Essene Epistemology
The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel; Joel 1:1
Came to – Have you received a “word from the Lord”? Have you been offered some personal instruction from God given to you by someone else? That seems to be the modus operandi of the prophets. Time and again we read, “the word of the LORD came to” such and such a man. Is that the same process we find today when someone politely tells us that God has given them a word for us? Where did this epistemological method come from? When did men begin to believe that God delivered messages to them for others’ benefit (or condemnation)?
If we look at the Hebrew text associated with God’s revelation to the prophets, we don’t find anything that resembles message delivery. The verb is hayah, to become, to be, to happen. There is no attempt to explain how this happened. All we know is that somehow it did.
But by the time we get to the first century BC, things have changed. The Essenes, a separatist community still practicing during the time of Yeshua, developed the beginnings of our contemporary Christian view of “a word from the Lord” delivery. According to the Essenes, “The way of saving knowledge which puts the individual in the realm of the spirit of truth is only open in the community, where in charismatic fashion the Torah, the Torah and the prophets are interpreted in respect of the divine mysteries of history and a perfect fulfillment of the divine commandments, and are thus disclosed in their deeper meaning. . . . Divine revelation is needed, even if one is to be able to know the mysteries of the divine revelation in scripture. . . . [Divine revelation] gives man knowledge of his absolute nothingness and complete sinfulness, leads him to repentance and thus makes him willing to separate himself now, at the end of time, from the massa perditionis of apostate Israel and the nations of the world, and enter the holy remnant of the community of the ‘children of light’ which incorporates the people of God. . . . In this way the community becomes the ‘eschatological community of salvation’, which has only an external, loose connection with the national association of the people; in other words, it becomes a ‘church.’”[1]
In the Essene community, one must be the recipient of divine revelation before one can understand Scripture correctly. This is brought about not only by God’s direct action but by the precondition that one accept the rule and authority of the community. All revelation occurs within the community since the world is lost and unrepentant. Inside the community, believers discover the true meaning of events, both now and in the future.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, you should not be surprised. Hengel correctly notices that this is the beginning of what we call “church.” Epistemologically, it implies that we cannot know the truth until we are converted and unless we are members of the community. This epistemological position still holds sway over scores of denominations. It shapes our reading of the Bible by requiring us to conform to the paradigm of the group in order to understand God’s word. And, of course, it means that God’s word is directly revealed and explained only within the group.
Perhaps it isn’t much comfort to know that this view of how we understand Scripture has such a long history, but it is at least informative. It helps us see why there are such strong adherents to doctrinal exclusivity. But it also calls into question our tendency to believe that God reveals Himself only to the “faithful.” We may never know how God was manifest in the mind and voice of Amos or Hosea or Joel. But we can certainly acknowledge that these men weren’t part of the “group think” that we so often find in our worship communities. Maybe that “word of the Lord” for you isn’t quite as theologically sound as it sounds. J
Topical Index: epistemology, Essenes, word of the Lord, Joel 1:1
[1] Martin Hengel, Judaism and Hellenism, pp. 222-223.
So sad to hear many churches declare: ‘The truth is only to be found in our church’! That’s the same as telling the people in other churches: You don’t belong to the Body of Christ. I believe God never gave one ‘church’ the complete truth. That’s His way to make us understand we all need each other to become complete. The hand cannot say to the foot: I don’t need you. And that’s not our doing, but God’s.
Skip,
Thank you for teaching on this Quamran group called the “Essenes.” The more we come to know of this sectarian group, it seems the more one realizes people do not really change. The culture and language are different but the issues are still the same 20 centuries later.
I made some comments on this particular group back on your teaching titled “Faithful Traitor.” Blessings from the Father of Lights in whom is no variableness or shifting shadow!
