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It seems the Sadducees & Pharisees believed in LFW. Jesus said to His disciples, beware of their teachings.
OTOH Scripture appears to say nothing about a third Jewish sect, the Essenes, who were apparently determinists.
Josephus says "the sect of the Essenes affirm, that fate governs all things, and that nothing befalls men but what is according to determination"
(Josephus, Antiquities 13, 172).
"Like hyper-Calvinists, they believed that God ordered all things in the world, including acts of human will." re both the Essenes & the Dead Sea Community (Qumran)
"Fred Gladstone Bratton notes that The Teacher of Righteousness of the Scrolls would seem to be a prototype of Jesus, for both spoke of the New Covenant; they preached a similar gospel; each was regarded as a Savior or Redeemer; and each was condemned and put to death by reactionary factions... We do not know whether Jesus was an Essene, but some scholars feel that he was at least influenced by them.[55] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essenes
A third faction, the Essenes, emerged out of disgust with the other two. This sect believed the others had corrupted the city and the Temple. They moved out of Jerusalem and lived a monastic life in the desert, adopting strict dietary laws and a commitment to celibacy. Pharisees, Sadducees & Essenes
Jesus spoke of those such as Himself "who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven" (Mt.19:12)
As the Essenes, John the Baptist also lived in the desert: "And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel." (Lk.1:80)
"...the description of the ascetic practices of John the Baptist have led some to speculate that he may have been associated with the group in some way......John the Baptist is widely regarded to be a prime example of an Essene who had left the communal life (see Ant. 18.116-119), and it is thought they aspired to emulate their own founding Teacher of Righteousness who was reportedly crucified."
The Essenes "strictness far exceeded that of the Pharisees..." Essenes - New World Encyclopedia
Jesus said "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt.5:20).
...Since the nineteenth century, attempts have been made to connect early Christianity and Pythagoreanism with the Essenes. It was suggested that John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth were Essenes...Contemporary authors such as Robert Eisenman present differing views affirming that the late Essenes were actually early Christians. Essenes - New World Encyclopedia
The Essenes lived communally & shared all things in common. Likewise with the disciples early in the book of Acts.
The Essenes emphasized being "channels of peace". Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Mt.5:9).
"Fred Gladstone Bratton notes that The Teacher of Righteousness of the Scrolls would seem to be a prototype of Jesus, for both spoke of the New Covenant; they preached a similar gospel; each was regarded as a Savior or Redeemer; and each was condemned and put to death by reactionary factions... We do not know whether Jesus was an Essene, but some scholars feel that he was at least influenced by them.[55] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essenes
"...the description of the ascetic practices of John the Baptist have led some to speculate that he may have been associated with the group in some way......John the Baptist is widely regarded to be a prime example of an Essene who had left the communal life (see Ant. 18.116-119), and it is thought they aspired to emulate their own founding Teacher of Righteousness who was reportedly crucified."
Two points. If Jesus is God's son, then he was not influenced by the Essenes as he himself said what he had to sat came from God, not man.
If he isn't the whole issue is meaningless.
Plus, like many things that are similar to Biblical accounts, they can be an effort by Satan to create doubt by using similar activities by others.
So sorry, I have no idea what the abbreviations mean so had to stop after the 2nd sentence.
Well, i also don't know what determinist means, either.
Miss H.
If it weren't for the sacrifice these and other sects made in faith.
Laying down their lives to preserve the Truth.
You and I would of been raised in a world of darkness.
The Romans were militarily known to conquer their enemies by destroying libraries of history. And then rewrite them as an assimilated Greco Roman occultation.
The qumran community that kept safe the dead sea scrolls was far more than just determination.
They were the honorable of every sect that stood and stand firm as true soldiers of the Lord.
Never yielding to a threat of force or numbers.
Such Honor for the Elders is rarely seen these days.
A history in of itself held dear to the hearts of those who would keep pure the promise and surety of salvation.
So sorry, I have no idea what the abbreviations mean so had to stop after the 2nd sentence.
Well, i also don't know what determinist means, either.
I have no idea what LFW means but OTOH usually means on the other hand.
Determinism is a philosophy based strictly on Newtonian physics in which a current action is the inevitable result of prior actions and/or conditions. No "spiritual) influence, which is why I don't believe the Essenes were, but they may well have felt that God is in control and is the prime mover, possibly as much as Calvin taught.
Two points. If Jesus is God's son, then he was not influenced by the Essenes as he himself said what he had to sat came from God, not man.
God could work through humans such as the Essenes.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Two points. If Jesus is God's son, then he was not influenced by the Essenes as he himself said what he had to sat came from God, not man.
If he isn't the whole issue is meaningless.
Plus, like many things that are similar to Biblical accounts, they can be an effort by Satan to create doubt by using similar activities by others.
For sure. But its important to consider two more points.
1. If Jesus is God's son, then he was not influenced by the Jews... as it came from God, not man... oh wait, if the Essenes were influenced by God, then some their ideas would align with what Jesus would teach (as all the Jews).
2. Plus, there are many Bibles canons and versions, and the canonizations/editing processes could also always be an effort by Satan to create doubt by using similar activities by others.
So sorry, I have no idea what the abbreviations mean so had to stop after the 2nd sentence.
Well, i also don't know what determinist means, either.
Completely understandable. Different strokes for different folks.
I found that LFW means "libertarian free will" and is about "free-will which is not predetermined, or sometimes not even pre-known (which would, assuringly, automatically predetermine it)."
A determinist is someone that believes that things already have a destined end because of the order of things (1 + 1, always = 2), and sometimes even that all consequences (because of their strict causes) are known (such as by gods, especially the supposedly omniscient ones).
If it weren't for the sacrifice these and other sects made in faith.
Laying down their lives to preserve the Truth.
You and I would of been raised in a world of darkness.
The Romans were militarily known to conquer their enemies by destroying libraries of history. And then rewrite them as an assimilated Greco Roman occultation.
The qumran community that kept safe the dead sea scrolls was far more than just determination.
They were the honorable of every sect that stood and stand firm as true soldiers of the Lord.
Never yielding to a threat of force or numbers.
Such Honor for the Elders is rarely seen these days.
A history in of itself held dear to the hearts of those who would keep pure the promise and surety of salvation.
You really think the Judeans and Christians didn't destroy their enemies' libraries and rewrite them? The Romans and Egyptians would purposefully burry their sacred artifacts and histories to keep them save from invasions. Even today, these such practices continue with various versions of Qurans and Bibles.
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