life, beliefs, and regulations, including the Community Rule, War Scroll, and Thanksgiving Hymns. They reveal a society organized around purity, hierarchy, and eschatological expectation. For the complete Video online course check our website:  www.twinsbiblicalacademy.com/paid-courses

Hosts: Ed Gallagher and Brad McNutt  |  Released Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Watch the Video In this episode of Inside the Scholar’s Study, Dr. Gallagher continues discussing the text of the Minor Prophets found at Qumran! We want to hear from you! Subscription Links  

Explore with me the theological implications of the Avram-Melchizedek encounter. In this third installment of our Melchizedek series, we discuss how various historical figures and people of faith viewed and understood Avram's Melchizedek and how their insights help us better understand our Melchizedekian Priestly Pedigree. 

How do the Dead Sea Scrolls help inform New Testament Christology? In the Genesis Apocryphon, also known as 1Q20, we see a human being in whom God's wisdom has become embodied. This is the very same theology taught by Jesus and the early Christians, namely that Christ himself was the enfleshment of God's personified wisdom. This week's episode introduces this important Qumran document and demonstrates how it helps create the context from which the New Testament authors inherited their wisdom Christology.   Visit Amazon to buy your copy of my book Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John: https://a.co/d/6nFEbZg              Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks                   To view the notes from this episode please click the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FWjxF8bdmOS-T7bpwV8ZbEsiAvO9Q72hv147JfjImrA/edit?usp=sharing              Check out some of my videos on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@BiblicalUnitarianPodcast       Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/OneGodPodcast 

In this episode we're joined by Professor James McGrath, who is Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, and the author of the book that we're discussing in this episode: John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation we talk about the differences between this book with Christmaker and delve more deeply into various historical matters surrounding John the Baptist, including connections with Qumran, the relationship between baptism and ritual purity, what we can learn about John the Baptist from Mandaean sources, and the portrayal of John the Baptist in film. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Logan Williams. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast I mentioned the hatred between the Jews of Jesus' day and the Samaritans.  So, to add to your study here are two links to two articles at the wonderful scholarly site (GotQuestions.org).  Each article is different, even though they both deal with the Jews and the Samaritans.  This is all related to the verse … “You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'”(Mat 5:43) No where in the Bible is there a statement that we are to hate our enemies.  Not even hinting at such an idea.  It was something taught among certain rabbis, some of the Pharisees, and the congregation at Qumran, those who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here are the links … Article 1 – https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-Samaritan.html Article 2 - https://www.gotquestions.org/Samaritans.html Related to this is the article written by David Bivin.  He is the founder of the amazing scholarly site called Jerusalem Perspective.  The article is entitled, “Us and Them: Loving Both.”  His article sheds more light on the unbiblical teaching in Jesus' day to hate one's enemy.  To access this article use the link below.  But, this site is members only.  If you would like to join to access the 100's and 100's of articles and resources to enhance your Bible reading and study you'll have to register and pay an annual fee of $60.  If you are serious about your study of God's word then you MUST join Jerusalem Perspective. Link to Bivin's article - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/1873/?srsltid=AfmBOooN_sRB572G1-eJOOFgw9i3W-ZfxojtR5gsjri9fp8M4JCnQIiF I also brought up two Bible teaching videos by the Messianic Jewish rabbi, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn.  He has done two videos that relate to the pope's order that all priests in the Catholic church must bless LGBTQ unions; in other words to give their unions some semblance of respect from the Catholic church.  God has declared unequivocally that these unions are seriously sinful and totally forbidden.  Pope Francis is saying he has the authority to disregard the very words of God.  Below find the two links to the videos.  I highly recommend you watch both.  The second video is about a documented unbelievable event that seemingly is a sign from the Lord of His total rejection of what Pope Francis did.  You won't believe it.  But, make sure you watch video 1 and the video 2. Video 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES6SD6RVcuo Video 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1iCW5Lsd80 This Bible study podcast is about the Biblical concept of love.  Biblical love is not about emotions or feelings or physical desire or passion.  God want us to love regardless of how we feel or our emotions related to a certain person or group.  It has a lot to do with DOING and ACTING and not about feelings.  In this podcast I referenced two awesome articles that show that Jews in Israel do what the Torah says in that they do the right thing to another human even though they are Israel's evil enemy like Hamas in Gaza or the Palestinians.  Here are the two articles that you can read yourself that document that when Jesus orders us to love our enemy He is teaching right from the Torah and Jesus is adding to and enhancing His teaching that He gave us in the Hebrew Scriptures or God's Instruction or תּוֹרָה TORAH.  Article from the American Journal of Public Health - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5719710/ Article from Israel Forever Foundation - https://israelforever.org/interact/blog/caring_for_enemy_soldiers/ Related to the article above is the oath taken by the Israeli armed forces.  They truly live by God's Instruction or תּוֹרָה TORAH or the very words of Jesus – “love your enemy (do the right thing, act humanely, act with mercy and compassion even for your enemy) and pray for those that persecute you.”  Below is that oath referenced in the article above from the Israel Forever Foundation.   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link -  https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0      

Real Israel Talk Radio Episode 168 On today's program, my guest is Professor Jonathan Ben Dov of Haifa University and Tel Aviv University. Professor Ben Dov received international recognition through his scholarly work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Fragment 4Q324d, with Professor Dr. Eshbal Ratzon. Together, their work on DSS 4Q324d taught them about a little-known biblical celebration of the Hebrew Bible, referred to as the Festival of the Wood Offering on the 29th day of the 6th Month. The WOOD OFFERING FESTIVAL, referred to as KORBAN ETZIM, is mentioned in the Temple Scroll 11Q19 Column 23, as well as the DSS Calendrical Document fragments 4Q324d, 4Q325, 4Q327, 4Q365RPc, FlaviusJosephus' Wars of the Jews, the Hebrew Book of Nehemiah 10:34 (Heb:35), and Nehemiah 13:29. On this program we will learn about DSS 4Q324d and the Levitical Priestly Calendar of 364 Days and how it relates to the Qumran Priestly Community of the Yachad.

