What makes the Bible relevant-legit-factual-most produced read book in the world?
Is It True?....
-archaeological discovery (Bible Archaelogy)
-fulfilled prophecies-especially links from Old to New Testament (e.g. Is 9->Child Jesus, Is 11:6, Zecahariah 12-Jerusalem's/Israelite's enemies to be destroyed)
...more on 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies
-it's a historical document that we can learn from our past mistakes, same miracles that happened in the past still happens today, and it's a personal "love letter" from our Heavenly Father to his creation that reads it!
"Christians do not claim that the humans who penned the books of the Bible were always accurate in everything they said or did. We simply believe that the Bible is right when it claims that God guided these men in their task of writing Scripture, in such a way that the result is an infallible book. The apostle Peter undoubtedly said some foolish things during his lifetime, but God did not allow him to clutter up the Bible with any of those blunders.
2 Timothy 3:16 contains the classic claim that the Bible was produced by God, not just men:
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."-Christians Answers.net
After coming to a growing personal relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ in the Spring of 1996, I've grown in my knowledge of Him through reading about Him in the Bible.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"-Philippians 3:8
It was very hard to really sit down and just read the Bible at first. Below is a description of the path God had me take to now devote myself a daily devotional time in reading the Bible:
When I (Sal) accepted Jesus to be Lord of my life when I invited Him to live in my heart the Spring of 1996, I was encouraged by Christians to read the Bible. I can pinpoint the the exact date, but when the Gideons came to UMM to distribute their famous small pocket Bibles (contains New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs only); I grabbed one and went back to my residential "dorm" room to go through it. What really grabbed my attention was the glossary section, which had a Biblical verse reference to every "issue" in my life; somewhat like this=>
How To Understand The Bible Easier (read to you with online audio)
"Sorry, it is hard to read the text in this video, but you can still see what I am clicking on.
Comprehension of bible studying or reading is much easier if it is read to you as you read with it! I show you how. You can also read many other translations on these websites to compare, so you get the whole idea.
Also, faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God ;-) so listen while reading the Word of God because it helps so much!
For some awesome archived videos go to http://TheSprings.net and click on archived sermons"
If you feel tired-weak....call Exodus 15:2
Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day! Feed your faith, and doubt will starve to death! Pass it on !!!
Related Sites:
If you have the chance to read my personal testimony (eg. racism-I read Genesis, which �set me free� -John 8:32-from many issues I was dealing with), I was in a real desperate time in my life for �soul food� (God�s encouraging up lifting Word) to get me through a big transition in my life (leaving home for the first time to pampered parents of the big �multi-diverse� city of St. Paul to a predominately white rural college town of Morris, MN (where I currently live now as I write this-it�s only by the grace of God!).
In the summer of 1996, after accepting Jesus into my life, I was looking for a place to increase my knowledge of the Bible. I heard of this Bible Study through my sister's friend. I went to this Bible study pretty much in a weekly basis throughout the whole summer. Towards the end of the summer, I began to realize the doctrines of this bible study group; which it didn't seem "right". However, I did get fed (spiritually and physically through their potlucks) that kept that fire going in my heart to seek God!
I went to countless church services at Morris Community Church, where this guy who did a booktable outreach (eg..�Goodnews UMM table 99�-02�) would lovingly lay his hands on me to pray for me to read the Bible more.
I attended a weekly IVCF Small Group Bible Study (led by Eric Kallio, who was one of the inspirations to do these testimony websites of areas of issues in my life after a sermon at Harvest Community Church in Fargo, ND on Sunday, August 10th 2003), which we went through this Bible equipping book called �Experiencing God�. This played a big part in my interest in reading the Bible, which really gave me a understanding-clear open view of His Word! We prayed together and challenged one another to do Bible verse memorization.
As a college student, it was really hard to find a time to read the Bible in a regular basis; however bible study groups was a time to commit that time and be encouraged by your peers to do so. God prepared me to do a new student ministry organization called Alpha & Omega, which required more time to the Book to teach and minister to college students that attended this every Friday night fellowship.
After college, I got more involved with my local church and attended weekly homegroup bible studies that was helpful in my growth-I still do so today! As I write this today (August 28, 2003), what helps me (this is what I do, so ask God what is best for you personally) to devote my time to reading His Word after college is:
-write down the Bible verse I read morning (when I wake-up) and evening (before going to bed)
-if possible, remember the verse (AM) throughout the day when you eat or any activity that day that helps remind you
-I try to read my verse (AM) before getting breakfast no matter how physically hungry I am to get my �soul food� first
-I�ve been trying to read a verse with my current housemate each morning, so reading with someone else can be encouraging for one another.
-be involved in as much fellowship (small groups, homegroups, (local) church services, or anywhere there is Biblical teaching (concerts, conferences, etc...) as you can!
Cool Facts
-Popular Sayings that came from the Bible
"Do unto others as you would like others do to you"-Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)
"Holy Moses" (Exodus)
"Amen!" ()
"apple of his eye" (Zechariah 2:8)
-Famous People's Quotes on the Bible
"The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experience. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity"-Immanuel Kant (Columbia Encyclopedia Bio)
*this was displayed in the book table that Stu Farm (UMM grad, who did campus outreach from 1992-1997?)
Other well know...from bible.com
Bible Compared as Bread
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return."-Genesis 3:19
Stories:
-Joseph is strategicaly in Egypt:
"Joseph stories flour in Egypt in preparation for the famine...And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth."-Genesis 41-Genesis 47
-"Jesus during Passover tell them that the bread is His body:
"After two days was [the feast of] the passover, and of unleavened bread...And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake [it], and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body."-Mark 14
-Satan tries to tempt Jesus
"And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."-Luke 4
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:"-Proverbs 25:21
"5 Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar....
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread. ...-Proverbs 30
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ "-Matthew 6
History of the Translation of the Bible
(Friday, January 16th of 2009)
History of the Bible
"An informative and entertaining bit of music and history "
....see bread occurs 361 times in 330 verses in Blueletterbible.org
Books
Lectures
Theatre
1. Bible/Word
a.NKJV (New King James Version)/NASB (New American Standard Bible)
b. NIV (New Internation Version)
c. New Living Translation
d. Message (for easy to read modern devotions-order)
e. Blue Letter Bible, an excellent "two thumbs up" online resource (translations, maps, music/art, commentary, different language, etc...)
