An ancient manuscript up for sale gives a glimpse into the history of early Christianity
"The “Dead Sea Scrolls”
found in this
and a dozen subsequently discovered caves
constituted a massive library of Jewish texts, including biblical works and hitherto unknown texts with remarkable parallels to the writings of the New Testament. This find was celebrated in news stories, documentaries and other publications as among the greatest discoveries of the 20th century.
At the very same time,
the Dishna Papers were discovered,
smuggled out of Egypt
and sold to European collectors
with considerably less fanfare.
No headline hailed the discovery of the Dishna Papers.
Instead, pieces of this collection were sold to the highest bidders,
scattering the ancient library across the globe.
(Well I wonder why?)
There is the book about them ending up in Europe.
A library not to far from here has a copy :-).
Total coincidence I am sure.
"The Dishna Papers
Though less exotic than Nag Hammadi or Qumran, the contents of the Crosby-Schøyen Codex and the 20-some additional codices discovered near Dishna have proved every bit as important for our understanding of early Christianity."
"Thanks to recent radiocarbon dating of this codex and the contents of a closely related manuscript, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex can be dated with some measure of confidence to the middle of the fourth century – roughly 325 to 350 C.E."
"Hence, the Book of Enoch, alongside numerous other texts discovered in the caves, is recognized for its substantial variance from Rabbinic Judaism."
"For at least a millennium, Beta Israel appears to have been isolated from the more mainstream Jewish communities, and practice a non-Talmudic form of Judaism that is similar in some respects to Karaite Judaism. The religious practices of Israeli Beta Israel are referred to as Haymanot."
FROM
Notes From Noah to New Earth series
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
“Aramaic Enoch Scroll is a non-published, complete copy of the Book of Enoch which is rumored to be in possession of private investors.”
“There is no proof of its existence, but according to the former chief editor of the official Dead Sea Scrolls editorial team, John Strugnell (deceased 2007), the scroll is well preserved, and microfilmed. Strugnell said that he was shown the microfilm in 1990, during the Kuwait crisis,
but he was never able to buy it for the editorial team.”
"The main peculiar aspects of the non-Qumranic units of 1 Enoch are the following: Cave 11, Aramaic, 100-300 AD, it was a copy probably of the original written in Geez a native sematic language of Ethiopia."
(Again, I wonder why?)
Aramaic Enoch Scroll
Qumran
The Aramaic Enoch Scroll is a non-published, complete copy of the Book of Enoch which is rumored to be in possession of private investors.
There is no proof of its existence, but according to the former chief editor of the official Dead Sea Scrolls editorial team, John Strugnell (deceased 2007), the scroll is well preserved, and microfilmed. Strugnell said that he was shown the microfilm in 1990, during the Kuwait crisis, but he was never able to buy it for the editorial team.[1]
Qumran Cave 11
Former Dead Sea Scrolls editor John Strugnell working in the "Scrollery"
According to Strugnell, the scroll was found in the Qumran "Cave 11", in 1956, together with the other, already publicized scrolls and fragments. This cave was found by the same Bedouin, Abu Dahoud, who found the first cave in 1947.[2]
Apart from this and another scroll from Cave 11 that he claimed to have seen, Strugnell had heard Gerald Lankester Harding, the director of Jordan's Department of Antiquities (1936–1956), speak of at least two, never-published scrolls from the same find. These, or some of them, were at that time (the Kuwait crisis) about to be bought by private, probably European collectors or bankers. The reason for buying them was for investments.
(Yeah...right...sure...gotcha...
so why not let scholars at least examine them then?)
Although Strugnell had arrangements with serious buyers who would publicize the scrolls, he was not able to convince the owners to sell.
(Yeah...wonder why?)
Abu Dahoud has confirmed that he and ten other men found the cave, and sold the scrolls to many different people.[2]
Importance
The importance of a complete Aramaic manuscript of the Book of Enoch could be immense. Michael Wise, a DSS scholar, writes: "No trace of the Parables of Enoch has been discovered at Qumran, and it is widely considered today to be a composition of the later first century C.E. If a pre-Christian copy of the Parables were ever discovered, it would create a sensation"[4]
The Parables is a part of the Ethiopic translation of the Book of Enoch. It is disputed how old it is, and whether it was originally a part of Enoch. Currently, most scholars believe it to be pre-Christian.