In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in the Judaean Desert – the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Over the next decade, this chance finding would lead to the unearthing of thousands of manuscript fragments from 11 caves near the ancient site of Qumran, dating back two millennia. These fragile parchments, include the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible and an extraordinary library of previously unknown religious writings. These scrolls are now being exhibited at The Ronald Reagan Library. Ed Stetzer will talk with Biola's Dominick Hernandez and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Melissa Giller about the scrolls and how they offer unprecedented insights into the spiritual and cultural landscape of the Second Temple period on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please, feel free to send a text message here and give us feedback. Also, you may send a text msg or leave voicemail (425) 550-6670Real Israel Talk RadioEpisode 168On today's program, my guest is Professor Jonathan Ben Dov of Haifa University and Tel Aviv University. Professor Ben Dov received international recognition through his scholarly work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Fragment 4Q324d, with Professor Dr. Eshbal Ratzon. Together, their work on DSS 4Q324d taught them about a little-known biblical celebration of the Hebrew Bible, referred to as the Festival of the Wood Offering on the 29th day of the 6th Month. The WOOD OFFERING FESTIVAL referred to as KORBAN ETZIM, is mentioned in the Temple Scroll 11Q19 Column 23, as well as the DSS Calendrical Document fragments 4Q324d, 4Q325, 4Q327, 4Q365RPc, Flavius Josephus' Wars of the Jews, the Hebrew Book of Nehemiah 10:34 (Heb:35), and Nehemiah 13:29. On this program we will learn about DSS 4Q324d and the Levitical Priestly Calendar of 364 Days and how it relates to the Qumran Priestly Community of the Yachad.Support the show

The Dead Sea is one of the great natural wonders of the world. And the surrounding Judaean Desert has been the backdrop for some of the most exciting chapters in the history of the Land of Israel – from King David's Ein Gedi to Qumran's Dead Sea Scrolls, to the heights of Masada, and the pioneers of modern times. The Dead Sea is disappearing at an alarming rate – and the question is whether or not our grandchildren will vaguely remember the ‘Salt Sea' as they stand at the edge of a salt-encrusted crater. Our episode will explore the story of the Dead Sea and the environmental challenges facing the sea and all of us.Links for Additional Reading:Pollution in the Promised Land, Alon Tal, California University Press, 2002What Can We Do To Stop The Dead Sea From Dying? With UnPacked on YouTubeLand, Water And The Changing Dead Sea Environment: A Microhistory Of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Nir Arielli, Journal of Israeli History, 2022, VOL. 40, NO. 2, 235–256Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Qumran biblical Zadokite Priests and the calendar system they inherited is an essential function of what it means for us to Hear and Do the Torah. Through their teachings, left to us through the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can know precisely WHEN to observe the festivals of the Bible and the biblical observances that are controlled and mapped to specific days and months of the year, times and seasons that cannot and must not be changed. Everything about the inherited Zadokite priestly calendar dates and times as they relate to the festivals and the setting of the weekly Sabbath is accurately plotted based on the yearly arrival of what is called New Year's Day; that is, Month 1 and Day 1 of the royal calendar of Heaven, hereinafter called, the Zadokite Calendar, which by the way, is different from what is known to be the “360-day Enoch Calendar,” the 354-day Lunar Calendar, or the 365 ¼ day Solar Calendar. New Year's Day, on the Zadokite Calendar, is based on establishing Day 1 and Month 1 as with any other calendar of the world's material cultures. Nonetheless, believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, and the biblical texts that He taught and lived by all are hinged on asking, WHEN IS NEW YEARS DAY? If we get this wrong, then everything else downstream is directly affected. Based on the testimony of Exodus chapter 12:2, among many places, it is actually New Year's Day, according to the Bible. So, to correctly determine New Year's Day in the Bible, we must come to know WHEN to proclaim this very special day in any given year. This is because all the yearly festivals and the weekly Sabbaths written about in the Bible are strictly mapped to the events of Day 4 from the Genesis Creation story. This is according to the testimony of the Zadokite Priests of the Qumran, as they wrote about all this in their Calendrical Documents of what is called the Dead Sea Scrolls. Let's get into it and find out how to determine when to define the all-important New Year's Day that is, Day 1 and Month 1, in any given year. See www.gospelworthdyingfor.com and DOWNLOAD their free 2025/26 Zadokite 12-month calendar.

Please, feel free to send a text message here and give us feedback. Also, you may send a text msg or leave voicemail (425) 550-6670EPISODE 167INTRODUCTION TO DECODING THE ZADOKITE PRIESTLY CALENDAR (PART 1)Following the Qumran biblical Zadokite Priests and the calendar system they inherited is an essential function of what it means for us to Hear and Do the Torah. Through their teachings, left to us through the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can know precisely WHEN to observe the festivals of the Bible and the biblical observances that are controlled and mapped to specific days and months of the year, times and seasons that cannot and must not be changed. Everything about the inherited Zadokite priestly calendar dates and times as they relate to the festivals and the setting of the weekly Sabbath is accurately plotted based on the yearly arrival of what is called New Year's Day; that is, Month 1 and Day 1 of the royal calendar of Heaven, hereinafter called, the Zadokite Calendar, which by the way, is different from what is known to be the “360-day Enoch Calendar,” the 354-day Lunar Calendar, or the 365 ¼ day Solar Calendar.New Year's Day, on the Zadokite Calendar, is based on establishing Day 1 and Month 1 as with any other calendar of the world's material cultures. Nonetheless, believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, and the biblical texts that He taught and lived by all are hinged on asking, WHEN IS NEW YEARS DAY? If we get this wrong, then everything else downstream is directly affected. Based on the testimony of Exodus chapter 12:2, among many places, it is actually New Year's Day, according to the Bible. So, to correctly determine New Year's Day in the Bible, we must come to know WHEN to proclaim this very special day in any given year. This is because all the yearly festivals and the weekly Sabbaths written about in the Bible are strictly mapped to the events of Day 4 from the Genesis Creation story. This is according to the testimony of the Zadokite Priests of the Qumran, as they wrote about all this in their Calendrical Documents of what is called the Dead Sea Scrolls. Let's get into it and find out how to determine when to define the all-important New Year's Day that is, Day 1 and Month 1, in any given year. See www.gospelworthdyingfor.com and download their 2025/26 Zadokite 12-month calendar.  Support the show

