1QS 11

Community Rule
Dead Sea Scrolls

My eyes have gazed on that which is eternal, on wisdom concealed from men, on knowledge and wise design (hidden) from the sons of men; on a fountain of righteousness and on a storehouse of power, on a spring of glory (hidden) from the assembly of flesh. God has given them to His chosen ones as an everlasting possession, and has caused them to inherit the lot of the Holy Ones. He has joined their assembly to the Sons of Heaven to be a Council of the Community, a foundation of the Building of Holiness, and eternal Plantation throughout all ages to come. As for me, I belong to wicked mankind, to the company of unjust flesh.

Philippians 3:20

New Testament

17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. 18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

 Notes and References

"... For those who belong to the group around the apocalyptic seer, the description in Philippians 3:20–21 reveals to them the only true perspective, the hope they have of transformation into heavenly bodies ... This passage contains a set of unusual conceptions.38 Πολίτευμα is a term drawn out of antique political theory and practice describing “a body of citizens with political rights.”39 A person belonging to the πολίτευμα is per definition active in the politics of a given group or community, which means that this person may vote, take part in public assemblies and the public cult, and may receive, give thanks for and spend benefactions. Platonic-Stoic philosophy developed the conception of the heavenly politeuma. On the one hand, it portrays the heavens as the ultimate example of political order, which is to be imitated by humankind. On the other hand, the heavens are also the true home of the wise from which they have come and to which they shall return after their educational sojourn on earth.41 Philippians 3:20–21 does not, however, speak of a homeward ascent for believers. On the contrary, “a body of politically active citizens” seems already to exist in heaven (ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑπάρχει).42 This very much calls to mind the community of the Dead Sea, which saw itself as already taking part in the heavenly assembly of angels ... The assembly of the angels has a cultic character, yet its description asדוס takes up political language, and thus, reflects antique conceptions of the cultic functions performed by politically elected representatives ..."

Standhartinger, Angela "Apocalyptic Thought in Philippians" in Stuckenbruck, Loren T. (ed.) The Jewish Apocalyptic Tradition and the Shaping of New Testament Thought (pp. 233-244) Fortress Press, 2017

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