Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scroll Community Rule and 1 Peter describe the reward of the faithful using similar imagery of light, majesty, and a crown of glory, sharing a common interpretation of texts like Isaiah.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1QS 4:6
Community Rule
Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts
5 intent with a steadfast inclination, and abundant kindness toward all the sons of truth, and a glorious purity that detests all the idols of impurity, and walking modestly 6 with prudence in all things, and concealing the truth of the mysteries of knowledge. These are the counsels of the spirit for the sons of truth in the world. And the visitation of all who walk in it is healing 7 and abundant peace in length of days, and fruitful seed with all everlasting blessings, and eternal joy in life without end, and a crown of glory 8 with a robe of majesty in eternal light.
Date: 160–100 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Peter 5:4
New Testament
2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Date: 80–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... A crown of glory is a symbol of honor in the Hebrew Bible. In Psalm 8:5, humanity is crowned with glory and honor, as an indication of being only a little lower than. In 1QHa 27:25 the scoffing of an enemy is transformed into a crown of glory. It can also have an eschatological connotation. According to Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-16, “the righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord ... Therefore, they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord.” In Revelation 2:10, a crown of life is a reward for fidelity unto death ... Majestic raiment may be illustrated from the transformation of the righteous on the day of judgment in 1 Enoch 62:15-16 ... We have already noted the tendency to conceive the immortal state in terms of a garment of glory in later apocalypses. “Eternal light” is associated especially with the divine presence. Compare for example 1QHa 12:22-23: “you reveal yourself in me ... as perfect light.” Likewise, 1QS 11:3: from the source of his knowledge he has disclosed his light ..." Compare Revelation 3:11. Similarly in 1 Peter 5:4 it is a reward given when “the chief shepherd” appears in judgment ..."
John J. Collins, "The Angelic Life" in Seim, Turid Karlsen and Økland, Jorunn. Metamorphoses: Resurrection, Body and Transformative Practices in Early Christianity (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2009), 294.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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