Among the different factions that existed within Jewish society during this period, the Essenes stand out as a distinct community, whose members lived an ascetic, communal existence, strictly adhering to the laws of purity and avoiding the accumulation of wealth and property. The beliefs of the sectarians and their way of life have become apparent to us mainly since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in caves near Qumran, situated on the Dead Sea shores. This arid, desert wasteland was home to an extremist group of individuals, who wished to cut themselves off from the world’s iniquities and live a life of purity and monasticism.
Many of the doctrines of the Dead Sea sect resemble the concepts of early Christianity. What is particularly evident is the affinity between John the Baptist and the sect. John the Baptist was probably born in Ein Kerem, and as an adult, he went off to live in the Judean Desert. He advocated abstemiousness and called for repentance, for which he set a personal example by immersing himself in the Jordan River. John, who became active somewhat earlier than Jesus, prophesized the impending Day of Judgement and the bitter fates of all those who failed to forego their wicked ways. He had a large crowd of followers, and even Jesus came to be baptized by him.

"John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:4-5)

Jesus and the "Teacher of Righteousness"

The Habakkuk Commentary, found together with the Dead Sea Scrolls, tells of the founder of the Dead Sea sect, called the “Teacher of Righteousness,” whose description is reminiscent of Jesus in certain details. Like Jesus, who was compared to the prophets of Israel, the “Teacher of Righteousness” was also said to have possessed the gift of prophecy, to have been persecuted because of his beliefs, and to have died for the sake of his mission.
In contrast to conclusions reached in early research, scholars no longer believe that there is a real historical or theological connection between Jesus and the “Teacher of Righteousness.” Nevertheless, the information on the founder of the Dead Sea sect is of great historical importance, for it provides the proper historical background for the figure of Jesus, particularly with regard to the concepts of leadership prevalent during the last centuries of the Second Temple period.

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John the Baptist and Isaiah's Prophesy

According to the Gospels, John the Baptist was active somewhat earlier than Jesus. The first Christians viewed him as his precursor, “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of the one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Matthew 3:3).
The quotation from Isaiah, which served the authors of the Gospels as the theological basis for the explanation of John’s activities, appears in the fragment of the Isaiah scroll on display here. Discovered at Qumran, this is one of the oldest copies of the Book of Isaiah in the world.

This verse also provided the theological impetus for the settlement of the sectarians in the desert. The use of the Book of Isaiah as an authoritative source was undoubtedly widespread among various Jewish groups during the Second Temple period.

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Paul and the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Thanksgiving Scroll
Ink on parchment,
Qumran, 1st century CE
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Shrine of the Book, A 95.57.24

St. Paul, the most influential apostle in the history of the early church, never even met Jesus. Nevertheless, it was in his letters that the theological tenets of Christian faith were first laid down.
Certain parallels to the teachings of Paul can be found in other literary sources of the time – rabbinic literature, apocalyptic texts, the writings of Philo of Alexandria, and even pagan compositions. Judging from the first-century Thanksgiving Scroll, its seems that some of Paul’s religious ideas were current among the members of the Judean Desert sect. Like Paul, the sectarians believed in the doctrine of revelation and that they had received knowledge of the divine secrets. They also subscribed to the theory that mankind was inherently evil, as did Paul.
This striking affinity does not negate the profound differences between the doctrines of the Dead Sea Sect and the teachings of Paul. However, the similarity of emphases points to a common cultural tradition, and possibly, mutual influence.

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