2. Strongest Strongs Concordance (Kohlen)
a. Bible Gateway, all versions and different laguages
Apologetics
Ethnic Focus
-Hebrew (Old Testament language origin)
-Greek (New Testament language origin)
c. Strong's Concordance, in Hebrew/Greek Version
3. NT (New Testament) New Englishman's Greek Concordance (Hendrickson)
4. New Bible Dictionary (IVP) Erdman's Bible Dictionary (EERD)
5. Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah (Edershelm)
OT Bible History->Bible Encyclopedia
*reccomends to get these at www.amazon.com or www.christianbooks.com (others: www.alibris.com)
*above are reccomended resources by my local church
Articles
I did some re"search" between the NIV and KJV, which I wanted to see how many times "Jesus" was mentioned:
Book Studies
-NEW TESTAMENT
Children Bibles
Little girl recites Bible verses
Amazing! 11 Year-Old Reveals Jesus Throughout the Entire Bible! - Inspirational Videos
-Memorization using:
Computers
Daily Devotions
Documentaries
Education
Maps
Miscellaneous
Ministries
Rich Mullins Concert Part #5
Missions
The Nativity Story - 1/10 (Full Movie)
"
Deepening the Well is a weekly in-depth Bible teaching series presented by MCC teachers. Whether you are new to the Scriptures or a long time believer with years of reading under your belt, this class will build you up and encourage you to deepen your understanding of God, His Word, and your faith. At present, we are exploring of the Gospel of Matthew. Check back each week for the latest sessions.
Matthew - Pt 02 of 29, from youtube.com
Acts (bible movies) 1/22
The Passion Of The Christ Trailer
Music
-Pop
-Rock
-Videos
-Worship
He Is - Aaron Jeoffrey & Jeff Sivey - Worship Video w lyrics
Twelve Ordinary Men-Persecution of the Disciples
Online Resources
FREE
Miscellaneous
-Online
-Bad
A Bible Summary (The Big Picture)
Sports
Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields "Secret" Handshake
Stories
-Miracles
Teachings
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Testimonies
-Religion
=>ISLAM
Above are some links I�ve gathered based on my experiences so far with the Bible. I will never be an expert on it, but a person after the heart of the Father. Please feel free to contact me of any questions, comments/complaints, suggestions (Bible or other follow-up tips to help readers grow in Christ), testimonies/shares, or prayer requests relating to the information above.
Below are some cool forwards on the Bible:
Subject: The Center of the Bible
This is pretty strange or odd how it worked out this way. Even if you are not religious you should read this.
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 117
The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!
Psalms 118:8 -- "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?
Related Link: Life: Purpose
Texas oilman seeks gusher from God in Israel
2005KIBBUTZ MAANIT, Israel - A Texas oilman is using his Bible as a guide
to finding oil in the Holy Land.
John Brown, a born-again Christian and founder of Zion Oil & Gas of
Dallas, can quote chapter and verse about his latest drilling venture in
Israel, where his company has an oil and gas exploration license covering
96,000 acres.
Most blessed of sons be Asher. Let him be favored by his brothers and let
him dip his foot in oil, Brown quotes from Mosess blessing to one of the
12 Tribes of Israel in Deuteronomy 33:24.
Standing next to a 177-foot derrick at Kibbutz Maanit in northern Israel,
Brown said the passage indicated there is oil lying beneath the biblical
territory of the Tribe of Asher, where the agricultural community is
located.
Geological surveys and an attempt by an Israeli-based company to find oil
at the same site 10 years ago, a venture he said was abandoned for lack of
funds, led Brown to pick the spot where new drilling will begin this week.
Brown said he raised money for Project Joseph from fellow evangelical
Christians in the United States.
From the investment standpoint, they certainly hope to have a return of
the money, he said. But the basis of it is Genesis, chapter 12.
In that passage, God promises to shower blessings on those who bless the
great nation sired by the Hebrew patriarch Abraham.
Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or
redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the
prior written consent of Reuters.
Other related articles:
Romans
"Some examples of Romans' powerful effect are well known. Augustine, a distinguished teacher and philosopher in the fourth century is one example. He was a man of great intellect and learning and had become convinced that Christianity was true. In spite of that knowledge, however, he continued to be held in the grip of an immortal lifestyle. He knew what he was doing was wrong but was powerless to quit.
While visiting a friend, Augustine heard the voice of a child singing the words "take and read, take and read." Since he did not know of any such song, he thought it must be a message from God to read the Bible. Finding a Bible, he opened it and began reading at that place. It was Romans 13:13-14,
"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful natures."
Augustine wrote that his life was instantly changed from that moment on and he went on to become one of the most influential figures in the church of Jesus Christ since the apostle Paul.
-APOCRYPHA
"Three-year old Kari attends church in Gresham, Oregon with her parents. She loves reciting Bible verses. www.cstonechurch.com"
"Watch as this 11 year-old boy from Salem Lutheran Church explains how Jesus is revealed throughout the Bible. Isn't it amazing how God works through His Word the Bible? Jesus... the living Word of God. Watch it!"
MISC:
"...
The Bible is a collection of 66 Books. God used about 40 men to write the Bible. In some case some were written by the same man, although God is the ultimate Author...
Old Testament Groups:
The Old Testament has 39 Books. Scholars generally agree that they were written over a period of about 1,000 years, from the 14th to the 4th century BC. They were written in Hebrew except for a few passages in Daniel which were written in Aramaic.
The OLd Testament is divided into three major divisions : Historical, Poetical and Prophetic. The books are organized partly chronologicaly, and partly according to content.
New Testament Groups:
The New Testament is composed of 27 Books. It is divided into three major categories : History (The Gospels and the Book of Acts), Epistles and Prophetic. It parallels the same arrangement as the Old Testament with one notable exception; the central section, instead of Poetic books, contains Epistles.
MUSIC:
Go Fish - Bible Book Bop
Books of the Bible Memorization Song with Lyrics- Learn Quick
"Uploaded by RachelNeuman on Jul 23, 2010
This is THE best method for learning the books of the new and old testament books of the Bible quickly! My mom made it first to help her kids, then her students and all of us STILL remember it, after years of being taught. I really hope it can help you too!!
God Bless!
~Rachel"
New Testament Books Of The Bible , from youtube.com
WORKSHEETS:
"
"The College Devotional Bible uses a unique reading plan and engaging story format for devotions to help college students connect with Scripture daily. Twelve months worth of devotions divide into readings for both the school year and the summertime. Hard-hitting stories help students connect the Bible to the struggles, questions, and decisions they face. .."
*referred by a friend (Tim M.) on Wednesday, January 13th of 2010
"Our Daily Bread
In the film The Guardian, the viewer is taken into the world of United States Coast Guard rescue swimmers. Eighteen weeks of intense training prepares these courageous men and women for the task of jumping from helicopters to rescue those in danger at sea. The challenges they face include hypothermia and death by drowning. Why would people risk so much for strangers? The answer is found in the rescue swimmer's motto, "So Others May Live."
In Foxe's Book of Martyrs, we read of a different kind of rescue that demanded extreme commitment and sacrifice. John Foxe records the stories of believers who suffered and died be-cause they proclaimed the love of Jesus. Knowing it could cost them their lives, these believers made the Savior known to a world in desperate need of Him.
The apostle Paul, himself a martyr for Christ, expressed his passion for the hearts of people this way, "I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:3). Paul so longed for his fellow Jews to come to Christ that he was willing to sacrifice all, "so others may live."
