It's amazing how belief can cause people to think they must be important. Same as today we have a plethora of empty vessels making much noise thinking they are prophets. We need to use them as examples, and look back to a time of even greater ignorance, and realize what was afoot back then, ie that the folks to whom we attach so much importance, thinking they are 'holy' (whatever that buys you compared to the price of a coffee), were just like us, not special at all, and full of eccentric foibles.

I wish the historical information, of multiple Messiahs, were more widely known. It's awesome the way you are presenting it ( and presenting it in other videos and teachings as well)

Happiness and pleasure, you gentlemen, bring to my life. Thank you

So rad!!! Thank you!🙏

I'd love an episode on the topic of differences in faith beliefs/rituals between Gnostic Christianity, Judiaism Christianity and Pauline Christianity in a time when it sounds like 'church' or 'temple' or 'school' doesnt exist during 1st century ie 70ad....maybe the Essesenes.....Did they know amongst themselves who - who was? And how? If Jesus was all open arms....all 3 of these groups sound very secretive and not really representing open arms welcomings...is there a daily, weekly, monthly ritual or observance one would or should of been preforming publicity, like the jews...during 70ad are they still publicly wearing the blue thread things or are the curls hidden now in their hats? Are the Essesenes traveling wearing white? WHAT DO WE KNOW?

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 📜 *Introduction to the Teacher in the Dead Sea Scrolls* - Introduction to exploring the life and times of the "teacher" from the Dead Sea Scrolls. - Emphasis on the Messianic movement in the Holy Land that predates Jesus. 00:26 🕍 *Concept of 'Judaism' in the Hellenistic Period* - Discussion about the nature of Judaism during the Hellenistic period. - Reference to various texts including the Apocrypha and the influence of the Dead Sea Scrolls on understanding this era. 02:14 🔍 *Dead Sea Scrolls' Influence on Understanding Ancient Religious Views* - The Dead Sea Scrolls provide new insights into the religious and cosmological views of the time. - Emphasis on beliefs about heavenly realms, Satan, and demonic forces. 03:40 🌐 *The Influence of Hellenistic Thought on Judaism* - Discussion on how Hellenistic thought influenced Jewish beliefs and practices. - Exploration of the expanded universe concept and its impact on religious thought. 05:02 🌌 *Enochian Judaism and Gnostic Influence* - Introduction to the concept of Enochian Judaism and its connection to Gnosticism. - Discussion on cosmological assumptions and existential questions in the Hellenistic world. 06:13 🧐 *Investigating the Human Place in the Cosmos* - Exploration of human existence and place within the cosmos in Hellenistic thought. - Consideration of the questions of life, death, and rebirth in religious texts. 07:08 📚 *Course Offerings on Dead Sea Scrolls and Gospel of Mark* - Promotion of courses focusing on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospel of Mark. - Encouragement for students to explore the connections between these ancient texts. 08:17 💭 *The Teacher's Interpretation of Suffering in Isaiah* - Analysis of how the teacher from the Dead Sea Scrolls interprets his own suffering through the lens of Isaiah's suffering servant. - Discussion on the teacher's possible identification with Messianic prophecies. 10:18 📜 *Teacher Hymns from the Dead Sea Scrolls* - Examination of specific hymns believed to be written by or about the teacher. - Focus on the teacher's self-perception as a unique, divine figure. 11:49 🤔 *Teacher's Self-Consciousness and Messianic Role* - Insight into the teacher's self-consciousness as a Messianic figure. - Discussion on how the teacher sees himself in light of scriptural prophecies. 13:13 🔍 *The Teacher's Reflections on Suffering and Glory* - Analysis of the teacher's reflections on his own suffering and path to glory. - Comparison with New Testament themes and the concept of resurrection. 21:11 📚 *Emphasis on Reading the Dead Sea Scrolls* - Highlighting the importance of actively reading and studying the Dead Sea Scrolls. - The course provides translations and extensive discussions on the core scrolls. 21:38 🕵️ *Investigating the Career and Fate of the Teacher* - Focus on the career and possible fate of the teacher from the Dead Sea Scrolls. - Questions about his death, whether natural or caused by persecution. 23:13 💭 *Exploring Various Messianic Figures and Concepts* - Discussion on different Messianic figures and the concept of a final Messiah. - Examination of Messianic Psalms and how they relate to the teacher and Jesus. 24:04 📖 *Book Recommendation on Pre-Christian Messiah* - Recommendation of Michael Wise's book about a pre-Christian Messiah. - Exploration of the teacher's exalted status and comparison with Jesus. 25:37 🤔 *The Teacher’s Approach to Suffering and Enemies* - Analysis of the teacher's approach to suffering and his attitudes towards enemies. - Comparison with Jesus’ teachings on loving and forgiving enemies. 26:08 🗡️ *Contrast Between Armed Resistance and Passive Endurance* - Differentiating between armed resistance and passive endurance in Messianic movements. - Discussion on the possibility of the teacher and Jesus expecting heavenly exaltation. 27:03 ✨ *Theological Implications of Paul’s Expectations of Glorification* - Exploring Apostle Paul's expectations of heavenly glorification for followers of Jesus. - Analysis of Paul's teachings in Romans 8 about suffering leading to glorification. 28:16 🔍 *Analyzing Morton Smith’s Interpretation of the Teacher* - Discussion of Morton Smith's view on the teacher's self-conception and heavenly throne. - Emphasis on the teacher's claim of a unique, exalted status. 29:41 🌍 *Revelation’s Connection to the Dead Sea Scrolls* - Analyzing the connections between the Book of Revelation and the Dead Sea Scrolls. - Exploring the two Messiah motif and apocalyptic themes in Revelation. 31:39 ⚔️ *The Two Messiah Concept in Biblical Texts* - Discussion on the two Messiah concept found in Zechariah and its application in Christian thought. - Examination of how this motif is reflected in various New Testament passages. 33:02 🌐 *Cosmic and Eschatological Expectations in Early Christianity* - Exploration of cosmic and eschatological expectations in early Christianity. - Insight into how these expectations shape Christian beliefs about the afterlife and the kingdom of God. 34:34 🌟 *Zechariah's Prophecy and its Messianic Implications* - Analysis of Zechariah's prophecy and its interpretation as a Messianic prediction. - Discussion on how these prophecies are integrated into Christian eschatology. 36:09 🤔 *Realism and Symbolism in Apocalyptic Expectations* - Realistic assessment of apocalyptic expectations and their fulfillment. - Contrast between historical outcomes and symbolic interpretations in religious texts. 37:30 📜 *Dead Sea Scrolls' Vision of a Transformed World* - The Dead Sea Scrolls’ vision of a world transformed by the rule of the Sons of Light. - Discussion on the expectation of eternal life and a new creation in these texts. Made with HARPA AI

