QUESTION:     I wanted to inquire as to the EOTC perspective on the teachings of Jesus found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The information listed on a certain website depicts Jesus speaking on issues related to vegetarianism, among other notable issues. The site also discusses the controversy of St. Paul, the Book of Enoch, as well as many other interesting topics. Please let me know if these teachings are in line with that of the EOTC. Thanks!

ANSWER:     Thank you for your question regarding the EOTC perspective on Jesus' teaching.  Bear in mind that the center of the final prophecy by John the Baptist about Him, was also what he taught, upon opening His public ministry: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  While it is quite likely that He was aware of contemporaries who refused to participate in Temple worship as He, his family, and disciples did, in the canonical Gospels there is only one reference to the movement at Qumran that is now popularly associated with the "Essenes."   Evidence, particularly textual fragments (Dead Sea scrolls) came to modern light just the past 64 years.  And, it indicates that members of that community referred to themselves as "The sons of light."  Luke 16:8 reports Jesus telling a parable about a clever investor caught in a financial downturn. He compares the cunning with which this fellow attempted to cut his losses as being superior to that of "The sons of light."  If you are interested in finding more on this theme, see:

 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/scrolltranslation.html

Canonical Gospel accounts of Jesus' teachings indicate He very frequently quoted the Psalms of David.  It is also true, that Dead Sea scrolls texts indicate a community of people who also appreciate the value of the Psalms, as well as what Orthodox Christians call "Biblical Odes." That's about as close as hard evidence comes to showing that these people even knew that Jesus Christ lived within the time frame that their community flourished.  He was, in fact, everything that anyone should have been expecting.  But, since he only seemed to be trying to reform, rather than rejecting contemporary Temple worship, even, having heard of the great miracles that He worked, they would probably never have come out to hear Him preach.

The site that you mentioned did well to mention the above coincidences, plus indicating the value of works mistakenly branded "Apocrypha" since the 16th century, like the Wisdom of Solomon.  It also mentions the value of the book of Enoch, which prior to one of the Qumran discoveries, had only been taken seriously by the Ethiopian Church tradition.  Besides these positive contributions, noted above, it looks like the balance of offerings is a bunch of Gnostic rubbish.  I didn't check their prices; but, if you're into publications sensationalizing biblical trivia, I bet you'll find more reliable titles available from Oxford University Press.  However, if it is more a matter of assuming that you cannot wring any more benefit from Bible reading, pray, fast, give alms, and read the PHILOKALIA or THE WORD IN THE DESERT by Douglas Burton-Christie.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Who is always in our midst.

Abba Thomas

Monk-Priest