May we likewise embrace this passion for the eternal souls of men and women. — Bill Crowder
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it—
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them,
Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. —Crosby
The cross reveals God's heart for the lost. "
*I personally highly reccomend watching this. Feiler shares some interesting facts that one may never known of the Bible-particularly the first 5 books or the "Torah". I learned about the ancient history of the "Middle East"- Turkey (Mesopotamia), Iraq (Babylon), Egypt, and of course Israel. Feiler also opens your eyes to many verses/passages of the Bible with background information that will make you really look back on God's Word.
"Ancient Hittite/Babylonian Building techniques were used throughout the time/period of Biblical construction. There is a construction type/style in this video described in the Bible. This connects Bible to history in a neat way."
History of the Bible
"An informative and entertaining bit of music and history"
*referred by Phil D. on Sunday, January 13th of 2008 during the first series of "Deepening of the Well" prior to services of my local church at the Morris Area High School
"... is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to distribute free copies of the New Testament Recovery Version and Christian literature throughout the United States."
Gideon Bible Testimony 1 , youtube.com
""This is the part #5 of a concert that Rich Mullins did in Lufkin Texas. Some excerpts from this concert made it to the homeless man video also available on You Tube.
This was the last concert tour that he did before he passed on. ""
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Social Issues: Needy, Poverty, Poor, etc...
(other version)
Brother Andrew
unknown birth?
Smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain
by Rit Nosotro ( Last updated: 04/15/2008 12:13:00 )
"...Andrew’s first trip behind the Iron Curtain was rather ironic. He saw an article in a magazine featuring a Communist youth festival in Warsaw, Poland. After sending a letter asking permission to come as a missionary, surprisingly he got a positive answer. The festival touched all the good parts of the Soviet Union, displaying the beautiful city of Warsaw. One day Andrew was separated from the group. As he wandered around by himself he found a whole different part of the city. A part where people lived in holes and boxes. Their lives were a mass of rubble. He also found that there were almost no bibles in the Soviet Union. After visiting a few churches to bring “greetings” from the west (and the Lord), Andrew was convinced that this was his mission field.
Thus began his mission. His first trip through the Curtain was into Yugoslav and was an immense success. At the border he began the tradition of muttering a quick Smuggler’s Prayer. “Lord, please make seeing eyes blind.” With a car full of bibles and tracts, the Lord covered the guards’ eyes and let Brother Andrew through. The whole time in Yugoslav he drove on very dusty roads, praying all the while that his car would bear up under the conditions. When a mechanic finally checked his car, he gave the surprising announcement that there was no way this car could actually run. Dust clogged everything that could be clogged. Here is an example of one of the many ways God took care of Brother Andrew. Saving him from many near escapes and other minor things such as car problems.
From then on the Open Doors Mission, which started with one man and a suitcase full of literature grew into a huge mission bringing the Word to “more than 60 countries” reports Open Doors. The mission continues to grow as they spread the Word behind all the “Iron Curtains” in the world...."
"Andrew van der Bijl (born 11 May 1928), known in English-speaking countries as Brother Andrew, is a Christian missionary famous for his exploits smuggling Bibles to communist countries in the height of the Cold War, a feat that has earned him the nickname "God's smuggler". Brother Andrew studied at the Bible Training Institute (now the International Christian College) in Glasgow, Scotland. Brother Andrew was born in Sint Pancras, the Netherlands, and was the fourth of six children to a poor, near deaf blacksmith."
Conversion to Christianity
"
Brother Andrew recounts in God's Smuggler how, post-war, he enlisted in the colonial army of the Dutch East Indies during the rebellion that would eventually form Indonesia. He endured a period of severe emotional stress whilst serving as a soldier. He was wounded in the ankle and during his rehabilitation he read the Bible obsessively, eventually converting to Christianity and having his ankle healed.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Ministry: Healing
"The Nativity Story, which focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus Christ "
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Holidays: Christmas, Giving, "more-like" Christ, etc...
GOSPELS
The Visual Bible - The Gospel of Matthew
"Eternal Pictures presents, The Gospel of Matthew. Experience the Visual bible's Matthew. This powerful and entertaining film is taken word for word from the text of the New International Version translation. This multi million dollar production appeals to all ages, and it offers educational, spiritual and entertainment value. Filmed on location in Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa, Matthew features a cast of thousands, historically accurate costuming and award-winning actor Richard Kiley as Matthew, and introduces Bruce Marchiano as Jesus."
Matthew - Pt 01 of 29
Matthew 1 (New International Version), from Biblegateway.com
The Genealogy of Jesus
-Genealogy of Jesus Christ, from lifeofchrist.com
"
Interpretation principals
To better understand the genealogy of Jesus, it is important to know some of the notions Jews had regarding ancestral records. This section discusses property rights, prophecies, and Jewish use of the word son. "
-The Genealogy of Jesus from Matthew Chapter One, from recoveryversion.org
"...The Gospel of Matthew testifies that He is the King, the Christ of God prophesied in the Old Testament, who brings the kingdom of the heavens to the earth....Among the four Gospels, Matthew and Luke have a record of genealogy; Mark and John do not....Christ could not have been born of Joseph because Joseph was a man and a descendant of Jeconiah, none of whose descendants could inherit the throne of David (Jer. 22:28-30). However, Mary was a virgin and a descendant of David (Luke 1:27, 31-32); as such, she was the right person of whom Christ should be born. The marriage of Joseph and Mary brought Joseph into relationship with Christ and united into one the two lines of Christ’s genealogy for the bringing in of Christ, as shown in the chart on the following page....
The Birth of Jesus Christ
Related Sites:
Teaching God's Word Verse-by-Verse
Download Matthew Session Two (October 10, 2010) 13-10-2010 (40.8 MB)
Duration: 44:33 m -
"In this week's lesson, we dive into Matthew chapter one by exploring some important background to this chapter. We look at the identity of Jesus, the Christ (Yeshua, the Messiah), and explore some of the key prophecies leading up to His birth. We look at how the promise of a Messiah... a "Great Redeemer"...was given in the Garden of Eden and was long expected by cultures throughout the earth.
We also take some time to visually explore the world we are studying by looking at some maps, and highlighting a few key places. This will help keep us oriented as we move throughout the gospel. "
Special Focus:
Jesus the Christ, leaderu.com
How do we know that Jesus was the Messiah?
"..The word "Messiah" means "Anointed One," the name given to the promised Deliverer who would some day come to the people of Israel as their great Savior and Redeemer, "anointed" as Prophet, Priest, and King by God Himself.
Some, of course, are still looking for the fulfillment of these Old Testament promises in the future, when the "Messiah" will come to establish a world kingdom of peace and justice centered around the chosen nation, Israel.
On the other hand, the group of Jewish believers who became the first founders of Christianity were convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was their promised Messiah. The name "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of “Messiah,” so that the name Jesus Christ really means "Jesus the Messiah," or "Jesus the anointed." They preached this truth with such conviction and power that not only many Jews but, later, a still greater host of Gentiles, believed on Jesus, both as the Christ and also as the Lord and Savior of all men...
