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Josephus & DSS
>From jwest@SunBelt.Net Thu Sep 19 19:00:12 1996
Subject: Re: Josephus & DSS
At 02:18 PM 9/19/96 +0100, you wrote:
> I am overjoyed that the DSS are now available for the rest of us
>to study and I am sure they will help to authenticate statements in the
Scriptures
>and Josephus.
>
How on earth can the DSS authenticate the NT? And if Josephus is so
reliable, why does he need support?
>Thanks Beruriah Bloom with the statement:
> "Now it seems as though you are suggesting that an unknown, unnamed
author of a
> text found at Qumran is more reliable than Josephus is."
>and Ian Hutchesson with the statements:
> "I find the advice given here almost scandalous(!?)" and
> "I'd rather go for Josephus on the Essenes than flaky modern
wish-fulfilment."
>
I have already responded to both these in earlier posts. I think however
that you do not quite understand Ian aright.
>I wish there were more of you making your voices felt against all these
critics who
>keep denigrating the ancient writings which include the Bible. Perhaps
these critics
>should give us some facts from the DSS which they say disprove the New
>Testament and Josephus and then we can make our own minds up instead of just
>accepting wild statements like this implying that Acts is unreliable.
>
Appalling!!! How can one respond to such notions? I was simply responding
to a request made by a grad student and not entering into some kind of grand
demonic scheme to undermine the NT. Yet I suppose that thos who believe
the Bible to be history must always respond with vitriol to any statements
contrary to theirs.
yours,
Jim
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West
Professor of Biblical Languages, CCBI
Adjunct Professor of Bible, Quartz Hill School of Theology