Psalm 129 A Song of Ascents129:1-2 Introductory summary; 129:3 Their intense need; 129:4 Praise to God129:5-8 Request for judgment upon the foes“The psalm divide into two sections: verses 1-4 (statement of suffering) and verses 5-8 (prayer for vindication against the enemies causing the suffering)” Transforming Word, 498. 129:1 Many times they have persecuted me- The word many times in vss. 1-2 is used in 120:6; 123:4. In the NRSV is translated greatly. “A comparison of the NIV with the NRSV shows that the adverb at the beginning of vv. 1-2 can be construed to indicate either the frequency of the opposition or its severity” McCann, 1203. “The religious community is encouraged by a cultic precentor to take upon their own lips a testimony to Yahweh's repeated aid” Allen, 190. “The first-person language makes this initially sound like an individual complaint, but as the references to ‘the haters of Zion' in verse 5 indicates, the first person is speaking on behalf of the nation” Alter, 453. “The communal lament differs from most laments in that it mourns an extended period rather than a single event” Transforming Word, 498. from my youth up- Jer. 2:2; 22:21; Ezek. 16:22; Hos. 2:15; 11:1 Israel's youth was a time of devotion (Jer. 2:2) and joy (Hos. 2:15), but also a time of disobedience (Jer. 22:21), yet God loved them and showed them mercy anyway (Ezek. 16:22; Hos. 11:1).Let Israel now say- 118:2; 124:1 “In the subsequent interpretation in terms of ‘Israel' this religious truth received even wider warrant: it could trace back to the Exodus (cf. Hos. 11:1) the history of God's saving grace over against the oppressor's plowlike scourge (cf. Isa. 1:5-7; 51:23)” Allen, 190. “National memoirs may be written from the standpoint of achievement and attainment, of from the viewpoint of suffering and survival. While secular nations usually choose the former, it is singular that Israel glorifies God as her protector and preserver” Miller, 409. 129:2 Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up- Ps. 88:15 The repetition fixes their thoughts on the severity of their troubles- Barnes, 255. Yet they have not prevailed against me- Jer. 1:19; 15:20; 20:11; Matt. 16:18; II Cor. 4:8-9. This does not promise God's people will not suffer, but it does promise that wickedness will not ultimately prevail. 129:3 The plowers plowed upon my back- Micah 3:12; Isaiah 51:23 The plow would pass over the field, tear up the sod, pierce deep and produce long rows- Barnes, 256. “This agricultural image for laceration and torment, is vivid enough in itself, leads to the agricultural simile of the curse in verses 6-8” Alter, 453. “The imagery of plowing furrows describes the extreme suffering that the enemies inflicted on Israel” B.K, 886. The words for plowers and wicked are very similar in Hebrew and a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran has wicked- Allen, 187.They lengthened their furrows129:4 The LORD is righteous- Ps. 119:137 In permitting this, the LORD is righteous. “Deliverance from such suffering is attributed to the righteous LORD” B.K., 886. The LORD's righteousness is demonstrated in the judgment upon Israel's enemies. “The mystery of the continual resilience of God's city and people is thereby explained. V. 4 triumphantly amplifies (v. 2b), after (v. 3) has grimly developed (v. 2a). To use J.B. Philips paraphrase of II Cor. 4:9, the capital and community were often knocked down, but never knocked out. They revived and survived as a testimony to a long history of God'

Reading with an "I" to the Heavens: Looking at the Qumran Hodayot Through the Lens of Visionary Traditions (de Gruyter, 2018) examines the collection of prayers known as the Qumran Hodayot (= Thanksgiving Hymns) in light of ancient visionary traditions, new developments in neuropsychology, and post-structuralist understandings of the embodied subject. The thesis of this book is that the ritualized reading of reports describing visionary experiences written in the first person "I" had the potential to create within the ancient reader the subjectivity of a visionary which can then predispose him to have a religious experience. This study examines how references to the body and the strategic arousal of emotions could have functioned within a practice of performative reading to engender a religious experience of ascent. In so doing, this book offers new interdisciplinary insights into meditative ritual reading as a religious practice for transformation in antiquity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Reading with an "I" to the Heavens: Looking at the Qumran Hodayot Through the Lens of Visionary Traditions (de Gruyter, 2018) examines the collection of prayers known as the Qumran Hodayot (= Thanksgiving Hymns) in light of ancient visionary traditions, new developments in neuropsychology, and post-structuralist understandings of the embodied subject. The thesis of this book is that the ritualized reading of reports describing visionary experiences written in the first person "I" had the potential to create within the ancient reader the subjectivity of a visionary which can then predispose him to have a religious experience. This study examines how references to the body and the strategic arousal of emotions could have functioned within a practice of performative reading to engender a religious experience of ascent. In so doing, this book offers new interdisciplinary insights into meditative ritual reading as a religious practice for transformation in antiquity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Reading with an "I" to the Heavens: Looking at the Qumran Hodayot Through the Lens of Visionary Traditions (de Gruyter, 2018) examines the collection of prayers known as the Qumran Hodayot (= Thanksgiving Hymns) in light of ancient visionary traditions, new developments in neuropsychology, and post-structuralist understandings of the embodied subject. The thesis of this book is that the ritualized reading of reports describing visionary experiences written in the first person "I" had the potential to create within the ancient reader the subjectivity of a visionary which can then predispose him to have a religious experience. This study examines how references to the body and the strategic arousal of emotions could have functioned within a practice of performative reading to engender a religious experience of ascent. In so doing, this book offers new interdisciplinary insights into meditative ritual reading as a religious practice for transformation in antiquity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

We turn our attention once more to our Gospel reading and to the figure of John the Baptist. People from all walks of life are coming to him, repenting, and asking for spiritual advice. John exhorts people not to a life of intense asceticism and separation but rather to lives of holiness in the midst of worldly endeavors, a radical idea for the time period. Exploring further John the Baptist's background we discover a man deeply committed to evangelization and a figure who is arguably the first champion of the lay vocation. (Mass Readings for Dec 15, 2024) --> March 1st Event w/ Dr. Scott Hahn: https://stpaulcenter.com/desmoines2025/ --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

Welcome to Day 2506 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Do The Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question? – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2506 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2506 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the thirty-first lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today's lesson is: Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question? The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956, transformed biblical studies. Found in a series of caves near an archaeological site on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea known as Qumran, they contributed to research on ancient scribal practices and the history of the Hebrew language. But beyond this research, the scrolls also directly affected an issue that has long been debated—the Old Testament canon. Did this find solidify what should or should not be included in our Bibles? The word “canon” refers to the collection of books considered sacred and authoritative by a religious community—in this case, Judaism and Christianity. Historical evidence reveals that within the Jewish community, there was still uncertainty about some books (e.g., Esther and the Song of Solomon) or portions of books (Ezekiel 40-48) after ad 100. The question of whether Jewish leaders of earlier centuries had similar doubts—or different ones—was shrouded in mystery before the discoveries at Qumran. Fragments of all the Old Testament books in the current Protestant evangelical canon have been found among the scrolls—all except the book of Esther. However, its omission by the Jewish community at Qumran does not indicate much about its canonical position today. The omission of the book tells us nothing about how the Qumran community actually felt about Esther. The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in modern times are only a fraction of the material originally stored at Qumran. The ravages of time have left us with an incomplete picture, nullifying such a definitive conclusion. In addition, the Jews at Qumran were one sect of Judaism among several. Even if there was evidence that they had rejected Esther, that position would have represented only a segment of opinion. Even today, major segments of modern Christendom do not agree on the canon.- That certain books meet approval or disapproval provides no guidance as to which opinion is correct. Beyond this, Qumran scribes often indicated a book's sacred status by citing the book as authoritative for some point of belief or practice in their community documents. They also indicated a book's sacred status through produced commentaries. However, not every biblical book of today's Old Testament canon meets this criterion. For example, Judges, Jeremiah, and Job are never cited in...

