The True Beginnings of Christianity and the Mysterious Teacher of Righteousness

To date, approximately 870 manuscripts have been found. These include Old Testament biblical texts (e.g., the Book of Isaiah), as well as commentaries from the prophets (e.g., the prophet Habakkuk). Extra-biblical texts have also been discovered, such as the previously unknown Book of War. Numerous hymns, blessings, and wisdom writings have also been discovered.

One of the scrolls was a printed copper sheet. It took decades to unroll it. Upon deciphering it, it turned out to be a treasure-hunting manual! The amount of gold described was estimated at around 200 tons, but numerous expeditions to Qumran in search of the precious metal ended in failure.

Let's take a closer look at what continues to spark controversy today. The content of the papyri has sparked a storm among historians and biblical scholars. They are divided over their interpretation of the texts, which reveal the true origins of Christianity and also describe the history of the Essene sect. Perhaps Christianity arose much earlier than is commonly believed.

The books mention the name of a mysterious Teacher of Righteousness, most likely the founder of the Essene sect. He was said to have been persecuted by the equally mysterious Wicked Priest (Satan?), so he retreated to the desert. There, he founded a religious community that lived according to its own rules.

To this day, historians are trying to determine the identity of these mysterious figures. The similarities between the story of the Teacher of Righteousness and the story of Jesus Christ are striking. Let's see: both teachers preached poverty, humility, chastity, and love for one's neighbor; both advocated obedience to the Torah and the Law of Moses; and they also taught how to perfect oneself. After all, both presented themselves as messiahs, were persecuted by Orthodox Judaism, and were both sentenced to death. And most importantly, both established ritual gatherings with their followers, the centerpiece of which was a meal.Everything points to Christianity being a religion built on the success of the Qumran sect. Skeptics, however, question this thesis, citing the distinct personality traits of Jesus and his teachings. The Galilean teacher placed the greatest emphasis on the commandments of love, while his approach to asceticism and ritual purity was rather liberal. This order of values is inconsistent with the faith of the Teacher of Righteousness, for whom asceticism and ritual purity were paramount.