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com-Religious, World Religions, etc.. for more on Angels
-GoodnewsEverybody.com Middle Eastern Outreach for more on "seed of Abraham"
-important: must understand the "foundation or background" => GoodnewsEverybody.com Religion: Judaism, Hebrews/Israelites, Torah, Bible-"Old" Testament, etc...
Chris Tomlin-Jesus Messiah , from youtube.com
Matthew 2 (New International Version), from Biblegateway.com
The Visit of the Magi
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Holidays: Christmas
The Escape to Egypt
*see Middle Eastern: Egyptian Outreach
The Return to Nazareth
Matthew - Pt 03 of 29, from youtube.com
Matthew 3 (New International Version), from Biblegateway.com
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The Baptism of Jesus
*see GoodnewsEverybody: Teachings: Baptisms-Water Baptism
Matthew 4, from Biblegateway.com
The Temptation of Jesus
Jesus Begins to Preach
The Calling of the First Disciples
Jesus Heals the Sick
Matthew - Pt 04 of 29
Matthew 5, from Biblegateway.com
The Beatitudes
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Blessings, Grateful, Thankful, etc...
Salt and Light
The Fulfillment of the Law
Murder
Adultery
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Issues: Adultery, Cheating, Divorce, etc..
Divorce
An Eye for an Eye
Love for Enemies
Matthew - Pt 05 of 29, from youtube.com
Matthew 6, from Biblegateway.com
Giving to the Needy
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Social Issues: Needy, Poverty, Poor, etc...
Prayer
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com: Prayer-needs, reports, requests, testimonies, etc..
Fasting
Treasures in Heaven
Do Not Worry
Matthew 7, from Biblegateway.com
Judging Others
Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew - Pt 06 of 29, from youtube.com
The Narrow and Wide Gates
A Tree and Its Fruit
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 8, from Biblegateway.com
The Man With Leprosy
Matthew - Pt 07 of 29 ,from youtube.com
The Faith of the Centurion
Jesus Heals Many
The Cost of Following Jesus
Jesus Calms the Storm
The Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men
The Gospel According to John Film Project (New 5min Promo)
"Bruce Marchiano introduces a vision to create a cutting edge biblical epic in digital 3D. "
The Gospel According To John (NIV) The Film - Announcement, from Godtube.com
"
Bruce Marchiano introduces a vision for the production of a new film: a word-for-word film adaptation of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN in the New International Version (NIV) of the Holy Bible, that promises to be a very unique "Jesus movie."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Movies: The Passion, Crucification, Easter, Resurrection, etc...
Multicultural Perspective
"The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves.
Iconic scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves.
Iconic scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that Shamir and Sukenik were able to focus on the 200 textiles found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves and at Qumran itself, knowing that these are the only surviving textiles related to the scrolls.
They discovered that every single one of these textiles was made of linen, even though wool was the most popular fabric at the time in Israel. They also found that most of the textiles would have originally been used as clothing, later being cut apart and re-used for other purposes such as bandages and for packing the scrolls into jars. [Photos of Dead Sea textiles]
Some of the textiles were bleached white and most of them lacked decoration, even though decoration is commonly seen in textiles from other sites in ancient Israel.
According to the researchers the finds suggest that the residents of Qumran dressed simply.
"They wanted to be different than the Roman world," Shamir told LiveScience in a telephone interview. "They were very humble, they didn't want to wear colorful textiles, they wanted to use very simple textiles."
The owners of the clothing likely were not poor, as only one of the textiles had a patch on it."This is very, very, important," Shamir said. "Patching is connected with [the] economic situation of the site."
Shamir pointed out that textiles found at sites where people were under stress, such as at the Cave of Letters, which was used in a revolt against the Romans, were often patched. On the other hand "if the site is in a very good economic situation, if it is a very rich site, the textiles will not be patched," she said. With Qumran, "I think [economically] they were in the middle, but I'm sure they were not poor."
Robert Cargill, a professor at the University of Iowa, has written extensively about Qumran and has developed a virtual model of it. He said that archaeological evidence from the site, including coins and glassware, also suggests the inhabitants were not poor.
"Far from being poor monastics, I think there was wealth at Qumran, at least some form of wealth," Cargill said, arguing that trade was important at the site. "I think they made their own pottery and sold some of it, I think they bred animals and sold them, I think they made honey and sold it."
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran. Some argue that the scrolls were written at the site itself while others say they were written in Jerusalem or elsewhere in Israel.
Qumran itself was first excavated by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s. He came to the conclusion that the site was inhabited by a religious sect called the Essenes who wrote the scrolls and stored them in caves. Among the finds he made were water pools, which he believed were used for ritual bathing, and multiple inkwells found in a room that became known as the "scriptorium." Based on his excavations, scholars have estimated the population of the site at as high as 200.
More recent archaeological work, conducted by Yitzhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggests that the site could not have supported more than a few dozen people and had nothing to do with the scrolls themselves. They believe that the scrolls were deposited in the caves by refugees fleeing the Roman army after Jerusalem was conquered in A.D. 70.
The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves.
Iconic scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that Shamir and Sukenik were able to focus on the 200 textiles found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves and at Qumran itself, knowing that these are the only surviving textiles related to the scrolls.
They discovered that every single one of these textiles was made of linen, even though wool was the most popular fabric at the time in Israel. They also found that most of the textiles would have originally been used as clothing, later being cut apart and re-used for other purposes such as bandages and for packing the scrolls into jars. [Photos of Dead Sea textiles]
Some of the textiles were bleached white and most of them lacked decoration, even though decoration is commonly seen in textiles from other sites in ancient Israel.
According to the researchers the finds suggest that the residents of Qumran dressed simply.
"They wanted to be different than the Roman world," Shamir told LiveScience in a telephone interview. "They were very humble, they didn't want to wear colorful textiles, they wanted to use very simple textiles."
The owners of the clothing likely were not poor, as only one of the textiles had a patch on it."This is very, very, important," Shamir said. "Patching is connected with [the] economic situation of the site."
Shamir pointed out that textiles found at sites where people were under stress, such as at the Cave of Letters, which was used in a revolt against the Romans, were often patched. On the other hand "if the site is in a very good economic situation, if it is a very rich site, the textiles will not be patched," she said. With Qumran, "I think [economically] they were in the middle, but I'm sure they were not poor."
Robert Cargill, a professor at the University of Iowa, has written extensively about Qumran and has developed a virtual model of it. He said that archaeological evidence from the site, including coins and glassware, also suggests the inhabitants were not poor.
"Far from being poor monastics, I think there was wealth at Qumran, at least some form of wealth," Cargill said, arguing that trade was important at the site. "I think they made their own pottery and sold some of it, I think they bred animals and sold them, I think they made honey and sold it."
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran. Some argue that the scrolls were written at the site itself while others say they were written in Jerusalem or elsewhere in Israel.
