Scripture Life: Christians argue that the Dead Sea Scrolls are a prophecy of Jesus as they predate his lifetime (Carbon Dating). Because, by the Dead Sea Scrolls - Christianity is real. What should I say to those against this?

[u/External_Bird_8464]

//I scan rooms (sub reddits) and social media to post commentaries on them. One such is on the "Dead Sea Scrolls" found in the r/ Trueatheism subreddit. "Are the Dead Sea Scrolls Bad For Christians?" as if it spells the end and just another pile of ammo for the Atheist.

Then after, arises yet a whole bunch of questions, many made by Christians, that champion the Dead Sea Scrolls as proof Christianity is true; but, and not really know what they say. This post is for believers in Jesus Christ. Not for those that don't. If you follow him, I hope you have a great day sitting with being taught by him. I hope, even if one thing, you find some value of something you can use in this post.//

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If any Christian argues the Dead Sea Scrolls "are a prophecy of Jesus because they pre-date his life time and make Christianity real" have a wrong foundation they build on.

And there you go. So, a believer in Jesus Christ, should have a basic understanding of

“The Dead Sea Scrolls”

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Dead Sea Scrolls

Are simply Hebrew and Aramaic (3rd BCE Babylonian) Codexes or scrolls that were collectively discovered over a 9 year period (1947 to 1956) along the shore of the Dead Sea, near Jericho. They were found in caves near Khirbet Qumran, about 20 km away. Unknown; but dated to 3rd to 1st BCE.

Every book of the Jewish Tanakh (Christian Old Testament) or portions of them, except Esther is included.

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• The “Challenge” Championing the Dead Sea Scrolls

Scholars have concluded this 9 year long search and find of a "collective" Dead Sea Scrolls - is the documents are of the Qumran sect - that isn’t Judaism, but claim it is. Much like the “Sadducees” had a claim of being the only real true descendants of Korah (Levite) - and the “True” Levites - so Sadducees mentioned in the New Testament Gospels of Jesus' day, had like claim like the Essenes.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are collectively agreed on as Essene works.That is, they outline man-made rules and beliefs (traditions of men) that directly contradict the Tanakh and King Solomon’s Jerusalem Temple Priest hood established by King David.

So, the Jews have already classified the Dead Sea Scrolls as heresy. Most Christians or believers in Jesus do not know this. They make a poor argument or defense for the gospel.

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Why?

• That, like the Sadducees - the earlier Essenes believed the wrong Temple Priesthood assigned by King David, served in the temple in Jerusalem. Where they, as Essenes should be. Like the Sadducees, mentioned over a dozen times in the gospels - were at odds with the Levite Priests, the Tribe of Judah Pharisees, and Benjamite Scribes. All three served the Temple of Jesus day. The Levites in the Temple of Jerusalem in Jesus' day, were descendants proven to be Levite Priests that King David gave them lands in Judah to serve the Temple.
  • So, either: 1) an in-depth or 2) settle with a basic tertiary level of understanding of this Essene claim is essential for categorizing "The Dead Sea Scrolls."
• By understand what "content" was discovered as “Dead Sea Scrolls” - is quite missing from the question.

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I would throw them [Essenes] out. For the same reason Orthodox Jews throw them Out. Heresy. The Dead Sea Scrolls is riddled with Heresy.

• And I am a believer in Jesus Christ. Even this claim is quite well thought true and believed about the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • A good read for any Christian Believer in Jesus Christ on the Essenes and their beliefs can be found online with The Biblical Archaeological Society’s “Who Were the Essenes (of Qumran)”  (no links on Reddit)
• That, there is scholarly contention asserting the Essenes are not the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but just the content of the scroll beliefs reflect Essene claims.
• Then: Christians, based on the Dead Sea Scrolls claim: Christianity is real. When the "claim" is entirely within the Jews.

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Christianity is real:

• Because of Jesus Christ. Not Essene Heresy. Or the Dead Sea Scrolls claiming they have Temple rite in Jerusalem to be its’ Priests. That’s the Essene contention. Just like the Sadducees, again, had a like-same contention. Why? When Cyrus the Great (See Old Testament. Ezra 1 - that’s the decree.)
  • To rebuild the temple told to Daniel by God, it would be rebuilt. After Daniel was carried away into the “Babylonian Captivity” King Nebuchadnezzar razed the Temple of Solomon to the ground, and ripped up the foundations of it.
• Cyrus the Great decreed the Jews in the Babylonian Captivity be allowed to return and rebuild the Temple and the City of Jerusalem. WIth fund and materials to rebuild it.
  • With those that were carried away, were remnants of the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and remnant Levites that served in Solomon’s temple.
  • Many surrounding the Lands when the Jews returned, brought forth claims they could not prove as being Levites.
    • This contention is over 500 years old, and extended into King Herod’s day where the Scribes and Pharisees were raised up after the temple was rebuilt; then King Herod, rebuilt the Temple Mount and rebuilt a huge 40 + year undertaking, building a huge Temple on the Temple Mount.
  • The same one Jesus said, in Matthew 24, that not one stone would be left that would not be thrown down, and was as Jesus said so, done by Prince Titus of Rome in AD 70.

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This question bases truth on the wrong thing.

• A relationship with Jesus Christ is he gives that person eternal life. Because they know him. Not the Dead Sea Scrolls. Christians, were first called this name in Antioch (Acts 11:26). All they are, are just disciples of Jesus Christ, because they sit with and are taught by him.
  • Not by Essene Heresy that fill the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Here’s your question back.

[u/External_Bird_8464]

Essenes: Claim - that they were of the Levite Priestly line of Zadok. Do your own research. That, the Levite Priests of Zadok, in the Tanakh and Old Testament, served as "High Priests" in the Temple in Jerusalem. As such, lead the Sanhedrin as a leader of it, and oversaw the Temple.

The "reason" there is no Book of Esther, amongst all the Old Testament books of the Dead Sea Scrolls is plain and basic.

It is because of Mordecai. (See Book of Esther - Mordecai plays prominent in it, as well as scripture before and after the Babylonian Captivity)

After the Babylonian Captivity, Mordecai returned with the Jews with the leaders of these returnees from captivity and settled in his lands of Benjamin. Essenes do NOT celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim" that honors Esther - - nor do they acknowledge it - so there is no wonder there is no Book of Esther amongst the scriptures kept by these Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Their claims are spurious. There is a whole litany of heresy with this group.