Page 9 - Os Manuscritos do Mar Morto

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ABSTRACT

A youth bedouin shepherd was searching for one of his lost animals in the area

of the Judean desert, near the border of the Dead Sea, in the year of 1947. When he
ingenuously threw a stone in a rift of a cliff, he heard a vessel noise breaking. Thus

happened like this the largest discovery of old texts ever done until then – the Dead Sea
Scrolls. A series of caves was found soon after, several of which contained hand written

material. Archaeologists soon realized that these manuscripts were originating from a

nearby archaeological site, known now as Khirbet Qumran. Scholars worldwide have
studied the literary material that was discovered in these caves. The hymnary texts that

were used by the community that resided in this settlement from before the destruction
of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. are among the most priceless documents discovered. The

broadly used hymnary texts of the Qumran community had a significant function in the
religious and ritualistic life of the community as evidenced by the personal

manifestations of praise to God in the texts. This is analogous to the practices of the

early Christian communities of the first century, as described in the New Testament, in
which the practice of singing hymns was a daily occurrence. In addition to containing

hymnal compositions, the texts also present the doctrinal aspects of the Qumran

community. The doctrine presented in the texts shows a considerable influence from
older sources and contemporary sources of the Qumran community. Before the

discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was believed that the largest influence to the
literature of the New Testament was solely derived from the Hebraic Bible. Thanks to

the Dead Sea Scrolls we now know otherwise. Some hymns and passages of the New
Testament are clearly analogous to the texts found in Qumran. This Dissertation intends

to elucidate the possible contacts that occurred among different traditions, causing

adaptations or borrowings between those traditions. Additionally, it will attempt to
prove that the dialogue among religious communities of the first century was much

more significant than previously thought. The primary sources used are the hymnary
material of Qumran and the oldest documents of the New Testament – the Pauline

epistles. These documents are closely related chronologically and it stands to reason that
they share common roots.

Keywords: Dead Sea Scrolls, community of Qumran, hymns, New Testament,
Christianity.