Qumran itself was first excavated by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s. He came to the conclusion that the site was inhabited by a religious sect called the Essenes who wrote the scrolls and stored them in caves. Among the finds he made were water pools, which he believed were used for ritual bathing, and multiple inkwells found in a room that became known as the "scriptorium." Based on his excavations, scholars have estimated the population of the site at as high as 200.
More recent archaeological work, conducted by Yitzhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggests that the site could not have supported more than a few dozen people and had nothing to do with the scrolls themselves. They believe that the scrolls were deposited in the caves by refugees fleeing the Roman army after Jerusalem was conquered in A.D. 70.
Magen and Peleg found that the site came into existence around 100 B.C. as a military outpost used by the Hasmoneans, a Jewish kingdom that flourished in the area. After the Romans took over Judaea in 63 B.C. the site was abandoned and eventually was taken over by civilians who used it for pottery production. They found that the pools de Vaux discovered include a fine layer of potters' clay.
There are other ideas as well. Cargill argues that while Qumran started out as a fort it was later occupied by a sectarian group whose members were deeply concerned with ritual purity. "Whether or not they are the Essenes, that's a different question," he said. This group, much smaller than earlier estimates of 200 people, would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others, he argues.
Other groups, not part of the Qumran community, may also have been putting scrolls into the caves, Cargill said.
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran."
Magen and Peleg found that the site came into existence around 100 B.C. as a military outpost used by the Hasmoneans, a Jewish kingdom that flourished in the area. After the Romans took over Judaea in 63 B.C. the site was abandoned and eventually was taken over by civilians who used it for pottery production. They found that the pools de Vaux discovered include a fine layer of potters' clay.
There are other ideas as well. Cargill argues that while Qumran started out as a fort it was later occupied by a sectarian group whose members were deeply concerned with ritual purity. "Whether or not they are the Essenes, that's a different question," he said. This group, much smaller than earlier estimates of 200 people, would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others, he argues.
Other groups, not part of the Qumran community, may also have been putting scrolls into the caves, Cargill said.
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran."
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves.
Iconic scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that Shamir and Sukenik were able to focus on the 200 textiles found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves and at Qumran itself, knowing that these are the only surviving textiles related to the scrolls.
They discovered that every single one of these textiles was made of linen, even though wool was the most popular fabric at the time in Israel. They also found that most of the textiles would have originally been used as clothing, later being cut apart and re-used for other purposes such as bandages and for packing the scrolls into jars. [Photos of Dead Sea textiles]
Some of the textiles were bleached white and most of them lacked decoration, even though decoration is commonly seen in textiles from other sites in ancient Israel.
According to the researchers the finds suggest that the residents of Qumran dressed simply.
"They wanted to be different than the Roman world," Shamir told LiveScience in a telephone interview. "They were very humble, they didn't want to wear colorful textiles, they wanted to use very simple textiles."
The owners of the clothing likely were not poor, as only one of the textiles had a patch on it."This is very, very, important," Shamir said. "Patching is connected with [the] economic situation of the site."
Shamir pointed out that textiles found at sites where people were under stress, such as at the Cave of Letters, which was used in a revolt against the Romans, were often patched. On the other hand "if the site is in a very good economic situation, if it is a very rich site, the textiles will not be patched," she said. With Qumran, "I think [economically] they were in the middle, but I'm sure they were not poor."
Robert Cargill, a professor at the University of Iowa, has written extensively about Qumran and has developed a virtual model of it. He said that archaeological evidence from the site, including coins and glassware, also suggests the inhabitants were not poor.
"Far from being poor monastics, I think there was wealth at Qumran, at least some form of wealth," Cargill said, arguing that trade was important at the site. "I think they made their own pottery and sold some of it, I think they bred animals and sold them, I think they made honey and sold it."
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran. Some argue that the scrolls were written at the site itself while others say they were written in Jerusalem or elsewhere in Israel.
Qumran itself was first excavated by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s. He came to the conclusion that the site was inhabited by a religious sect called the Essenes who wrote the scrolls and stored them in caves. Among the finds he made were water pools, which he believed were used for ritual bathing, and multiple inkwells found in a room that became known as the "scriptorium." Based on his excavations, scholars have estimated the population of the site at as high as 200.
More recent archaeological work, conducted by Yitzhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggests that the site could not have supported more than a few dozen people and had nothing to do with the scrolls themselves. They believe that the scrolls were deposited in the caves by refugees fleeing the Roman army after Jerusalem was conquered in A.D. 70.
Magen and Peleg found that the site came into existence around 100 B.C. as a military outpost used by the Hasmoneans, a Jewish kingdom that flourished in the area. After the Romans took over Judaea in 63 B.C. the site was abandoned and eventually was taken over by civilians who used it for pottery production. They found that the pools de Vaux discovered include a fine layer of potters' clay.
There are other ideas as well. Cargill argues that while Qumran started out as a fort it was later occupied by a sectarian group whose members were deeply concerned with ritual purity. "Whether or not they are the Essenes, that's a different question," he said. This group, much smaller than earlier estimates of 200 people, would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others, he argues.
Other groups, not part of the Qumran community, may also have been putting scrolls into the caves, Cargill said.
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran."
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that Shamir and Sukenik were able to focus on the 200 textiles found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves and at Qumran itself, knowing that these are the only surviving textiles related to the scrolls.
They discovered that every single one of these textiles was made of linen, even though wool was the most popular fabric at the time in Israel. They also found that most of the textiles would have originally been used as clothing, later being cut apart and re-used for other purposes such as bandages and for packing the scrolls into jars. [Photos of Dead Sea textiles]The Dead Sea Scrolls may have been written, at least in part, by a sectarian group called the Essenes, according to nearly 200 textiles discovered in caves at Qumran, in the West Bank, where the religious texts had been stored.
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran, and so the new finding could help clear up this long-standing mystery.
The research reveals that all the textiles were made of linen, rather than wool, which was the preferred textile used in ancient Israel. Also they lack decoration, some actually being bleached white, even though fabrics from the period often have vivid colours. Altogether, researchers say these finds suggest that the Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect, "penned" some of the scrolls.
Not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An archaeologist who has excavated at Qumran told LiveScience that the linen could have come from people fleeing the Roman army after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and that they are in fact responsible for putting the scrolls into caves.
Iconic scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of nearly 900 texts, the first batch of which were discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. They date from before A.D. 70, and some may go back to as early as the third century B.C. The scrolls contain a wide variety of writings including early copies of the Hebrew Bible, along with hymns, calendars and psalms, among other works. [Gallery of Dead Sea Scrolls]
Nearly 200 textiles were found in the same caves, along with a few examples from Qumran, the archaeological site close to the caves where the scrolls were hidden.
Orit Shamir, curator of organic materials at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Naama Sukenik, a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University, compared the white-linen textiles found in the11 caves to examples found elsewhere in ancient Israel, publishing their results in the most recent issue of the journal Dead Sea Discoveries.
