Summary
Title: The Messiah Before Jesus: The Suffering Servant of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Author: Israel Knohl
Publisher: University of California Press
ISBN: 0520234006
Pro:
• New and interesting look at origins of Christianity
• Thought-provoking discussion about nature of messiah figures
Con:
• Arguments may be a bit speculative for some
Description:
• Analysis of pre-Christian Messiah beliefs in Judaism
• Examines whether Jesus was really a novel figure
• Argues that there were messiah figures before Jesus
Book Review
Israel Knohl, Chair of the Bible Department at Hebrew University, argues that such a figure was not only known, but was filled by others before Jesus. He was not the first, and perhaps did not expect to be the last Messiah. Knohl bases his argument on two hymns found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. One is a first-person account of what it means to be a “Suffering Servant” doing the will of God and seeking to bring the Jews to a time of sinless joy. According to Knohl, these are not words put in the mouth of some future Messiah, but were instead the writings of someone who considered himself to be the Messiah — decades before Jesus.
Knohl argues that Judaism just before the time of Jesus began to develop the concept of a “catastrophic” messianism. This involved a person who would arrive to cast off the evil oppressors, but who would in the process have to undergo suffering, humiliation and even death.
Many scholars have argued that Jesus could not have made such claims about himself because the concept of a slain savior who rises from the dead was alien to the Judaism of his time. But Knohl effectively argues that there was at least one person who had already done this, thus setting the stage for others to follow.
- “In certain hymns that were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls and have recently been published, this earlier Messiah described himself as sitting on a heavenly throne, surrounded by angels. He regarded himself as the “suffering servant” who brought in a new age, an age of redemption and absolution in which there was no sin or guilt. ...This Messiah was finally killed in Jerusalem, and his body was left in the street for three days. His disciples believed that he had arisen after three days and had ascended to heaven.”
The case is made that we can even identify who this may have been — Menachem, a man who was not only an important member of the Jewish Essene sect, but who was also a close friend and supporter of Herod. When Herod died, Menachem lost his position of power; but more importantly, he also lost the reason to keep his identity secret. Unfortunately, once he proclaimed who he was, other Jewish leaders cast him and his followers out.
After that, he likely would have been killed as were the many other revolutionaries who rose up against Roman rule around 4 BCE. But what were his followers to do then? Predictions were made about what was to happen to the Messiah, but matters were not progressing as expected. In such situations, as Michael O. Wise has described, a crisis cult is formed in order to explain events and hold people together:
- “Thus after the Messiah’s death his believers created a “catastrophic” ideology. The rejection of the Messiah, his humiliation, and his death were thought to have been foretold in the Scriptures and to be necessary stages in the process of redemption. The disciples believed that the humiliated and pierced Messiah had been resurrected after three days and that he was due to reappear on earth as redeemer, victor and judge.”
This identification may shed new light on the mystery of the “Paraclete” in the Gospel of John. In John 14:16, Jesus is reported as saying to his disciples that “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” The identity of this Advocate (“Paraclete”), has been disputed among scholars — often it is argued to be the Holy Ghost.
Knohl argues that in light of the discoveries in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jesus may have been self-conscious about not being unique, but rather occupying a position in a line of Messiahs sent by God to the Jewish people. One had come before, and another would follow.
It is uncertain how work like this will affect research into the origins of Christianity, but the information it provides is very intriguing and worth reading about.