Watch the after show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjones Kipp Davis is a biblical scholar and an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Dr. Davis famously discovered a large number of the ancient text fragments were forgeries.  SPONSORS https://shopmando.com - Use code DANNY for $5 off your starter pack. https://mintmobile.com/danny - Get the 3-month plan for only $15 / month. https://buy.ver.so/danny - Get 15% off your first order. https://whiterabbitenergy.com/?ref=DJP - Use code DJP for 20% off EPISODE LINKS Kipp's YouTube channel: @DrKippDavis   https://x.com/DrKippDavis FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones https://twitter.com/jonesdanny OUTLINE 00:00 - The Dead Sea Scrolls discovery 12:58 - Qumran caves 26:03 - Forged Dead Sea Scrolls 29:20 - How the Dead Sea Scrolls are dated 35:43 - Dead Sea Scrolls fragments for sale 43:11 - Testing Dead Sea Scrolls forgeries 51:43 - New Testament fragment forgery 56:57 - Biblical scholar discovers the Bible is false 01:11:26 - The #1 oldest biblical text 01:18:09 - Are Qumran cave fragments real or fake? 01:24:18 - John Marco Allegro 01:36:34 - Finding God through psychedelics 01:41:30 - The Septuagint manuscripts 01:53:49 - Greek vs. Hebrew languages 02:08:18 - How prolific are Hebrew texts? 02:15:22 - Ammon Hillman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 80 features a conversation with Kelly Matthews. She begins by giving some background on Dolores Cannon and then describes a little about the main characters and ideas in her book Jesus and the Essenes. She reveals who the Essenes are/were, along with what is significant about them and why the Dead Sea Scrolls are so important in regard to learning about them. Next she talks about the community known as Qumran including their customs and practices. She spends some time discussing how Jesus is connected to the Essenes, as well as some of the Christian traditions that overlap with some of the Essene customs. She also explains who the Kaloo are and why they are important to the Essenes. Then we share some specific things that we learned while reading the book that really stood out to us. Towards the end, she shares how people can connect and work with her, along with how to listen to her podcast Enlighten and Elevate. enlightenandelevatewithkelly@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067889031070&mibextid=LQQJ4d @kmatthews840 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kellymatthews840?igsh=MmtxODhqMzFnYW9k&utm_source=qr To book a distance Reiki session with me click the link below: https://alignelevatewithkelly.as.me/