It is only natural that Jesus would pick up the "suffering servant" world view especially through the apocalyptic genre shared by the righteous teacher and John the baptizer for example. I've never understood why this is considered problematic.

greetings @James Tabor , first thanks for your work,you have a older video and at the start of said video you shared a few books as a suggestion we should have, the first book you flashed you said " its not like everyone had a dss bible layin around" and i could not tell but it looked to be not english, the 2nd book was vermes 7th edition, and the 3rd was "the dead sea scrolls study edition" you showed the cover but the quality didnt allow me to see it clearly, my question is when i search for it i can only find it in 2 volumes, the florentina book you mentioned make sure we get the verion with hebrew in it aswell, was yours a single volume or is it indeed a 2 volume set? and if possible a link to a reliable source to purchace it, again thnks for your time .i did see the vermes edition on your site but i did not see the study addition by florentino.

I wonder if the increase in Hellenistic thought caused orthodox judiasm to examine the Torah for prophetic texts to reassert authority. That would make that impending messiah time more compelling, and combat Hellenization, which was the chief religious antagonist at that time. You don't need reason, he's coming. Suspension of disbelief is the first step believers take.

MaShiach means annointed". When was John the Baptizer anointed? Great study. I believed for a ling time that the Catholic Trinity doctrine was not right. YaHWaH tells us over and over that He "is THE ONE EL and there is no other". Yahushua is no 'mere man"- He is the ONLY perfect righteous man. He has earned the Honors YaH has bestowed upon him by hearing and doing every instruction of Abba perfectly. He is our Prophet and our Priest and our soon to be King- our MaShiach. HalleluYaH! 📖🕎👑 Thank you Dr Tabor for your time and teachings.

If it's important enough to write down, the scribes would be talking about it among themselves. The information spreads and it becomes generational memory for a community. The birth of Jesus is not that far off. The teacher could be a prophet, another type of John the Baptist figure for the community he lived in. "There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written." John 21: 25 Jesus is 24/7 365 days a year and I doubt He was on some extended holiday prior to His birth.

