Author : W. Barnes Tatum Screen Reader : Supported Works with : Source : Status : Available | Last checked: 3 Hour ago! Size : 23,374 KB |
Questions concerning the historical John the Baptist and Jesus are answered in this provocative and lucid report prepared by W. Barnes Tatum. The Jesus Seminar has considered all the historical evidence related to John the Baptist found in the gospels, Josephus, the documents known as the Pseudo-Clementines, and the traces of the Baptist tradition preserved in Mandaeism, a baptizing sect that continues to exist in southern Iraq and neighboring Iran. This volume contains a summary of the deliberations and votes of the Seminar, together with a concise sketch of the historical figure of John the Baptist.
It is certain that a Jewish sect had established a settlement in the Judean wilderness just off the northwest shore of the Dead Sea at a place called Qumran. This sect, associated with what have become known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, was probably a community of Essenes. At one time John himself may have been an Essene even if not a member, or former member, of the community of Essenes at Qumran. At the time of his initial appearing and subsequent ministry, however, John was neither an Essene nor a lone sage and holy many like Bannusmentioned by Josephus who also withdrew into the wilderness to live an ascetic style of life.