Maybe that “word of the Lord” for you isn’t quite as theologically sound as it sounds. J
AND MAYBE THAT WORD OF THE LORD IS MORE THAN THEOLOGICALLY SOUND BUT SOMEONE DOESN’T WANT TO HEAR IT… ♥ J
I THINK & KNOW THAT GOD CAN SPEAK TO ANYONE HE CHOOSES – IN OR OUT OF THE CIRCLE & HE DOES – DOESN’T MEAN THEY ARE GOING TO LISTEN AS HE TOLD HIS PROPHETS OF LONG AGO & NOW BUT THE WORD MUST BE DELIVERED OUT OF OBEDIENCE. AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED WE SHOULD ALL BE PROPHESYING OVER ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF WHAT THE WORD(S) OF GOD ARE USED FOR ALSO… ♥ J
BEING ABLE TO SPEAK INTO SOMEONE’S LIFE IS EXPECTED IN A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST – WE ARE HIS INSTRUMENTS & HE EXPECTS IT OF US – HE GIVES US BOLDNESS TO DO SO & ALSO HUMBLE & TEACHABLE SPIRITS/HEARTS TO RECEIVE…
IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING A PROPHET PER SE BUT ABOUT HELPING ON ANOTHER… WHEN WE HEAR FROM GOD WE SHOULD SPEAK DOESN’T MEAN IT WILL BE RECEIVED BUT WE DID OBEY & THEY REST IS IN THE OTHER’S BALL COURT TO PLAY THE BALL/GAME AS WELL AS HE CAN SINCE YOU HANDED THE BALL TO HIM (FROM GOD)… J
I don’t know the exact situations people might be thinking of, but if you rebuke someone according to the word of God, you are fulfilling the command in Leviticus 19:17:
“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” (NKJV)
This is following the word. But isn’t this different from having something “revealed” to you about someone else? The difference may be subtle, but one claims a Higher authority. Maybe the difference is a matter of semantics, but we must be cautious not to use the Lord’s name in vain.
GABE, WHO IS USING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN – IS IT VANITY TO BE OBEDIENT – USUALLY A PERSON CAN GAGE ANY WORD BY THE SCRIPTURES AS YOU INDICATE ABOVE.
I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE USED “THUS SAITH THE LORD” I DON’T HAVE TO BECAUSE I KNOW FROM WHENCE THE WORD(S) COME & I HAVE ALSO BEEN DISOBEDIENT NOT GIVING THE WORD FOR FEAR OF BEING LAUGHED AT & PUT DOWN AS MOST LIKE TO DO & WITHIN THE YEAR OF WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE WORD THE PERSON I WAS GIVEN THE WORD ABOUT THAT I KNEW WOULD LAUGH IN MY FACE EXPERIENCED THE VERY WORD I WAS GIVEN TO GIVE THEM & DID NOT – SO YOU KNOW WHAT GABE – I DON’T CARE ANYMORE IF THERE IS RISK IN GIVING THE WORD BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER NOT BE SORRY FOR SAVING MY OWN FACE REPUTATION & THEN SEEING THE WORD MANIFEST THAT I DID NOT GIVE AS A WARNING (ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES SOMEONES WELL BEING/LIFE).
SO I FEAR NO LONGER & I KNOW THAT HE/GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME MISSING THE BOAT – AS LONG AS I AM OBEDIENT – WHEN THE WORD ROLLS OFF MY LIPS OR FINGERS – MY JOB IS DONE & THE BALL/THE WORD IS IN THE HANDS OF THE RECEIVER – HE/SHE CAN EITHER RUN WITH IT OR GET SACKED…
JAN 😉 ♥
Sorry,… like I said — I don’t know the specific situations that are coming to mind. I feel like I stepped into a topic with a lot of history, theology, and emotional baggage involved. I’m sorry if I came across accusatory. I don’t have much experience with giving or receiving a “Word from the Lord”. I don’t know the vocabulary, I don’t know if you are talking about a vision, a dream, or some other type of vivid premonition.
[slowly backs out of room]
🙂
Gabe, you didn’t come across accusatory – just like a person who hasn’t experienced something before & thinks it not possible – like some one that doesn’t know what they are talking about but would like too… the baggage comes with the territory or you wouldn’t be given the mission/words to speak – traveling for the Lord…
” I don’t know the vocabulary, I don’t know if you are talking about a vision, a dream, or some other type of vivid premonition.”
