The Anglican. Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question?

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1 The Anglican ST. GEORGE S ANGLICAN CHURCH 6300 TELEPHONE ROAD VENTURA CA PHONE SERVICES HELD IN THE SDA CHAPEL AT 10:30 SUNDAYS. CHILDCARE PROVIDED. June 2017 Website: ISSUE 165 Do the Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question? The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between , 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 Qum- 1

2 ran 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 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 community documents; they have not been the focus of a commentary. The incomplete nature of the discovery makes this no surprise. Conversely, the scribes at Qumran considered some books canonical that were not included later in the Old Testament canon by either the Jewish or Christian communities. Examples include the books later known as 1 Enoch and Jubilees. Although the Dead Sea Scrolls provide fascinating insights into how one group of Jews thought about their canon, ultimately they offer no definitive conclusion to the broader modern discussion. QUICKBIT: Originally, no fragments of Nehemiah were found among the Qumran scrolls. Since Ezra and Nehemiah were originally combined in the ancient Jewish canon and fragments of Ezra were found at Qumran Esther was considered the only omission. But in the Spring of 2012, scholars discovered the first Nehemiah fragment among the scrolls that were found in Qumran Cave 4. 2

3 Old Testament Cosmology Cosmology refers to the way we understand the structure of the universe. The Israelites believed in a universe that was common among the ancient civilizations of the biblical world. It encompassed three parts: a heavenly realm, an earthly realm for humans, and an underworld for the dead. These three tiers are reflected in the Ten Commandments: You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Exod 20:4). The Heavens The sky, thought to be a solid firmament, separated the waters above from the waters below: When he established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep (Prov 8:27 28). God was thought to dwell above the firmament, as described in Job 22:14: Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven. The Earth The earth sat upon the watery deep. The waters below speak not only to waters that people use, but also the deeper abyss. Thus, the earth was surrounded by the seas (Gen 1:9 10), having arisen out of the water (2 Pet 3:5). The earth was thought to be held fast by pillars or sunken foundations (1 Sam 2:8; Job 38:4 6; Psa 104:5). The Underworld The realm of the dead was located under the earth. The most frequent term for this place was sheol ( ; Provשאול 9:18; Psa 6:4 5; 18:4 5). The word for earth ( ʾ, ( eretsארץ is also used the graves dug by humans represented gateways to the Underworld. In Job, the realm of the dead is described in watery terms: The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants. Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering (Job 26:5 6). By becoming familiar with the ancient Near Eastern worldview can help us interpret the Old Testament. By understanding the Israelites concept of cosmology, we have a better idea of their perceptions of God. 3

4 Church Ladies With Typewriters Contributed by Jenny Card They' r e Back! Those wonder f ul Chur ch Bul l et i ns! Thank God f or t he chur ch l adi es wi t h t ypewr i t er s. These sent ences act ual l y appear ed i n chur ch bul l et i ns or wer e announced at chur ch ser vi ces: The Fast i ng & Pr ayer Conf er ence i ncl udes meal s. Scout s ar e savi ng al umi ni um cans, bot t l es and ot her i t ems t o be r ecycl ed Pr oceeds wi l l be used t o cr i ppl e chi l dr en. The ser mon t hi s mor ni ng: ' Jesus Wal ks on t he Wat er. ' The ser mon t oni ght : ' Sear chi ng f or Jesus. ' Ladi es, don' t f or get t he r ummage sal e. I t ' s a chance t o get r i d of t hose t hi ngs not wor t h keepi ng ar ound t he house. Br i ng your husbands. Don' t l et wor r y ki l l you of f - l et t he Chur ch hel p. Mi ss Char l ene Mason sang ' I wi l l not pass t hi s way agai n, ' gi vi ng obvi ous pl easur e t o t he congr egat i on. For t hose of you who have chi l dr en and don' t know i t, we have a nur ser y downst ai r s. Next Thur sday t her e wi l l be t r y- out s f or t he choi r. They need al l t he hel p t hey can get. 4

5 ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON PICTURES THE ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON AT MARIE CALLENDER S WAS WELL ATTENDED. REV. TERNAHAN LED THE GROUP IN THE LORD S PRAYER AND LUCILLE LEAD THE SINGING OF THE DOXOLOGY AND AMAZING GRACE. PICTURED LEFT ARE CAROLE AND LARRY, REV. EVETTS, ELEANOR AND CHUCK BATTERSON, DUNCAN BURKE (OBSCURED) AND CYNTHIA PHILLIPS AND JUDY SCHNEIDER. PICTURED ON THE RIGHT IS SUE TORRES, ST. GEORGE S HOSPITALITY CHAIRMAN. LARRY AND CAROLE SERVE ON THE ALTAR GUILD AND AS USHERS WHEN NEEDED DURING THE SERVICE. SUE HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE CHURCH LUNCHEONS AND SNACK FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS. THIS YEAR AS LAST DEE LUFTENBURG TOOK ON THE JOB OF ORGANIZING A SMOOTH LUNCHEON, THANKS, DEE! 5

6 ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON PICTURES THE TIMOTHY BUCKLEY FAMILY ENJOYS A QUIET CONVERSATION WHILE WAITING TO GO TO THE BUFFET. REVEREND HENRY BIRKINBINE LISTENS TO THE CONVERSATION. BETSY PERVORSE AND BONNIE MESINOFF CONVERSE AT THE LUNCHEON. BOTH SERVE ST. GEORGE S IN THE CONDUCT OF THE MORNING PRAYER SERVICE. BETSY IS A LECTOR AND BONNIE SERVES AS A MORNING PRAYER ASSISTANT. 6

7 ELISE PRESSEY WATCHES BRIANA LEARN TO USE HER FORK AT THE LUNCHEON. REV EDWARD PRESSEY AND WIFE KRISTINA TRAVELED FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO ATTEND THE SERVICE AND LUNCHEON 7

8 ST. GEORGE S ANGLICAN CHURCH 6300 TELEPHONE RD VENTURA CA CHURCH LADIES WITH TYPEWRITERS: HUMOR (CONTINUED) At t he eveni ng mass t oni ght, t he ser mon t opi c wi l l be ' What I s Hel l?' Come ear l y and l i st en t o our choi r pr act i ce. Ei ght new choi r r obes ar e cur r ent l y needed due t o t he addi t i on of sever al new member s and t o t he det er i or a- t i on of some ol der ones. Pl ease pl ace your donat i on i n t he envel ope al ong wi t h t he deceased per son you want r emember ed. Low Sel f Est eem Suppor t Gr oup wi l l meet Thur sday at 7 PM. Pl ease use t he back door. 8