Children of Abraham Galatians 3:1-14 by William Klock Have you ever heard of Charles Blondin?  He was a French acrobat, daredevil, and tight-rope walker in the middle of the Nineteenth Century.  He is most famous for crossing the Niagara Gorge, just above the falls, walking a tight-rope in 1859.  He was the first person to do so.  And it drew a crowd, so he did it again and again and again.  But to keep the crowds coming back he had to keep finding new and more impressive ways to walk the tight-rope across the gorge.  He crossed walking backwards.  He crossed while blindfolded.  He crossed pushing a loaded wheelbarrow.  He crossed while walking the tight-rope on stilts.  He once carried a chair with him, balanced the chair on a single leg on the rope, then stood on the chair.  Another time he stopped mid-rope, cooked himself an omelet (Yes, I'm also struggling to figure out how he did that), ate the omelet, and then continued to the other side.  But, I think, his most impressive feat was crossing Niagara Gorge on a tight-rope while carrying his manager.  I mean, in terms of physical challenges, that was probably one of the easier things Blondin did.  The impressive bit is that his manager trusted him enough to be part of the stunt. So picture Charles Blondin on a tight-rope, crossing Niagara Gorge with his manager—his name was Harry Colcord—on his back.  But then imagine, Harry, halfway across, telling Blondin to stop and put him down.  “This has been nice, and I know you told me not to look down, but I did.  And the water is churning away way down there as it gets ready to go over the falls and, well, I think I'd feel better if I got off your back and got myself across the tight-rope alone.”  Imagine what Blondin would have said to him.  “You witless fool!” Well, that's what Paul writes to the churches in Galatia, having heard that they're talking about getting circumcised.  Look at Galatians 3:1-5. You witless Galatians!  Who as bewitched you?  Messiah Jesus was portrayed on the cross before your very eyes!  There's just one thing I want to know from you.  Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of torah, or by hearing and believing?  You are so witless!  You began with the Spirit, and now you're ending with the flesh?  Did you really suffer so much for nothing—if indeed it is going to be for nothing?  The one who gives you the Spirit and performs powerful deeds among you—does he do this through your performance of torah, or through hearing and believing?   So chapter 2 ended with Paul writing about the faithful son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  He's reminded them of the cross and now Paul launches into his main argument with that violent image of the cross at the forefront.  “Messiah Jesus was portrayed on the cross before your very eyes!”  It's hard to say exactly what Paul means by that.  When he was there, did he give them a graphic description of Jesus' crucifixion?  Maybe.  But everyone in the Roman world knew about crucifixion.  I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone had seen a crucifixion at some point.  They knew how awful it was.  Whatever it means that the cross was displayed to them, Paul's point is that the Galatians knew all about Jesus and the cross and they should have understood how it had changed everything.  They should have understood how it turned everything Jews thought about their identity and everything about the rule of torah upside-down.  Jesus' death changed everything.  Paul had taught them that.  When he'd left them, they understood all of this—or so he thought.  But now—they're talking about getting circumcised.  He's utterly flabbergasted.  How could this be, so he practically shouts at them, “You witless Galatians!”  I thought I knew you, but now this?  Has someone cast a stupid spell on you?  Jesus and the Spirit got them halfway across the tightrope, but now they're looking down at the long drop and the churning waters and thinking that maybe they should play it safe and go the rest of the way with torah instead.  And Paul's point: Torah never would have got you this far.  Don't be stupid.  Let Jesus and the Spirit take you all the way. He's got one question for them, but it spills out as six.  Who has bewitched you?  Did you receive the Spirit through the torah or through hearing and believing the gospel?  Again, are you really this dumb?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you going to end in the flesh?  Have you suffered so much for nothing?  And, did God give you his Spirit and has he done powerful things amongst you because you obeyed torah or because you heard and believed?  It all boils down to one question.  Paul asks them to consider everything that's happened to them since he first visited them and proclaimed the good news about Jesus the Messiah.  He asks them: “Did all that happen because you were keeping the Jewish law?”  Of course, the answer is a resounding “No!”  Everything that had happened to them had happened through the power of the gospel and the giving of the Spirit as they listened and believed. And when Paul says that, he makes sure to put all the stress on the gospel and on the Spirit and none on them.  The gospel was proclaimed, they believed—and then they discovered that it was actually all along the Spirit already at work amongst them.  That's the point here.  Their lives had been transformed by the Spirit and the Spirit was doing amazing things in their churches, not because of anything they had done—and certainly not because they'd decided to start living according to the Jewish law.  Up til now, they hadn't even considered doing that.  So, no, none of this had happened because of their works.  Just the opposite, their works were actually the work of God's Spirit in them—a gift they'd received, a new life into which they'd been plunged when they believed the good news and were baptised in the Messiah.  Their new life had begun with the Spirit.  So why, O why, Paul wants to know, are they now turning back to the flesh? Now, we should pause here and ask what Paul means when he writes about Spirit and flesh.  The Spirit is God's Spirit, but for Paul it sort of becomes a shorthand for new life and new creation.  The Spirit is the down payment on the resurrection life of the new world that God has promised.  The life of the Spirit is a preview of what life will one day be like when God finally sets his creation (and us!) fully to rights.  The Spirit is a preview in the sense that we now have a taste of that life, but the Spirit, through his work in us, also gives the world a preview of what God's new world will be like.  Think about that.  The Church is—or it should be—a preview of the age to come, of God's new creation.  On the other hand, the “flesh” for Paul is shorthand for the corruption, decay, and death of the old age—it's shorthand for life without the redeeming work of Jesus and the renewing work of the Spirit.  But, too, Paul also writes about the Jewish people “according to the flesh”—Abraham's biological descendants marked out with the sign of circumcision in their flesh.  To be clear, though, when Paul talks about flesh and Spirit, he is absolutely not using these works in the sense of the Greek philosophers—whose ideas persist today—who thought the physical word or the physical body (the flesh) was some bad thing and that the spirit was some good, non-material essence—the real us—that needs to be set free.  For Paul, we can think of “flesh” as representing the old age dominated by sin and death and “Spirit” as representing the life of god's new creation. So obviously the Spirit is important.  The Spirit shows that the promises made to Abraham have finally come true through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  The Spirit is the evidence of the gospel doing its work.  This is why, for example, the Pentecostal and Charismatic idea that separated the gift of the Spirit from belief in the gospel is such a problem.  (If Paul had been alive in the early Twentieth Century he would, I expect, have written an equally sternly worded epistle to them.)  The Spirit is not an add-on to life in Jesus—as if you can believe in Jesus now and receive the Spirit at some later time—or even not at all.  To believe the gospel is to trust in Jesus the Messiah, not just for the forgiveness of sins—as if that's all there is to gospel.  To believe in the gospel is to become part of God's promised new creation, to be plunged into the Spirit so that the very life of God himself makes us new.  To be in the Messiah is to have the Spirit in you.  You cannot separate the two.  Anything less than that is, as Paul would put it, “flesh” and, Brothers and Sisters, the gospel which begins with the Spirit ends in the Spirit.  It will never leave us stuck in the flesh.  The Lord does not deliver you from bondage in Egypt only to leave you stuck in Egypt.  He leads you through the Red Sea and into the promised land. So, to sum up so far: We live the life of the Spirit not because of anything we've done, but because we have heard and believed the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen.  Even then, the fact that we have “heard” it, is because the Spirit was already at work in us.  Now, lets move on to verse 6.  Paul writes: It's like Abraham.  “He believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”  So you know that it's people of faith who are children of Abraham.   Remember what I talked about last week.  Why was Abraham so important to Paul?  Because the story of redemption begins with him.  He's the model for all of God's people thereafter.  The Lord spoke into a world completely lost in the darkness of paganism and he called Abraham: “Go to the land I will show you and I will give you a family and an inheritance.”  It was a crazy promise made by a strange God, but Abraham believed—he trusted—and the Lord established a covenant with him and with his children.  Through them, the Lord would, one day, drive away the darkness and set the world to rights.  I said last week, that's what “righteousness” is about for Paul.  It's about membership in this covenant family of God.  For the Jews in Paul's day the human race was divided into two groups: the Jews were the “righteous”, the “sinners” were everyone else.  It began with Abraham—long before there was ever a torah or, for that matter, even before circumcision.  The Lord established a covenant with Abraham because of faith and—here's the key point for Paul here that stands like a mountain over this whole passage—it is this faith, this trust in the Lord that marks out Abraham's family.  It's the faith people, not the circumcision people who will inherit God's promises.  Imagine Paul pointing his finger at the Galatians—most of whom were gentiles—as he says this.  He's saying, “This means you.”  They—gentile believers renewd by God's Spirit— they were the sign that God's promises to Abraham were finally coming true.  He goes on in verse 8: The scriptures foresaw that God would justify the nations by faith, so it announced the gospel to Abraham in advance, when it declared that ‘the nations will be blessed in you.'  So you see, the people of faith are blessed along with faithful Abraham.   God's promises were a lot bigger than Abraham.  Again, God began a project with Abraham, through which he intended to bring the whole world—the nations—out of the darkness of sin and death.  And Paul could point to these gentile believers in Galatia and say, “See!  You are living proof of the faithfulness of the God of Israel.  In you, the blessing promised to Abraham has begun to reach the nations.  Brothers and Sisters, the same goes for us.  Some of my ancestors were Jews, but most of them were pagans who worshipped oak trees.  They heard the good news about Jesus, the Spirit got hold of them, they believed, and the Spirit led them out of the darkness and made them sons and daughters of Abraham and inheritors of his promise.  You and I are proof that God is faithful to do what he promised. And that's Paul's next point.  It's God who is faithful.  The promises weren't fulfilled because Abraham's family was faithful.  