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE TO YOU IF THE WORD(S) WERE NOT FOR YOU??? JUST CURIOS??? ALL THESE YOU SPEAK OF ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANYONE & DO COME FROM THE LORD – DO YOU ENVY THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT CLAIMS A HIGHER AUTHORITY – IT IS YOURS AS AN INHERITANCE WHEN YOU BECOME ONE OF HIS & ENTER INTO BEING SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES – I KNOW THIS LANGUAGE MAY SEEM FOREIGN TO YOU BUT IT COMES WITH YEARS OF INTIMACY & RELATIONSHIP – NOT BY STUDYING BOOKS – READING OPENS MANY DOORS BUT RELATIONSHIP IS MUCH MUCH MORE THAN THAT…
I’M JUST CURIOS – WHERE DID THIS THOUGHT/STATEMENT/TEXT/TYPE COME FROM – WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO TYPE IT ABOVE??? “but we must be cautious not to use the Lord’s name in vain.”
JAN
THE FLOATING AXE HEAD…
http://ellerslie.com/Eric_Ludy_Sermons/Entries/2011/12/11_The_Floating_Ax_Head.html
There are tests of faith that prove the true substance of our spiritual man. First instance, when God appears to be silent – how do we respond? When God appears to have forgotten – do we actually believe He has? Or when the natural realm boasts that such a thing is impossible – will we believe the boast? Or how about when it would appear our God has lost – will we, for even one moment, tremble under the anxiety of such a farce? Ax heads sink in water. It’s a natural fact. But God is in the business of making iron float. And the church of Jesus Christ today must once again believe that even though it may appear that the ax head has officially sunk, it is in such moments that our God smiles and says, “Now watch what I will do!”
Jan,
I was just curious.
But maybe I should clarify, because I feel like – you thought – that I was being passive aggressive to your own revelations in my comments. But I was more thinking of past situations that I found myself in.
For example, I was in a situation where I felt something needed to be said to someone in my church, and it made me sick to even think about confronting them. It literally kept me up at night, but I felt it was exactly the kind of thing that God was talking about in Leviticus 19:17. After a couple of weeks I kept chickening out, and I finally prayed, “God, I can’t do this, please create an opportunity, and give me strength to this….”. Minutes later the individual sought me out and asked if he could talk to me (about something else). I believe it was an answer to prayer, and I was able to take a deep breath and segway the conversation to address the topic. It went much better than I could have imagined. Now, that person and I are closer than ever.
So,… nowhere in that conversation did I say, “God sent me/told me/…. “, ect. As one trying to tread the right path – I feel I am continually waging war against my own capacity for self-deception. Therefore, unless I had some incredible, unexplainable, intense vision or similar revelation – I would probably not describe it as a “Word from God”. So, yes, I am curious about your experience.
I guess I should have just asked: “How do you discern, as Paul did, what is just a good idea of yours, and what is more directly from God?”
Gabe, we all go through the war against our own capacity of self-deception but the more you hear from God & the more obedient you become to listening, hearing, doing (being obedient without fear of where it is coming from) then you won’t question these opportunities to do God’s will in your life & the lives of others. i would say we should keep that caution & not be arrogant with what we hear (a word for someone) but also do not discount it. it is something you will learn if God chooses to use you in that way – i think he uses most of us in the family of God in that way for each other but fear stops many from “practicing” these discernments/opportunities God presents us. i don’t question people’s motives or what they are saying or doing because i don’t know about it unless they may open up to me & tell me just in fellowshipping.
YOU DISCERN BY PRACTICING & LEARNING TO HEAR HIS VOICE & NOT YOUR’S & IF IT LINES UP WITH SCRIPTURE. IT IS SKILLS HONED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT & MOST ALL ARE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE GIVING WORDS THAT ARE NOT FROM HIM BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH BUT WE CAN ALSO MISS IT & THAT IS OKAY TOO. WE ARE NOT PERFECT. I AM NOT CLAIMING TO BE A PROPHET PER SE BUT I DO HEAR FROM GOD & I AM ASSURED OF THAT & DO NOT DOUBT IT & HEAR WORDS FOR OTHERS TOO. THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS WONDERFUL WORDS EITHER BUT WORDS OF TRUTH & GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT USUALLY BACKS UP OR CONFIRMS THE WORD(S) AFTER THEY ARE GIVEN & THAT IS SO ENCOURAGING & BUILDS MY FAITH JUST LIKE YOUR ANSWERED PRAYER DID FOR YOU.
