From Library Journal
Pate (Bible, Moody Bible Inst.) proposes that the Essene and early Christian communities adapted and retold the story of IsraelDparticularly its sin, exile, and restorationDas the controlling story of their own existence. While other Jewish groups also retold the story, these two shared the idea that they were "restored Israel living in the last days." In this, Pate depends significantly on the recent work of N.T. Wright (The Challenge of Jesus, LJ 11/15/00). He begins with an overview of the story of Israel in the Old Testament, the discovery and publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the relationship between the Scrolls and the New Testament. He analyzes the communities' views on such concepts as messianic hope, exile and restoration, covenant, monotheism, and eschatology by comparing the teachings in the Scrolls with those in various New Testament traditions. He concludes that whereas the predictions of the Teacher of Righteousness regarding the restoration of Israel failed, those of Jesus were fulfilled; thus the disappearance of the Essenes and the flourishing of Christianity. Though not always persuasive (some may view his conclusion as a presupposition instead), Pate provides a fairly comprehensive, though not exhaustive, survey of the subject.DCraig W. Beard, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Pate explores similarities and differences between the Dead Sea Scrolls and New Testament using a sin-exile-restoration pattern. -- CBA Marketplace, April 2000