Some of them were, but on the whole, Israel failed miserably.  Look at verses 10-12: Because, you see, those who belong to the “works-of-the-law” camp are under a curse.  For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not stick fast by everything written in the book of the law, to perform it.”  But because nobody is justified before God in the law, it's clear that “the righteous shall live by faith.”  The law, however, is not by faith; rather “the one who does them shall live by them.”   We know that the “faith people” are justified—that means they're the ones counted as “righteous”, as God's people—because those who put their stock in doing the Jewish law, well, they're under a curse.  Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed is everyone who does not stick fast by everything written in the book of the law, to perform it.”  Now, Paul's point isn't that it's impossible to keep the law, so don't bother trying.  What he's saying is that if—like the agitators in Galatia or the people from James in Antioch—if you decide to go down the road of circumcision, well, that's just the first step.  There are 612 other commandments you'll have to follow and not even the agitators, not even these “circumcision people” were doing all of that.  Torah is all or nothing. Here's where Paul is going with this.  He's telling the story again.  I think we miss that because we've been trained to think in terms of abstract doctrinal propositions, but for Paul it was all about the story of God and his people.  It began with Abraham and the family that the Lord miraculously gave him to carry forward his promises to the nations, but along the way the story shows that Abraham's family was infected with the same sin problem as the rest of the human race—the very same problem God's promises were meant to heal. This is the lens through which the Jews of Paul's day saw themselves.  The Essenes at Qumran—the people responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls—they're a great example of this.  They saw that Israel was broken and fallen, disloyal and incapable of carrying forward the Lord's promises.  They believed that the Lord was, secretly through them, launching his new covenant to set everything right.  Their scroll on torah (4QMMT) sums it all up.  First there was a time of blessing under David and Solomon, but King Jeroboam sinned and his successors down the line through Zedekiah kept sinning and that brought the curse of Deuteronomy 27 on the nation.  Deuteronomy—Moses reiteration of the law before the Israelites crossed into the promised land, it promised blessing if the people trusted the Lord and a curse if they were unfaithful.  So the Lord did what he promised.  He caused them to be carried way into exile and, even though the people had returned from exile to the promised land, the curse continued—for another five hundred years.  Being ruled over by godless gentiles like the Romans was the proof.  What Israel needed was a new covenant.  Now, the Qumran community was unique in thinking that they were the people of that new covenant, but most other Jews would have agreed with the basic outline of the story.  The angry Pharisees who wrote the Palms of Solomon and the Maccabean martyrs would have agreed.  Ezra and Nehemiah and Daniel said the same thing: God's people, even after some of them had returned to Jerusalem, they were still sinful, still in “exile”, still “slaves in our own land”.  The promises of Deuteronomy 30, the promises that would come true if Israel were faithful, they had never happened.  Isaiah's promises of everything set to rights was only a dream.  Deuteronomy warned of that if Israel was unfaithful she would fall under a curse and Paul and his fellow Jews saw that curse happening in their own day.  Oppression by the pagan Romans was the current iteration in a long line back to Babylon. So Paul sums up the problem in verse 11 when he says that nobody is justified before God in the law, so “the righteous shall live by faith”.  He's quoting Habakkuk there.  But that was the big question for Paul and his fellow Jews.  There were these big promises.  Habakkuk said the righteous shall live by faith, but how were they supposed to get there?  No matter what Israel did, no matter how many reform movements came along, Israel was stuck in unfaithfulness and living under the curse.  Buckling down, like the Pharisees, and doing the law even harder wasn't working.  That's why Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5: “You shall therefore keep my statues and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord”.  There's a promise there, but pretty much everyone by Paul's day had lost hope.  Yes, if we keep the Lord's statues we will live, but no matter what we do and no matter how hard we try, we fail.  So Paul throws up his hands in despair and, I think, most other thoughtful Jews of his day would have thought the same way.  What more can we do? But as discouraging as this story might seem, if you really believed that all of Israel's woes were the curse promised in Deuteronomy 27, there was hope that one day, somehow the blessing of Deuteronomy 30 would happen—including God's renewal of his people by his Spirit.  And so, while his fellow Jews felt the weight of Leviticus 18:5, Paul saw the beginnings of hope there.  This was the Lord's promise and the Lord is faithful.  Paul saw it pointing to a new covenant and a new way of keeping the law—one that would finally work.  This—this new thing—is what Paul saw had happened—was happening—through Jesus the Messiah.  He goes on in verses 13 and 14: The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse on our behalf, as it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”  This was so that the blessing of Abraham could flow through to the nations in Messiah Jesus—and so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit, through faith. Paul saying, “It seemed hopeless, but look what God has done!  The curse that Deuteronomy promised has been borne by the Messiah.  Jesus can do that, because—remember—the king represents his people.  That's why I stressed last week that it's not just the promise to Abraham that's important, but that we also remember how David, the King, was incorporated into the promise as well.  So Jesus the Messiah, the King came to the place where the pagans, agents of the curse, were oppressing his people and he took the curse on himself.  And he didn't do it in some abstract way.  It was obvious.  It was unmistakable.  The cross was the great symbol of Roman oppression and brutality.  Jesus literally took Israel's curse on himself when he died on the cross. Israel, through her unfaithfulness, had become like a logjam in the river of God's blessing, so Jesus the King became, himself, a literal son of Abraham and bore Israel's curse himself, thereby becoming the conduit for God to pour out his Spirit.  He cleared the logjam.  This is what Paul means in verse 14 when he writes that the blessing of Abraham could flow through to the nations in Messiah Jesus”.  That's the first result of Jesus' death on the cross.  The second thing he did was to renew God's covenant.  This is what the prophets had promised.  The Lord wasn't just going to let Israel rot away as a logjam in the river or even bypass Israel.  Through Jesus, God poured out his Spirit on Israel, giving them a new way to keep his law, so that they could, again and as he intended, be the river carrying his blessings to the nations.  That's why Paul says we, meaning he and his fellow Jews who believed the good news about Jesus, we “might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”.  God has dealt with the logjam created by the law and the unfaithfulness of Israel and he's done so through Jesus' death and through the pouring out of his Spirit.  And now Paul and his fellow Jewish missionaries are like the river, freed of the logjam, rushing out to carry the light and life of God to the nations.  For Paul, the mission to the gentiles and the fact that in Jesus, the gentile and Jewish believers were worshiping and eating and gathering around the Lord's Table together as one family, this was proof that God is faithful to do what he has promised. That's as far as we'll go today with Chapter 3.  These verses have a reputation for being notoriously difficult, but a lot of that is because for a very long time we've tried to read what Paul says here as abstract doctrinal propositions, when what Paul is really doing is telling the story of God and his people.  Paul does it that way in part because it puts the faithfulness of God to his promises front and centre and gives us reason to believe him and to trust him, but Paul also puts this all in terms of this great story of redemption, because it shows us our place in the story.  When we look at this in terms of the story, what stands out in the middle of it is that we are, by faith in the Messiah, members of Abraham's promised family.  By faith in Jesus the Messiah, not by circumcision or torah or anything else.  By faith in Jesus the Messiah.  Getting that right was the solution to the problems in Galatia.  Think about that.  When we think about Christian identity, how often do we think of in terms of being sons and daughters of Abraham?  This was a really, really big deal for Paul.  And as much as we sang the song about Father Abrahamwhen we were kids in Sunday School—I am one of them, and so are you—this theme is almost entirely ignored down through the history of the church.  We even have a whole school of recent evangelical theology committed to the idea that only ethnic Jews are children of Abraham.  But this truth, that we are children of Abraham and heirs of God's promises to him, it's absolutely essential to Paul.  So much so, that for him the gospel stands or falls on this truth.  It means that we're part of the story and it means that as God pours his Spirit into us and makes us his temple, we see his faithfulness to his promises. Think on that as you come to the Lord's Table this morning.  We eat the bread and drink the wine as one family in fulfilment of the promises that the Lord made so long ago to Abraham.  We are brothers and sisters, because Jesus has, by his grace, grafted us into this family.  The simple fact that we are here together and that God has poured his Spirit into us, is proof of his faithfulness.  So eat the bread and drink the wine, look around at your brothers and sisters, remember our place in this story, and have faith, believe, trust.  We live in difficult days and like, Charles Blondin's manager, sitting on his shoulders and looking down at the long drop and the churning waters, we might be tempted to get down and walk the tightrope ourselves.  Brothers and Sisters, keep the faith, keep trusting in the God who has proved himself faithful.  Jesus and the Spirit have brought us this far and Jesus and the Spirit will see us through to the end. Let's pray: Gracious Father, who keep us steadfast in faith, we pray.  We are fickle, but you have proved yourself faithful.  Remind us always of the great story into which you have grafted us so that we live in your faithfulness, redeemed by your Son and renewed by your Spirit.  Give us grace to trust and obey you and to be your river of gospel life flowing to the nations.  Through Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Send us a textIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the Qumran Caves, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most significant finds in biblical archaeology. Discover the ancient Jewish sects, including the Essenes, who may have lived in these caves, and the remarkable manuscripts they left behind. From the Isaiah Scroll to the mysterious Copper Scroll—a treasure map etched in metal—Katy and Laura explore the religious, cultural, and historical significance of these 2,000-year-old artifacts. Whether you're fascinated by ancient history, archaeological treasures, or the mysteries of the past, this episode is packed with insights into the rich legacy of the Dead Sea Scrolls.Want to see behind the scenes and unedited footage?!