A breakthrough in studying these remains was made in 2007 when a team of archaeologists was able to ascertain that colorful wool textiles found at a site to the south of Qumran, known as the Christmas Cave, were not related to the inhabitants of the site. This meant that Shamir and Sukenik were able to focus on the 200 textiles found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves and at Qumran itself, knowing that these are the only surviving textiles related to the scrolls.
They discovered that every single one of these textiles was made of linen, even though wool was the most popular fabric at the time in Israel. They also found that most of the textiles would have originally been used as clothing, later being cut apart and re-used for other purposes such as bandages and for packing the scrolls into jars. [Photos of Dead Sea textiles]
Some of the textiles were bleached white and most of them lacked decoration, even though decoration is commonly seen in textiles from other sites in ancient Israel.
According to the researchers the finds suggest that the residents of Qumran dressed simply.
"They wanted to be different than the Roman world," Shamir told LiveScience in a telephone interview. "They were very humble, they didn't want to wear colorful textiles, they wanted to use very simple textiles."
The owners of the clothing likely were not poor, as only one of the textiles had a patch on it."This is very, very, important," Shamir said. "Patching is connected with [the] economic situation of the site."
Shamir pointed out that textiles found at sites where people were under stress, such as at the Cave of Letters, which was used in a revolt against the Romans, were often patched. On the other hand "if the site is in a very good economic situation, if it is a very rich site, the textiles will not be patched," she said. With Qumran, "I think [economically] they were in the middle, but I'm sure they were not poor."
Robert Cargill, a professor at the University of Iowa, has written extensively about Qumran and has developed a virtual model of it. He said that archaeological evidence from the site, including coins and glassware, also suggests the inhabitants were not poor.
"Far from being poor monastics, I think there was wealth at Qumran, at least some form of wealth," Cargill said, arguing that trade was important at the site. "I think they made their own pottery and sold some of it, I think they bred animals and sold them, I think they made honey and sold it."
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran. Some argue that the scrolls were written at the site itself while others say they were written in Jerusalem or elsewhere in Israel.
Qumran itself was first excavated by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s. He came to the conclusion that the site was inhabited by a religious sect called the Essenes who wrote the scrolls and stored them in caves. Among the finds he made were water pools, which he believed were used for ritual bathing, and multiple inkwells found in a room that became known as the "scriptorium." Based on his excavations, scholars have estimated the population of the site at as high as 200.
More recent archaeological work, conducted by Yitzhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggests that the site could not have supported more than a few dozen people and had nothing to do with the scrolls themselves. They believe that the scrolls were deposited in the caves by refugees fleeing the Roman army after Jerusalem was conquered in A.D. 70.
Magen and Peleg found that the site came into existence around 100 B.C. as a military outpost used by the Hasmoneans, a Jewish kingdom that flourished in the area. After the Romans took over Judaea in 63 B.C. the site was abandoned and eventually was taken over by civilians who used it for pottery production. They found that the pools de Vaux discovered include a fine layer of potters' clay.
There are other ideas as well. Cargill argues that while Qumran started out as a fort it was later occupied by a sectarian group whose members were deeply concerned with ritual purity. "Whether or not they are the Essenes, that's a different question," he said. This group, much smaller than earlier estimates of 200 people, would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others, he argues.
Other groups, not part of the Qumran community, may also have been putting scrolls into the caves, Cargill said.
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran."
Some of the textiles were bleached white and most of them lacked decoration, even though decoration is commonly seen in textiles from other sites in ancient Israel.
According to the researchers the finds suggest that the residents of Qumran dressed simply.
"They wanted to be different than the Roman world," Shamir told LiveScience in a telephone interview. "They were very humble, they didn't want to wear colorful textiles, they wanted to use very simple textiles."
The owners of the clothing likely were not poor, as only one of the textiles had a patch on it."This is very, very, important," Shamir said. "Patching is connected with [the] economic situation of the site."
Shamir pointed out that textiles found at sites where people were under stress, such as at the Cave of Letters, which was used in a revolt against the Romans, were often patched. On the other hand "if the site is in a very good economic situation, if it is a very rich site, the textiles will not be patched," she said. With Qumran, "I think [economically] they were in the middle, but I'm sure they were not poor."
Robert Cargill, a professor at the University of Iowa, has written extensively about Qumran and has developed a virtual model of it. He said that archaeological evidence from the site, including coins and glassware, also suggests the inhabitants were not poor.
"Far from being poor monastics, I think there was wealth at Qumran, at least some form of wealth," Cargill said, arguing that trade was important at the site. "I think they made their own pottery and sold some of it, I think they bred animals and sold them, I think they made honey and sold it."
Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Scholars are divided about who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls and how the texts got to Qumran. Some argue that the scrolls were written at the site itself while others say they were written in Jerusalem or elsewhere in Israel.
Qumran itself was first excavated by Roland de Vaux in the 1950s. He came to the conclusion that the site was inhabited by a religious sect called the Essenes who wrote the scrolls and stored them in caves. Among the finds he made were water pools, which he believed were used for ritual bathing, and multiple inkwells found in a room that became known as the "scriptorium." Based on his excavations, scholars have estimated the population of the site at as high as 200.
More recent archaeological work, conducted by Yitzhak Magen and Yuval Peleg of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggests that the site could not have supported more than a few dozen people and had nothing to do with the scrolls themselves. They believe that the scrolls were deposited in the caves by refugees fleeing the Roman army after Jerusalem was conquered in A.D. 70.
Magen and Peleg found that the site came into existence around 100 B.C. as a military outpost used by the Hasmoneans, a Jewish kingdom that flourished in the area. After the Romans took over Judaea in 63 B.C. the site was abandoned and eventually was taken over by civilians who used it for pottery production. They found that the pools de Vaux discovered include a fine layer of potters' clay.
There are other ideas as well. Cargill argues that while Qumran started out as a fort it was later occupied by a sectarian group whose members were deeply concerned with ritual purity. "Whether or not they are the Essenes, that's a different question," he said. This group, much smaller than earlier estimates of 200 people, would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others, he argues.
Other groups, not part of the Qumran community, may also have been putting scrolls into the caves, Cargill said.
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran."
Can clothing solve the mystery?
The new clothing research may help to identify the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Shamir told LiveScience that it is unlikely the scrolls were deposited in the caves by Roman refugees. If that were the case, the more-popular textile in ancient Israel, wool, would have been found in the caves along with other garments.
"If people run away from Jerusalem they would take all sorts of textiles with them, not only linen textiles," she said. "The people who ran away to the Cave of Letters, they took wool textiles with them."
Peleg, the archaeologist who co-led the recent archaeological work at Qumran, told LiveScience he disagrees with that assessment. He said he stands by the idea that there is no connection between Qumran and the scrolls stored in the caves.
"We must remember that almost all the textiles were found in the caves andnot at the site. The main question is the connection between the site and the scrolls," Peleg wrote in an email. "I can find alternative explanations for the fact that scrolls were found with linen."
