ISAIAH PROPHECY
In Isaiah 40:3 we read: “ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃”
The first part of the sentence can be translated either as “voice calling in the wilderness” or as “voice of the one calling in the wilderness.” The Judeo-Greek Septuagint Translation takes the second option, imagining a particular person (Φωνὴ βοῶντος). It translates the original Hebrew as “voice of the one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God”. This translation decision by the Jewish sages of Alexandria was accepted by the gospels (Mark 1:3).
QUMRAN INTERPERTATION
Qumran (or Dead Sea Scrolls) community was persuaded that it was not John the Baptizer, but their secluded community that was the fulfillment of this Isaianic prophecy (1QS 8.12b-16b). Their entire religious life was a response of protest to what they saw as corruption of the Jerusalem Temple (in this they agreed with the early Jesus followers). John’s emphasis on the water purification ceremony, his priestly origins, his ascetic life-style, his near identical missional statement, his dietary practice, his apocalyptic message as well as his general location argue that his ministry first developed in association and later in direct opposition to the Qumran community.
DISCOVER THE JEWISHNESS OF JESUS
How the Dead Sea Scrolls relate to the gospels is one the fascinating lectures in our newest Jewish Background of New Testament course. This course will give you a new perspective on the issue of Christian-Jewish relations in the 21st century and will ensure that you will not be the same person you were when you first started.
