Introduction
Validating that the Bible we read and study today contains the same unedited content as it did 2,000 years ago is a significant challenge for biblical theologians and scholars. Translations and manuscripts can be traced back centuries, but verifying the authenticity of scripture past a certain point in time is nearly impossible. It is for this reason that the unearthing of thousands of manuscript fragments and codices from caves surrounding the Dead Sea is one of the most vital discoveries for modern Christianity in recent history. These scrolls validate scripture and prove the validity of modern translations. Aside from validity, some scholars believe that Jesus was influenced by the writings of Qumran, or interacted with
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“Son of God” and “Son of the Most-High” are repeated throughout the NT, referring to Jesus specifically or through prophetic allusion. Matthew 4:3 specifically describes Satan naming Jesus “Son of God”, and in Luke 1:32, Jesus is called the “Son of the Most-High” in an angel’s conversation with Mary. This can be compared to the Apocryphon of Daniel in fragment 4Q246, where passages prophetically detail the messiah. “He shall be hailed [as] son of God, and they shall call him son of the Most-High.” Craig Evans hypothesizes that the use of these names in 4Q246 points to a Jewish background for their use again in the book of Mark. Furthermore, fragment 4Q521, known as 4Q-Messianic Apocalypse, expands on Apocryphon of Daniel, detailing the activities of a prophetic …show more content…
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