For instance, linen could have been chosen as scroll wrapping for religious reasons or perhaps priests were responsible for storing the scrolls and they wore linen clothing. "The clothes of the priests were made from linen," Peleg wrote.
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenik say that the clothing found in the Dead Sea Scroll caves is similar to historical descriptions of the clothing of the Essenes, suggesting that they in fact lived at Qumran. They point to an ancient Jewish writer, Flavius Josephus, who wrote that the Essenes "make a point of keeping a dry skin and always being dressed in white." (However, Josephus never said anything about the clothing being made of linen, Peleg points out.)
Josephusalso wrote that the Essenes were very frugal when it came to clothing and shared goods with each other.
"In their dress and deportment they resemble children under rigorous discipline. They do not change their garments or shoes until they are torn to shreds or worn threadbare with age. There is no buying or selling among themselves, but each gives what he has to any in need and receives from him in exchange something useful to himself ..."
(Translation from "Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans: Primary Readings," Louis Feldman and Meyer Reinhold, 1996.)
In their paper, Shamir and Sukenikalso point to another ancient writer, Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that the Essenes wore a common style of simple dress.
"And not only is their table in common but their clothes also. For in winter they have a stock of stout coats ready and in summer cheap vests, so that he who wishes may easily take any garment he likes, since what one has is held to belong to all and conversely what all have one has."
(Translation from the "Selected Writing of Philo of Alexandria," edited by Hans Lewy, 1965.)
Cargill said that the clothing is further evidence that there was a Jewish sectarian group living at Qumran.
"You do have evidence of a group that raised its own animals, pressed its own date honey, that appears to have worn distinctive clothes and made its own pottery, and followed its own calendar, at least a calendar different from the temple priesthood," he said. "Those are all signs of a sectarian group."
He also noted the presence of mikveh (ritual baths) at the site and the fact that the residents could make pottery that was ritually pure.
This group appears to have wanted to separate itself from the priests based at the temple in Jerusalem. "There is a congruency within many of the sectarian documents that appears to be consistent with a sectarian group that has separated itself from the temple priesthood in Jerusalem," Cargill said.
According to Cargill's theory, the people of Qumran would have written some of the scrolls, while collecting others. "Obviously they didn't write all of the scrolls," Cargill said. Dating indicates some of the scrolls were written before Qumran even existed. One unusual scroll, made of copper, may have been deposited after Qumran was abandoned in A.D. 70.
Cargill says it's possible that some of the scrolls may have been put in caves from people outside the community. If that's true, some of the textiles could also be from people outside of Qumran.
"[If] not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls are the responsibility of sectarians at Qumran then it would follow that not all of the textiles that are discovered in the caves are [the] product of a sect at Qumran," Cargill said.
Were there women at Qumran?
The new research may alsoshed light on who created the textiles.
The textiles are of high quality and, based on the archaeological finds at Qumran itself, where there is little evidence of spindle whorls or loom weights, the team thinks it's unlikely they would have been made at the site.
"This is very, very important, because this is connected to gender," Shamir said, "spinning is connected with women."
She explained that the textiles were likely created at another site in Israel, with women playing a key role in their production. This suggests that there were few women living at Qumran itself. "Weaving is connected with men and women, but spinning was only a production of women, [and] we don't find this item at Qumran.""
Tammy Trent
" April 15, 2009 — Tammy Trent shares how the Bible has helped her in the good times and the bad, with the American Bible Society for Share Your Story Now."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com: Death- Grieving, Mourning, Reflection, etc..
Apologetix - Scripture
"Facing the Giants gives a glimpse of what God can do for us when we surrender EVERY area of our life to Him. Our problems do not always go away but the one who created the entire universe by breathing it into existence shares His strength and power with us. Learn the power of praising Him when you win and praising Him when you lose! "
*see GoodnewsEverybody: Sports-Football
-Songs
Baby Got Book
Secret Ambition by Michael W. Smith
"All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! Psalm 145: 10"
"The Disciples quickly became persecuted for the testimony that they gave of Gospel."
*a friend (Victor) share countless testimonies from his recent "mission trip" (NC, TN, MI, etc..) this evening (Friday, November 2nd of 2007) at a fellowship gathering in Morris. Here are some more..
From Bible and Literature Recipients:
"
�Your books and the New Testament Recovery Version are such a blessing to my Christian growth. Every time I read either the books or the Bible, it is like eating and enjoying a favorite dish. I love feasting on the Word of God.��Pikesville, Maryland
�I love reading the books in your free literature series. My eyes have been opened to see the truth in the Word concerning the Spirit and to understand that Christ is all in everything.��Baltimore, Maryland
�I have thoroughly enjoyed the ministry and word spoken through these two brothers [Watchman Nee and Witness Lee]. God has blessed me, grown in me, and led me into a deeper and more intimate enjoyment of Himself with the help of this ministry. Praise the Lord for His Word! Hallelujah!��Irving, Texas
Coupon Code, 10% from retailmenot.com
Word of Promise Audio Bible
"A 20-hour, 20-CD, diverse star-studded audio Bible production of The New Testament. This multi-voiced faithful rendering of the NKJV New Testament is presented in a compelling, dramatic audio theater format. The arresting world-cl@#!# audio production immerses listeners in the dramatic reality of the Scriptures as never before. Complete with an original music score by prolific Italian composer Stefano Mainetti ( Abba Pater ), Contributions by Dove Award winners Michael W. Smith and Rebecca St. James, and ambient sound effects that are woven together with compelling narration by Michael York, the Bible comes to life for a new generation. The post-production, sound design and Foley (sound effects) are produced, engineered and mixed at Cerny American Creative in Chicago-an award-winning post-production facility ranked in the Top 3 in the nation for sound design. Cast includes: * Jim Caviezel (The P@#!#ion of the Christ, Déj� vu) - Jesus * Michael York (Romeo & Juliet, Austin Powers) - Narrator * Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland's Opus, The Goodbye Girl) - Quotes from Moses * Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, What Women Want) - Mary Magdalene * Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach (Prison Break, Hemingway) - Paul * Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Lou Gossett, Jr (An Officer and a Gentleman, Roots) - John * Terence Stamp (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Superman II) - Voice of God * Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim, Father of the Bride) - Mary, Mother of Jesus * Golden Globe and Tony Award nominee, Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba, Young Guns) - Mark * John Heard (Prison Break, Home Alone) - Matthew * Ernie Hudson (Miss Congeniality, Ghostbusters) - Peter * TV Guide's TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols honoree Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210, Jeremiah) - Judas & Stephen * John Schneider (Smallville, Dukes of Hazzard) - James * Chris McDonald (Happy Gilmore, Quiz Show) - Luke * Brainchild of Carl Amari, CEO of Falcon Picture Group, a leading producer and distributor of audio dramas and founder of Radio Spirits, Inc. * Coproduced by Jim Caviezel and New York Times best-selling author and broadcast journalist, Raymond Arroyo * Directed by actor, writer, producer and president of the award-winning Cerny/American Creative Studios, JoBe Cerny * Bonus DVD showing scenes from the actors' recording sessions"
*brochure I got from the Point of Grace Concert 2005 in Alexandria's Lake Geneva Christian Center
Books Christian
Christian Book
Giant Print Bible (King James Version, Black Imitation Leather) [LARGE PRINT] (Leather Bound), from amazon.com
Nex-Tag
Parable
Sight Connection
Thomas Nelson
"A short video that Landry and I made over All-Star weekend explaining the meaning behind our handshake.