Meet Dr. Robert R. Cargill, the Roger A. Hornsby Associate Professor in the Classics at The University of Iowa. He is a devout scholar of Jewish and biblical studies and an archaeologist, author, and digital humanist. In this episode, he joins us to unveil how our scholarly capacity and critical thinking can lead us to unravel some of history's most perplexing mysteries… Dr. Cargill's research interests are vast, including second temple Judaism, literary criticism of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha, and the archaeology of Southwest Asia. He is also the author of Melchizedek, King of Sodom: How Scribes Invented the Biblical Priest-King and The Cities That Built the Bible – and has appeared on CNN, History, Discovery, Nat Geo, and other networks. Jump in to discover:  Must-know facts about the Old Testament.  The importance of reading the Bible critically.  How Biblical history is infused with other ancient cultures.  How to resolve faith-based contradictions with scientific methods. To learn more about Dr. Cargill and his work, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/30PvU9C

Josh Peck talks with Janie Duvall ‪@JanieDuVall‬ about prophecies found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.Donate: http://PayPal.me/JoshPeckDisclosureCashApp: $JoshScottPeck

Exactly what was the meaning of “baptism of repentance” and the importance of it? Though today the word baptism generally evokes thoughts of identifying with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, baptism did not begin with Christians. You do not find baptism mentioned in the Old Testament. For years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. Also ritual cleaning by water was require by the priest in the Old Testament and for anyone who would enter the tabernacle or temple.   Each time I have visited Israel we always go to place called Qumran located on the west side Dead Sea just south of the Jordan River and in an area called the wilderness where John began his ministry. This is where the Essenes lived. The Essenes were copyists. It is believed that they were the ones who wrote and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves near their dwellings. At these ruins you will find their cleansing baths that were very elaborate. It is believed that John the Baptist was with this group for a period of time. It may be where the God revealed to him to begin what would be known as the “baptism of repentance”.   John the Baptist took baptism and applied it to the Jews themselves, because it wasn't just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many believed John's message and were baptized by him (Matthew 3:5–6). The baptisms John performed had a specific purpose. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: “I baptize you with water for repentance.” Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: “John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”   John's baptism had to do with repentance. It was a symbolic representation of changing one's mind and going in a new direction. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:6). Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one's sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God's law in anticipation of the Messiah's arrival.   There were some, like the Pharisees, who came to the Jordan to observe John's ministry but who had no desire to step into the water themselves. John rebuked them sternly: “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance'” (Matthew 3:7–8). Even the religious leaders needed to repent of their sin, although they saw no need of it.   Christian baptism today also symbolizes repentance, cleansing, and commitment, but Jesus has given it a different emphasis. When Jesus was baptized by John it was not for repentance because He never sinned. But to “fulfill all righteousness”, Jesus was baptized as the Sinless One to identify with the sinner who needed forgiveness. Christian baptism is a mark of one's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.   Baptism for the new believer is an act of obedience and is representative of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the natural response of one who has been made new. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross completely washes away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Romans 6:1–11). With John's baptism, a person repented of sin and was therefore ready to place his faith in Jesus Christ. John's baptism foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, much as the Old Testament sacrificial system did.   In this way John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples' hearts to receive their Savior.   Have you identified with the Lord Jesus since you have given your heart to Him and received His forgiveness of your sins?   God bless!

Dr. David Gushee returns to continue the timely discussion of his new book, The Moral Teachings of Jesus. Ken and David expand on the Golden Rule. Gushee's doctoral work at Union Seminary focussed on ethics and the Holocaust. His work on the horrors of torture got the attention of Christianity Today when the horrific American abuses against prisoners held at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay came to light. Christian military officials asked the magazine for guidance. In reponse, David was commissioned to write CT's extensive cover story. In it, he clarified, “the prohibition on torture in international law admits no exceptions,” and then offered an ethical treatise rooted in Jesus' teaching. Dr. Gushee expands on Jesus' emphasis on what we do over what we say - “By our fruit” we will be known. He points to the heavy implications that relate to money and wealth in Jesus' direct challenge. No one can serve both God and money. “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be.” It's a lively, insightful conversation filled with wisdom, humor and common sense - especially valuable for those sorting out the demands of toxic religion from the potent, life-altering teachings of the Rabbi from Nazareth. SHOW NOTESThe Moral Teachings of Jesus: Radical Instruction in the Will of God Become a Patron | Ken's Substack PageSupport the show

Josh Peck talks with Yvette Galling from Table Talk about the amazing prophecies in the Dead Sea Scrolls & more. Don't forget to subscribe to Table Talk by clicking the @tabletalkwithyvettegallinar in the title.Donate: http://PayPal.me/JoshPeckDisclosureCashApp: $JoshScottPeck

Archeology is the science that most directly connects us with our past, and no city in the world has been subject to more archeological interest than Jerusalem. With us to explore the archeology of Jerusalem is Jodi Magness. Jodi is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 2002, she has been the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jodi's research interests focus on Palestine in the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, and Diaspora Judaism in the Roman world. She has studied ancient pottery, ancient synagogues, Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Roman army in the East. Today we discuss her most recent book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades, published in 2024 by Oxford University Press.

