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The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1996.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2012
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| _version_ | 1867613952048889856 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Dixon, John Harper |
| author2 | Cook, J. |
| author_browse | Cook, J. Dixon, John Harper |
| author_facet | Cook, J. Dixon, John Harper |
| author_sort | Dixon, John Harper |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1996. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55292 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:18.862Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateRange | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55292 The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism Dixon, John Harper Cook, J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. Essenes Gnosticism Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1996. This thesis sets out to establish the nature of the connection, if any, between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism while examining the Mandaeans as an enduring religious phenomenon. The relationship between these three groups is first defined in terms of who the Essenes were and who the Mandaeans are. A short discussion of the community organisation of the three movements sums up the first chapter. The background of at least some of the overlaps might lie with the ‘mystery’ religions and especially Eastern and Western Mithraism. This is developed in terms of an understanding of Mithraic iconography in terms of an astronomical-astrological formation. Mithraism also had an effect on the development of early Gnosticism and the growth of the ‘mystery’ in this ‘religion’. Hellenisation might have been the cause of changes in Near Eastern religion and culture, with its effects felt by all in that region. The Greek language facilitated the openness of some Jewish thinkers and leaders to change, but they experienced strenuous opposition from the ‘orthodox’ group. This might have contributed to the formation of the Essenes as a protest against this compromise of God’s covenant. This group might have been formed by the ‘Teacher of Righteousness’, the true interpreter of prophecy about the eschaton. Part of this ‘sect’ may have established themselves at Qumran to devote themselves entirely to God. Their stringent rules of admission and lifestyle set them apart from all of Israel, but to what extent did they differ from Gnostic initiates? We might ask how much dependence on Hellenism there was in the two great centres of Jerusalem and Alexandria? The definition of this religious expression suggests that it was probably Sethian Gnosticism that had its more direct roots in Judaism. The Hellenistic outlook of some Jewish writers, such as Philo, viewed the Greek philosophers with some favour. The notion of gnosis that redeems, was a radical departure from biblical exegesis and it involves an acceptance of a new idea of divinity. However, through a discussion of apocalyptic eschatology we can still see a possible connection in the theosophy of the three groups. All three expressed the need to improve their human condition, but differ to an extent on the manner of the reformation. There are still some similarities in their view of the ‘last days’ and the involvement of angels in this process. The Essenes, Gnostics and Mandaeans all felt their lives intertwined with the supernatural. The angels affected their thinking about their ordinary lives as well as their approach to worship. It may be that this belief in angels later developed into a different perception of reality. All this can be seen in their observance of the rituals concerned with baptism, holy meals and marriage. Judaism today seems to have been affected by these theosophical ‘connections’ as expressed in the Kabbalah. Masters 2012-08-27T11:36:59Z 2012-08-27T11:36:59Z 1996 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55292 en Stellenbosch University 128 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Essenes Gnosticism Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies Dixon, John Harper The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title | The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title_full | The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title_fullStr | The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title_short | The nature of the connection between the Qumran Essenes and Gnosticism |
| title_sort | nature of the connection between the qumran essenes and gnosticism |
| topic | Essenes Gnosticism Dissertations -- Ancient Near Eastern Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55292 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dixonjohnharper thenatureoftheconnectionbetweenthequmranessenesandgnosticism AT dixonjohnharper natureoftheconnectionbetweenthequmranessenesandgnosticism |