Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Maryhelena, There are some additional correspondences between the Scrolls and issues that pertain to the first century CE. So far we can say that the Scrolls are anti-sacrifice-to-standards (something that only Titus' soldiers are said to have done), anti-tax (which could refer to the taxes imposed ...

Maryhelena, We at least seem to agree that (at least some of) the DSS appear to have been written during the Roman era. And since 63 BCE is within the range of the carbon dating, it's possible that the Scrolls I think are relevant to the first century CE could pertain to that earlier time instead. B...

Maryhelena, You wrote: "The carbon dating works against Eisenman." I've never found the carbon dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls to be an issue for Eisenman's theories, since the range of dates for the Scrolls he thinks are relevant to Christian origins includes the first century CE: http://e...

Hawthorne, You wrote: "Are there any references to James being the brother of Jesus in the DSS?" No. James' name also does not appear in the DSS. While some Scrolls mention names, like the Priestly Courses (e.g., Queen Alexandra Salome, Hycanus and perhaps the Roman Aemelius Scaurus), the ...

Philosopher Jay, You wrote: "The DSS captures this conflict as one between a Teacher of Righteousness and a Wicked Priest." Speaking of the Dead Sea Scrolls .... I was hoping to hold back my views on Eisenman a little longer, considering that he seems to generally be perceived as a kook, b...

MrMacSon, I looked at your links (and they are all to the same Carrier blogpost, which I've read before), and another one in Carrier's post that led to something written on the Jesus Blog. I did notice that Carrier mentions that Eusebius' teacher Pamphilus inherited Origen's library, and perhaps you...

Andrew, Thank you for the response and the link. So let's say that some (discernably) pre-70 Pharisaic laws were amended by Rabbi Judah or other post-70 rabbis. I don't see how that would make Rabbinic Judaism any less "Pharisaic" (in spirit, anyway). Consider that, while the pre-70 school...

Hawthorne, I wrote: "As for why Josephus doesn't mention James in the Jewish War, if I recall correctly, Mason points out (in Josephus and the New Testament) that there are other people Josephus mentions in the Antiquities that aren't mentioned in the War ..." I couldn't find any reference...

Hawthorne,

In response to me, you wrote:

"As far as the extant text supports, Josephus does not mention anyone called James the Just."

That's true, and I didn't say that he does and I don't know what this has to do with what I did say. And the other thing you cited is not from me.

Andrew, I'm enjoying our discussion, and feel like we are generally in agreement, but at the same time I feel like we are circling around each other. It's not that I'm arguing against your contentions so much as needing to see the evidence for them. For example, you wrote: "Some specific Pharis...