(Maybe that's why it is disputed how old it is?
As well as whether it was originally a part of Enoch?
Maybe?
Perhaps?
I'd go with it was originally a part of Enoch.)
1 Enoch Chapter 46 1-4
1. There I beheld the Ancient of days, whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of man. His countenance was full of grace, like that of one of the holy angels. Then I inquired of one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was; whence he was; and why he accompanied the Ancient of days.
2. He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
3. This Son of man, whom thou beholdest, shall raise up kings and the mighty from their couches, and the powerful from their thrones; shall loosen the bridles of the powerful, and break in pieces the teeth of sinners.
4. He shall hurl kings from their thrones and their dominions; because they will not exalt and praise him, nor humble themselves before him, by whom their kingdoms were granted to them. The countenance likewise of the mighty shall He cast down, filling them with confusion. Darkness shall be their habitation, and worms shall be their bed; nor from that their bed shall they hope to be again raised, because they exalted not the name of the Lord of spirits.
1 Enoch 48:2-7
2. And at that hour that Son of Man was named, in the presence of the Lord of Spirits, and his name brought to the Head of Days.
(John 3:18), (Revelation 19:11-13)
3. Even before the Sun and the constellations were created, before the Stars of Heaven were made, his name was named in front of the Lord of Spirits.
(John 3:18), (Revelation 19:11-13)
4. He will be a staff to the righteous and the Holy, so that they may lean on him and not fall, and he will be the Light of the Nations, and he will be the hope of those who grieve in their hearts.
(Psalm 145:14)(Isaiah 42:6), (Isaiah 49:5-6), (John 1:9-12), (John 8:12), (John 9:5), (John 12:35-36), (John 12:46) (Isaiah 29:19), (Isaiah 57:18-19), (Luke 6:20-21; Matthew 5.1-12), (James 1:12), (James 2:5), (James 5:11), (Romans 12:12), (Colossians 1:27), (1 Timothy 1:1)
5. All those who dwell upon the dry ground will fall down and worship in front of him, and they will bless, and praise, and celebrate with psalms, the name of the Lord of Spirits.
(Isaiah 66:18), (Psalm 22:29), (Psalm 86:9), (Isaiah 45:22-24), (Philippians 2:9-11), (Romans 14:11), (Revelation 13:8), (Isaiah 24:16), (Revelation 5:8-9), (Revelation 5:11-13)
6. And because of this he was chosen, and hidden in front of Him, before the World was created, and forever.
(Isaiah 48:12-14), (1 Peter 1:19-21)
7. But the wisdom of the Lord of Spirits has revealed him to the Holy and the righteous, for he has kept safe the lot of the righteous, for they have hated and rejected this world of iniquity. And all its works and its ways they have hated in the name of the Lord of Spirits. For in His name they are saved and he is the one who will require their lives.
(1 Corinthians 2:6-8) (Ephesians 1:17-18) (Deuteronomy 32:43)
1 Enoch 69:26-29
26. And they had great joy and they blessed, praised, and exalted, because the name of that Son of Man had been revealed to them.
27. And he sat on the Throne of His Glory and the whole judgment was given to the Son of Man and he will cause the sinners to pass away and be destroyed from the face of the Earth.
(Matthew 19:28), (Matthew 25:31-32), (John 5:22), (John 5:27)
(Psalm 37:34), (Proverbs 11:3), (Isaiah 14:20-22), (Micah 5:8-9, 15), (Isaiah 63:1-6), (Revelation 19:13)
28. And those who led astray the world will be bound in chains and will be shut up in the assembly-place of their destruction, and all their works will pass away from the face of the earth.
29. And from then on there will be nothing corruptible. For that Son of Man has appeared, and has sat on the Throne of His Glory, and everything evil will pass away and go from in front of Him; and the word of that Son of Man will be strong in front of the Lord of Spirits. This is the Third Parable of Enoch.
SO, THE DISHMAN CODEX GETS SMUGGLED OUT BUT NOT THE ARAMAIC COPY
OF THE ORIGINAL GEEZ VERSION
OF THE BOOK OF ENOCH?
Like I said
Interesting.
And?
The library with the book about the smuggling
is right down the road.
Total coincidence.
Has to be.
Just like everything else.
:-).
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