Biblical Scroll Found in Desert

Guardian (U.K.) ^ | Saturday July 16, 2005

[nickcarraway]

An encounter with a Bedouin robber in a desert valley has led to what one Israeli archaeologist described as one of the most important biblical finds from the region in half a century.

Professor Chanan Eshel, an archaeologist from Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv, said yesterday that the discovery of two fragments of nearly 2,000-year-old parchment scroll from the Dead Sea area gave hope to biblical and archaeological scholars, frustrated by a dearth of material unearthed in the region in recent years, that the Judean desert could yet yield further artefacts.

"No more scrolls have been found in the Judean desert since 1965. This encourages scholars to believe that if they bother to excavate, survey and climb they will still find things in the Judean desert. The common knowledge has been that there is nothing left to find there," Prof Eshel said. The two small pieces of brown animal skin, inscribed in Hebrew with verses from the Book of Leviticus, are said by Prof Eshel to be from "refugee" caves in Nachal Arugot, a canyon near the Dead Sea, where Jews hid from the Romans in the second century.

The scrolls are being tested by Israel's Antiquities Authority.

Prof Eshel said he was first shown the fragments last year in an abandoned police station near the Dead Sea. A Bedouin had been offered $20,000 (£11,000) on the black market and wanted an evaluation.

[jusduat]

I am glad that the Mormons don't want to kill me even
if I do not believe as they do.

[DelphiUser]

>>I believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the only begotten Son of God.
>>He lived in the meridian of time, died on the cross, and was resurrected after the third day.
>>He now reigns while he is in heaven and he will return and personally reign upon the earth.
>>The Bible is the word of God. If we are not in agreement on these points I wonder how so?

>> Either you are not a true Mormon, or you have twisted every single one of these statements to make them say something quite different than orthodox Christianity.

I hereby state catagorically that you don't understand mormons, and have been fed falshoods by someone (purposfull or not).

[XR7]

But it seems to me that if one is truly a "Christian," one will allow others the right to believe as they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with your right to believe as you wish.

And, if you believe you are truly a "Christian" and follow the teachings of Christ and the apostles, but you fail to warn those that are on the road to perdition that they are following a false gospel which will lead them straight to hell, and you fail to proclaim to them the good news that will save them from eternal torment, then are you a good Christian?

[BibChr]

Where do you get the idea that it is "Christian" to see someone believing something that will send him to Hell, and not try to do anything to help him?

Certainly not the Bible in general, nor Jesus in particular -- so, where?

Dan

[carumba]

Yes we are different. That is not in question. Seeking the truth is what I am all about. I am sure that you are aware of scriptures that don't support your argument. I can provide a list if you want. So in this day of evil combinations, gross wickedness, hatred, unnatural affections, and murders for gain and power you say we don't need a prophet of God. I say we do.

[Monkey Face]

"And, if you believe you are truly a "Christian" and follow the teachings of Christ and the apostles, but you fail to warn those that are on the road to perdition that they are following a false gospel which will lead them straight to hell, and you fail to proclaim to them the good news that will save them from eternal torment, then are you a good Christian?"

I'm not about to explain myself to you on this or any other thread. If I choose to take the role of missionary, I will do so as the Spirit guides me and not to prove a point.

[XR7]

How do you determine whether a prophet is a false prophet or not?

[SpringheelJack]

Dead Sea scrolls were manuscripts that were buried by scribes because they contained errors.

How would you know that?

[Monkey Face]

"How would you know that?"

Good question.

[Monkey Face]

See post 86.

[FatherofFive]

“Do you think Christ would have you belittle another's faith?”

I am sorry if I offended you. Trying to understand is not belittling. To a non-Mormon, your “god cycles” and men growing up to be gods does seem strange, especially while claiming to worship the same God as Christians and Jews. Nor am I am looking to embarrass anyone. I actually appreciate your candid answers.

A few follow up questions -

“God didn't "Start off"”
So, God evolved? When God said to Moses, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14), I understand this in the Aquinas sense of God being the first cause. So, to Mormons, is there a first cause of "all type and Shadows of all the eternities?"

Also, how does this square with Moroni 8:18: “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” It seems that your answer would require this to be read as “from one eternity to another”. So I should understand “all eternity” as “this eternity”?

“No one was "Made God the Father" of this world”
If “God didn't "Start off"” then he was made, no? If not, how did he get here?

[MudSlide]

Mark Twain said that the miracle of the Book of Mormon was that Joseph Smith stayed awake while he was writing it.

Twain said that if Smith would have left out the phrases - exceedling sore - made satisfactory again and it came to pass - which was Smiths favorite - the book of Mormon would have been a phamplet.

[dljordan]

"Dead Sea scrolls were manuscripts that were buried by scribes because they contained errors."

That's a pretty good way of defending your particular version of the Bible which I suppose is the KJV.

[XR7]

I'm not about to explain myself to you on this or any other thread.

Well, then why did you post your initial thread in the first place?
Answer: Because you wanted to bash those on this thread that were discussing how the discovery of ancient manuscripts/scrolls only serves to confirm that the Bible is translated accurately down through the ages, and that the veracity of the modern crop of so-called "scriptures," like the Book of Mormon, are questionable because of the lack of historical evidence and ancient manuscripts to confirm them. Reasoned, scholarly inquiry into the basis upon which documents purporting to be historic are grounded is not "bashing." Nor is pointing out that new discoveries of ancient manuscripts continue to confirm the veracity of the Bible, and cast further doubt upon the veracity of modern texts which purport to be accurately based upon ancient history, like the BOM.

[dljordan]

"How many TRUE gods are there?"

Well, in the Gnostic texts....

[Oberon]

"...their Mexican employees..."

Palestinians. In that part of the world, Palis are the equivalent of Mexicans.

[Monkey Face]

Thank you for the succinct answer that I gave. I'm relieved to know that someone here can read my mind and knows all my thoughts. I will be forever indebted to you for being able to say the things I couldn't formulate. Thanks again.

[BibChr]

So you're a sniper. You like talking, not much on listening; like posing a question, uninterested in the answer.

That's your bill to pay, dude.

Dan

[MudSlide]

A Bedouin had been offered $20,000 (£11,000)...

How many shekels is that at today's rate of exchange?

Dead Sea scrolls are like oil - the higher the price the more you find.

[BibChr]

lol

So, would a Gnostic say he was a "Christian"?

Things that make you say...

...hmmmmm.

(c;