Special thanks to Koichi Sanchez and Jamie Flora
http://www.iworkthenightshift.com/home/
https://twitter.com/#!/thenightshift"
" ABC News
A North Carolina woman read the Bible to her attacker for an hour and a half after he slashed her throat before the man apologized and left.
Lindsay Wood, 32, of Shelby, N.C., had just arrived home from Bible study on Wednesday. Wood asked her 15-year-old son to collect the trash can from the curb. During this time, Wood's attacker walked into her home and slashed her neck.
"She told him please not to hurt her, that she loved the Lord and her son," neighbor Faye Cooke told ABC affiliate WSOC.
Police said Wood's son heard what was happening and hid in the backyard out of sight while Wood continued to reason with the man.
"She offered her car up, as well as money," Rick Stafford, a captain in the Shelby Police Department told WSOC.
But the man took none of those things.
Despite her injuries, Wood opened her Bible and read to her attacker.
He listened. She even invited him to her church.
After an hour and a half, her attacker apologized and left.
Wood is in the hospital recovering from her injuries, which required 20-25 stitches and staples in her neck.
Meanwhile, police are hoping to apprehend the man, who didn't seem to want anything more than to hurt an innocent person.
"We want him off the street," Stafford said."
Bible stops bullet shot into a Geauga County home, Marc Magill
Created: 4/3/2008 7:18:09 PM (WKYC.com)
"HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP -- A bullet tore through a Geauga County home here Sunday night while a young family was inside.
A deer slug came through the east side of the home, traveled through several walls and came to a stop after striking a Bible in a bedroom closet.
At the time of the shooting, the entire Milks family was home.
The family is not pressing charges.
The bullet came from a 12-gauge shotgun that was shot by a 17-year-old neighbor who was actually out hunting not far from the home.
The 17-year-old came over Monday morning and apologized profusely.
"
"Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. . FREE high resolution PowerPoint of this and other presentations visit www.SaintPaulMinistries.net
"International (MNN) ― Millions of pastors and church leaders in the developing world have little or no formal Bible training. Some live in isolated creative access areas. Yet new churches are emerging rapidly in these areas as God moves among so many people groups.
Mission Aviation Fellowship-Learning Technologies (MAF-LT) created a solution by putting thousands of Bible resources on solar MP3 players and USB thumb drives. The material is encrypted, masked in such a way that if the thumb drive were examined, nothing Christian would be found. .."
Bible.is reaches 1 million downloads, Posted: 29 December, 2010 Posted: 29 December, 2010 mnnonline.org
"International (MNN) ― In the space of just five months, one million people have downloaded the free, audio-based Bible.is app from Faith Comes by Hearing. Bible.is allows users to listen to the Bible and read it at the same time on their iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches, and Android devices.
Bible.is is part of FCBH's Digital Bible Project, which is working with other partners in Bible translation to compile the world's largest digital library of both Bible text and audio recordings for the latest technology. It allows users to share verses easily through e-mail, Facebook, and twitter, and it has multiple font sizes available.
"I am new to the whole 'techy' thing," wrote a Bible.is mobile app user. "But, I love that you can read and listen at the same time. You can have your very own Bible study anytime, anywhere."
To date, people from 166 different countries have accessed God's Word through Bible.is. Their average listening time is 36 minutes per person. The app is available in English and Spanish, and contains 96 different languages and 160 different versions.
"It is almost impossible to find an Audio Bible app for Mandarin!" another user wrote. "Praise the Lord! He brought this app to me." FCBH is constantly working to produce audio Bibles in more languages.
For the month of January, Bible.is has organized a Facebook group, "The Listening Tree," to help people start 2011 off right by spending time in the Word of God. The group plans to listen to one chapter of Proverbs every day.
"For 35 years, Faith Comes By Hearing has created listening groups around the world where people--some of them for the first time ever--experience the Word of God together in their heart language," the Web site explained. "Often this Bible engagement group happens under the shade of a large tree in a village. Why not bring the power of listening together to our Facebook community?"
Pray for many people to find salvation and spiritual growth through the ministry of Bible.is. You can help support the ministry here. "
"PASADENA, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- Like other boys in his Pashtun tribe along the Pakistan-Afghan border, he was sent to a madrasa at age four, where he was compelled to read, recite and memorize the Koran.
madrasa in Pakistan
“The children mimic or copy the mullah, who is very heavy-handed. You have to memorize out of fear,” says John Taimoor, founder of The Crossbearers, a ministry devoted to presenting biblical Christianity within an Islamic context
By age 14 he was reading Shakespeare and searching for heroes, when he stumbled across the name ‘Isa,’ the Arabic name for Jesus in the Koran. “I read the name of Jesus and became curious,” he says. “The Lord reached me right in the mosque.”
When he asked the priest about Jesus, he was told that Moses and Jesus were brothers. When he asked how to find out more, they told him to find ‘The Book of Isa.’ “Nobody had ever heard of a Bible.”
Taimoor searched for a ‘Book of Isa’ for two years. When he asked his teacher or inquired at the library he was met with suspicion. “What are you up to boy? Do you want to become a Christian?” they asked.
He met a young man at school rumored to be a Christian. “I begged him to get me a Book of Isa,” he says. “He got so scared he never returned to school again. He thought they would stone him or kill him.” There were times Taimoor rode his motorbike 30 to 40 miles because he heard about a gathering of Christians. “No one was willing to give me a Bible they were so scared.”
“Being strong-willed, the more people stopped me, the more determined I became,” Taimoor adds.
One day he happened to meet a missionary passing through the area north of Islamabad handing out small New Testaments. Taimoor spied the man from a distance and hurriedly rode his motorbike toward him. “He looked at me and greeted me like a Muslim and said, ‘This is the Book of Isa.’”
“It hit me like a bullet,” Taimoor says. “I was almost paralyzed.” Hesitantly, he asked the missionary the cost of the book.
“Nobody can pay the price for it,” he said. “If you want it, you can give me whatever you would like to give.” Taimoor fished into his pocket and pulled out the U.S. equivalent of 20 cents.
Racing home, Taimoor underwent a ritualistic cleansing, deciding this would be appropriate before reading such a book. “I didn’t understand it in the beginning,” he says. “But when I got to the fifth chapter of Matthew something supernatural and unusual happened in my mind."
MORE "
Youth Related
Special Feature
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? Answer - Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
What is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 118:8
Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?
Zion Oil & Gas founder using Bible to find oil
Updated: 10:07 a.m. ET April 6,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7404743/?GT1=6428
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Matthew 7:7