Why is it unusual/noteworthy that the Teacher would appropriate Isaiah's prophecies? That's what self-proclaimed prophets, delusional as they may be, do.

Do you think it's likely that Jesus is supposed to be understood as a character that "knows" he's a character in a story? And that the author represents God? Sort of like breaking the 4th wall type of thing?

Not too sure what Dr James Tabor conclusion is from this discovery, my conclusion is literary mimesis, from what Dr Denis Mcdonald said when it comes the homeric literary mimesis, i see no difference in this either, i am curious if the Gospel authors and Paul were Essenes

the ' existence' of the 'sons of god, the elohim' splitted into two versions ; a bad, wicked version of hardened demons who were stiffened in their arrogance, the worthless belials. On the other hand the lesser gods, who remained loyal and zealous to the good case : serving and protecting mankind and maintaining the creation. (a similar role as later was picked up by the christian saints). But first this role was applied to the julian ceasars and then more and more to a specific side-branch; the ' chosen ' suffering claudians, the offspring of Drusus (Andrew the elder), the son of Alpheus. Called ones, Nazerites or nazoreans, nicolaitans as the bible tells us. Led by Zacharias barachai , the rightious teacher aka Zebedeus and his twin sons ; John the dipper (phillippus) and James the lesser (stephanus). Special benjaminites (Herodians / Tiberians) who were predestinated by God to rule the real faithfull believers through the apocalypse. For a depiction search YT : Huqoq elephant mosaic (sons of light versus sons of darkness).

I see alot of this rejection/chosen one motif with Paul in his writings as well, is there a chance he saw himself as the second messiah in terms of the priestly messiah motif. Some 2nd Temple era Jews thought there would be two messiahs, one kingly and one priestly. Is there a chance that Paul thought of Jesus as the kingly messiah of the line of David and he (Paul) as the priestly messiah of the line of Aron? Just some food for thought.

Read Isaiah 44:5

When will you esteem me so I can explain some of this stuff to you? Just askin'.

This is on the lines of Richard Carriers thesis (that most historians seem not to pay attention to): Many Jews of the second temple period were convinced that the Messiah or chosen one was sacrificed in the heavens “ according to the scriptures”. This is why Paul never talks of Jesus ministry; and why he talks of “when Christ comes” NOT when he “comes back” or “returns”. Mythology explains most of the data. Mark simply humanised this mythical Messiah.

It was wonderful to be on the livestream yesterday, but I botched my question. I appreciate your answer, but I don't care about modern evangelicals, I wanted to know more about the authors of the DSS, in relation to their messianic expectations, from the true teacher to the end of the Bar Kokbah revolt? I know the Pharisees became the rabbinical system and later the Sadducees became Karites, but what of the Zealots of Qumran, did all of them die at Masada?

How do false prophets and messiahs get valorized? Their deathd are redeptive ;-)

The idea of the Messiah, even the word itself, MSH, has its origins in the Pharaoh cult. In Ancient Middle Egyptian, MSH means literally "crocodile" because the Pharaoh was anointed with crocodile oil. So, literally, the Pharaoh at this point became a Messiah and received his 5 titles, among them was "Son of God RA" (Sa Ra or later AMON) and "he who gives eternal life" :Even together with the name of the Pharaoh, like here: "Ankh-em-ma'at-Djed-ef-Ra," Pharaoh Djed-ef-Ra, owner or giver of eternal life. So, the Roman emperors from Augustus simply borrowed these titles from the Pharaohs: from Sa Ra to Caesar Divi Filius. And here you have it, the emperor cult.

Religion sounds like one great big apologetics for the idea of God

You, think, is key, where is the proof, scrolls. To support the. Other,,,, messiah and his teachings,,,

Is Dr James Catholic?

How about re-analyzing the really problematic traditional dating of "Jesus": maybe this wasn't "a Messiah before Jesus" ... maybe this was the actual, historical "Jesus". ...

If the psalms are prophetic why can’t we assume it’s all referring to Israel and not a particular person. I still hold to the belief that the synoptic gospels are fictional historical allegory. Yeshua is an allegorical figure for the messianic movement that ended with the physical nation of Israel destroyed, and the resurrection being the rabbinic movement. The Jesus character was not an actual person but a metaphorical character that represented Israel.

No not Derek

Great content, but the constant pop-up messages on the screen are very distracting, so gave up watching after a few minutes.