David Gushee - author, ethicist and global influencer - returns to talk about his new book entitled The Moral Teachings of Jesus: Radical Instruction in the Will of God. Professor Gushee, like Ken, interacts with many folks of all ages and stages who have become disillusioned with Christianity - particularly the evangelical version that has become identified with political conservatism. Often, while deconstructing religion, these same people will report - Jesus' life and teaching remain relevant and compelling. Ken takes the opportunity to ask some questions he's had for a long time: Why did my tradition focus way more on Paul than Jesus? Since the four gospels were written years after Jesus, how can we rely on them as an accurate account of the teachings of Jesus? Has the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28 been misrepresented and misunderstood to justify colonialism? Imperialism? To make the world like us? What about Matthew 25? Was Jesus influenced by the community at Qumran? Ken and Dr. Gushee review a collection of Jesus' teachings that are surprisingly relevant today. They include a review of Gushee's graduate school mentor, Glen Stassen's reading of the Sermon on the Mount, “no one can serve both God and mammon;” the “Golden Rule;” the house built on a rock; the rich man, Lazarus and “eternal conscious torment;” the woman caught in adultery; the Samaritan woman at the well, and more. Dr. Gushee finishes with a surprisingly powerful conclusion. SHOW NOTESThe Moral Teachings of Jesus: Radical Instruction in the Will of God Become a Patron | Ken's Substack PageSupport the show

Josh Peck talks about the uncanny commonalities between Dead Sea Scrolls and New Testament prophecies.Donate: http://PayPal.me/JoshPeckDisclosureCashApp: $JoshScottPeckCheck out Josh Peck's new two-volume book set on the history and prophecies of the Dead Sea Scrolls at Prophecy Watchers:Forgotten Prophecies of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Vol.1) - https://prophecywatchers.com/product/... Forgotten Prophecies of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Vol.2) - https://prophecywatchers.com/product/...Check out The Orlando Prophecy Summit On Demand with a special promo code from our friends at Prophecy Watchers! Signing up is easy. Just head on over to https://prophecywatchersondemand.uscr... and sign up with the promo coupon code PECKORLANDO24 to have full access to all videos and speakers as soon as they are available!For more information on the conference, speakers, and topics, visit: https://www.orlandoprophecysummit.com/

Episode: New co-host Jason Staples speaks with Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about her new book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (Oxford University Press, 2024), the spectacular synagogue mosaic her team discovered at Huqoq, why specializing in pottery is an advantage for archaeologists, and lots more. Guest: Dr. Jodi Magness is Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Magness' research interests, which focus on Palestine in the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, and Diaspora Judaism in the Roman world, include ancient pottery, ancient synagogues, Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Roman army in the East. Her most recent books are Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (New York: Oxford University, March 2024); and Ancient Synagogues in Palestine: A Reevaluation Nearly a Century After Sukenik's Schweich Lectures. The Schweich Lectures of the British Academy 2022 (London: The British Academy/Oxford University Press, June 2024). Three of Magness' books have won awards: Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth (Princeton: Princeton University, 2019) was selected as a finalist for the 2019 National Jewish Book Award in the category of History, the Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award; The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002; revised edition 2021) won the 2003 Biblical Archaeology Society's Award for Best Popular Book in Archaeology in 2001-2002 and was selected as an “Outstanding Academic Book for 2003” by Choice Magazine; and The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2003) was awarded the 2006 Irene Levi-Sala Book Prize in the category of non-fiction on the archaeology of Israel. Her other books include The 2003-2007 Excavations in the Late Roman Fort at Yotvata (co-authored with G. Davies) (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2015); The Archaeology of the Holy Land from the Destruction of Solomon's Temple to the Muslim Conquest (New York: Cambridge University, 2012); and Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2011). In addition, Magness has published dozens of articles in journals and edited volumes. (from the UNC website) Give: Help support OnScript and Biblical World as we grow and develop. Click HERE.  

A fascinating account of this and the teacher of righteousness, including the date of the origins of Qumran. God bless you and thank you for listening!!

And their writings at Qumran. Thank you for listening and God bless!

THE BOOK OF 1 ENOCH has had a powerful influence on Christian theology. But it's more than just an explanation of how the Nephilim came to be in Genesis 6. The second section of the Book of 1 Enoch, chapters 37–71, is called the Book of Parables by scholars. It was the last section of 1 Enoch to be written, probably completed toward the very end of the 1st century BC. It contains teachings that are not found in any prior Jewish writing—for example, the forgiveness of sin through repentance rather than the Law, the imminent judgment of God on an evil world, and the coming of a messianic figure called the Son of Man who would execute God's justice on rebellious angels, evil kings, and wicked landowners. What's more, scholars now believe the Book of Parables was written by Essenes—but not at Qumran, where the idea that anyone could be forgiven outside of their community and their rules was inconceivable. The group that wrote the Book of Parables lived in the north, at Mount Arbel near the town of Magdala on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. This is near the south end of the valley through which the Jordan River flows between the Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee. This valley is the physical Valley of the Shadow of Death—and Jesus declared it so when he moved from Nazareth to make his home at Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee—plainly visible from Mount Arbel less than six miles away. The Essenes of Mount Arbel, who could see Mount Hermon on the northeastern horizon, prepared the ground in the upper Galilee for the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah. And they did it with teachings preserved for us in the Book of 1 Enoch. Follow us! • X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation• Facebook.com/viewfromthebunker Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We're in the process of moving our studios and book/DVD warehouse and shipping office out of our home and across the yard into the Barn. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. —— Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. Check out our weekly video program Unraveling Revelation (www.unravelingrevelation.tv), and subscribe to the YouTube channel: YouTube.com/UnravelingRevelation. —— Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. —— NEW DATES FOR OUR NEXT TOUR OF ISRAEL! Our 2025 tour features special guests Timothy Alberino, Dr. Judd Burton, and Doug Van Dorn! We will tour the Holy Land March 25–April 3, 2025, with an optional three-day extension in Jordan. For more information, log on to www.GilbertsInIsrael.com. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. It is day 246 of the war with Hamas. Host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with archaeologist Prof. Jodi Magness for today's bonus episode from our What Matters Now weekly podcast series. This Wednesday, Israel marked Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War. But the capital has a rich and fascinating history of rulership changes since its foundation circa 1000 BCE. Magness just published her latest book, "Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades," through Oxford University Press. She stopped by The Times of Israel's Jerusalem offices to speak about the ancient eternal city's rulerships and populations throughout the eras. “Jerusalem Through the Ages” is a 700-page weighty tome that delves into the city's history through archaeological evidence and also texts, including the Bible and extra-biblical material such as the Egyptian Amarna Letters. Magness is Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of 11 books, including "Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth," "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus," and "The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls." From 2011 until 2023, Magness directed excavations at Huqoq in Israel's Galilee and uncovered its breathtaking mosaics. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: Prof. Jodi Magness in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on April 11, 2022. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/The Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and co-host Cynthia Shafer-Elliott learn from Jamal-Dominique Hopkins about the history of sacrifice in the Qumran community and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in understanding Judaism during the Second Temple period, exploring the interplay of tradition and innovation in ancient Jewish communities. Show Notes → ********** This episode is sponsored by Lumi. To learn more about microdosing THC, go to Microdose.com and use code NORMALPEOPLE to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. ********** This episode is sponsored by Fast Growing Trees. This Spring they have the best deals online, up to half off on select plants and other deals. And listeners to our show get an additional 15% off their first purchase when using the code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at FastGrowingTrees.com using the code NORMALPEOPLE at checkout. Offer is valid for a limited time, terms and conditions may apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices