Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scrolls Community Rule connects purification with the light of life. In John 8, Jesus uses the same image for those who follow him, linking his teaching with a Jewish tradition that contrasts light and darkness as ways of living.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1QS 3:6
Community Rule
Dead Sea Scrolls, Sectarian and Community Texts
6 God, so as not to be disciplined in the community of his counsel. For it is by the spirit of the true counsel of God that the ways of a man are atoned for, all 7 his iniquities, so that he may look on the light of life. And by the spirit of holiness, which joins him to his truth, he is purified from all 8 his iniquities, and by the spirit of uprightness and humility his sin is atoned for. And by the humbling of his soul to all the statutes of God his flesh is purified, 9 to be sprinkled with waters of cleansing and sanctified with waters of purification. Let him then set his steps to walk perfectly
Date: 160–100 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
John 8:12
New Testament
10 Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]] 12 Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees objected, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone.
Date: 90–110 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Of the other “shared literary expressions” listed by Charlesworth, “A Critical Comparison,”, only three deserve mention as arguably instances of the light / darkness imagery - (1) “to walk in the paths of darkness” (1QS 3:21; 4:11) and “to walk in darkness” (John 8:12; 12-35; compare 1 John 1:6; 2-11); (2) “the light of life” (1QS 3:7; John 8:12); (3) “blindness of eyes” (1QS 4:11) and “the eyes of the blind” (John 10:21; compare John 9). On these the following comments should be made- (1) Both expressions are biblical- “to walk in the paths of darkness” (Proverbs 2-13), “to walk in darkness” (Psalm 82:5; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Isaiah 9:2). 1QS uses the former twice (1QS 3:21; 4:11) and the latter once (1QS 11:10), whereas John uses only the latter (John 8:12; 12:35; compare 1 John 1:6; 2:11) ..."
Richard Bauckham, The Qumran Community and the Gospel of John (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 2000), 105–115.
* 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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