The Eschatological Spirituality of “the Sons of Light” in Qumran

Mirosław Stanisław Wróbel

John Paul II Catholic Univeristy of Lublin , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3424-7127


Abstract

One of the most important features of the members of the Qumran community, who referred to themselves by the name “the sons of light,” was aspiration to holiness by observing the Law, purity and cult. The spirituality of the Qumran community was founded on the New Covenant which would be fulfilled “at the end of the days”. This eschatological reality was stressed in the practical spirituality of the members of the Qumran community. In the present article, the spirituality of the Qumran community will be presented via three points: (1) The origin of the Qumran community; (2) The community of a New Covenant with God; and (3) Eschatological beliefs. Our accumulated knowledge about the spirituality of the Qumran community and its beliefs enables us to better understand many eschatological texts of the Old Testament and Intertestamental Literature. It also indicates to us certain similarities and differences with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Keywords:

Qumran Community, Eschatology, Spirituality

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Published
2020-06-26


Wróbel, M. S. (2020). The Eschatological Spirituality of “the Sons of Light” in Qumran. Verbum Vitae, 37(2), 347–363. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.7949

Mirosław Stanisław Wróbel  miwrobel@kul.pl
John Paul II Catholic Univeristy of Lublin

Ks. Mirosław S. Wróbel, prezbiter archidiecezji lubelskiej, profesor zwyczajny nauk teologicznych KUL, doktor nauk biblijnych École Biblique w Jerozolimie; kierownik Sekcji Nauk Biblijnych KUL; kierownik Katedry Filologii Biblijnej i Literatury Międzytestamentalnej KUL. Autor wielu monografii i artykułów dotyczących badań nad Ewangelią Janową, nad judaizmem okresu Drugiej Świątyni m.in. Who Are the Father and His Children in Jn 8:44? The Literary, Historical and Theological Analysis of Jn 8:44 and Its Context (Paris: Gabalda  2005);  Antyjudaizm a Ewangelia według św. Jana (Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2005); Jezus i Jego wyznawcy w Talmudzie (Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2013). Dyrektor i redaktor naukowy nowatorskiego w Polsce przekładu targumów (Biblia Aramejska). Autor Wprowadzenia do Biblii Aramejskiej (Lublin: Gaudium 2017) oraz dwóch tomów: Targum Neofiti 1. Księga Rodzaju. Tekst aramejski – przekład – aparat krytyczny – przypisy (Lublin: Gaudium 2014), za który otrzymał nagrodę Feniksa w kategorii literackiej w 2015 r. oraz Targum Neofiti 1. Księga Wyjścia. Tekst aramejski – przekład – aparat krytyczny – przypisy (Lublin: Gaudium 2017), za który otrzymał nagrodę Prezydenta Miasta Lublina w 2017 r. oraz nagrodę Feniksa w kategorii literackiej w 2018 r. Członek Stowarzyszenia Biblistów Polskich, Polskiego Towarzystwa Studiów Żydowskich, Lubleskigo Oddziału Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Lubelskiego Towarzystwa Naukowego, Associazione ex-alumni del Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Society of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Association.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3424-7127



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