I’M NOT SURE WE SHOULD BE SO ASSURED WE DON’T QUESTION OR BE CAUTIOUS BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF DISOBEDIENCE BECAUSE OF FEAR OR MISSING THE MARK & I HAVE MISSED THE MARK BY NOT GIVING WORDS WHEN I SHOULD HAVE & THAT MAKES ME FEEL WORSE THAN GIVING A WORD & MISSING IT BECAUSE THERE IS BLESSING IN GIVING WORDS FROM GOD MORE SO THAN NOT GIVING THEM & NOT HAVING A ANOTHER CHANCE & SEE THAT THE WARNING OR ENCOURAGEMENT COULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PERSONS LIFE & AGAIN I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT OR LEARNED IF WE DON’T DELIVER THE WORD HE/GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT WILL FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL SO WE AGAIN, MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A BLESSING IN SOMEONE’S LIFE – THEY MAY NOT TAKE IT AS A BLESSING AT THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK & THANK YOU – YOU JUST HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN HIS HANDS ONCE THE WORD HAS GONE FORTH.
LISTEN TO ME – YOU WOULD THINK I AM AN EXPERT BUT I AM NOT – I AM JUST SIMPLY SPEAKING FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCES IN SUCH – SO IT MAY BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR OTHER PEOPLE – IT IS NOT SOMETHING MY FEW FRIENDS & I SIT AROUND & TALK ABOUT UNLESS IT MAY COME UP ONCE IN A WHILE IN A CONVERSATION.
JAN
Thanks, I know there are spiritual things that are difficult to articulate to someone else. So I appreciate the dialogue.
Yes, sister Jan- or that a virgin might conceive or that wet wood could burn, or that one could walk on water or that a dead man might live again.. or that a marriage could be redeemed.. or that one who was sick might be whole, or that a blind man might receive his sight or that one covered with leprosy might be restored in totality or that water would flow from a rock or that a prodigal son or daughter might come home or that a dead man might live again.. or that those bound in chains might be free again..
Is your G-d too small? ~ for nothing is impossible with G-d ~
G-d specializes in things thought impossible.
CARL, YOU ARE PREACHIN AT THE CHOIR HERE/AGAIN – SO WHO IS THIS WORD REALLY FOR TONIGHT – CAUSE I SO AGREE WITH ALL YOU SAY & DID YOU LISTEN/WATCH TO THE VIDEO??? JAN
Anytime, anywhere (and from some amazing sources!)- I hear from G-d I am blessed. I so want someone, (anyone) to say “thus saith the LORD..” Jan- it could be you, or Skip, or Gabe- the messenger does not matter- it the word(s), the message of life we (all) need to shema. I was going to say “hear”- but shema carries the message to completion for it is “hear and obey.”
Prophecy is not the “end all”. If I could have fifteen seconds of anyone’s time- I could teach them how to prophecy. Open up the word of G-d, place your wandering finger anywhere you like and repeat His words written by men He chose to use and say with me or anyone who is near- “thus saith the LORD.”
Prophecy is not so much fore-telling (of things that shall be) as it is forth-telling or revelation of things that already are. There is always a danger in prophecy for anyone may speak the truth, but speaking the truth in love is an altogether different matter.
Jan, when you speak the truth, or what is true..when you say “Jesus is LORD” – there is something (or Someone) within me that echoes or reverberates with a loud Amen! (yes,- it is so- may it be). But dear sister- no one man or woman (praise G-d!) has a lock on the truth. The word of G-d is for (and always will be for) “whosoever will.”
Our egos need to be done away with. Ego is spelled= Edge G-d Out. ~He must increase, but “I” must decrease~ applies universally (as does the word of G-d) to each and to all.
It has been said: “G-d said it- I believe it- that settles it.” this is not entirely true. The stone cold truth is: G-d said it- it is true (and will come to pass) whether I believe it or not! Grace does away entirely with ego. Salvation/deliverance is (and remains) the gift of G-d not of works lest any man (me) boast. Nothing in my hand I bring- simply to His cross I cling. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. Redeeming Love has been my theme- and shall be ’til I die.
Then (choir) what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6.14)
When Christ died the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This is the LORD’s doings and it is marvelous in our eyes. What is the significance of the torn veil? We (each and all) have been given equal access to the very heart of G-d. His open invitation (to each and to all- choir included) is “enter in..”