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Table Talk
Mormonism: the Dead Sea Scrolls & the Nag Hammadi Writings
The subject this evening centers around the Mormon claim that certain writings discovered in
the Middle East (i.e., the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi writings among others)
confirm the 'truthfulness' of the Mormon church.
Obviously, a discussion of this kind can be very complex in that it touches on a variety of
issues including the question canonicity (which books belong in the Bible and what were the tests
for including or excluding them), the authenticity and integrity of the Book of Mormon, the
question of pre-Christian Gnosticism, and the place of Apocryphal literature and its relation to
biblical truth.
Before we discuss the above issues, it is essential that we look at a brief history of the Dead
Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Writings.
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls, considered by William F. Albright to be the greatest manuscript
discovery of modern times, was discovered in 1947 when an Arab shepherd boy was looking for
a lost goat on the North West shores of the Dead Sea. Eleven caves were discovered in the
Wadi Qumran housing the remains of the library of a community (probably the Essenes, a
Jewish religious sect dating from about the time of Christ, between 100 B.C. and 68 A.D.) which
had its headquarters at Khirbet Qumran.
These caves produced over 400 scrolls (most in manuscript fragments) and included biblical
and non-biblical writings. About 100 scrolls are biblical which include all the Old Testament
books except Esther. The discovery of these manuscripts has reduced the gap separating the
autographs (original manuscripts) from the oldest extant copies by 1000 years, and is immensely
important for the textual history of the Old Testament.
The Nag Hammadi Writings
The Nag Hammadi library was discovered by Egyptian peasants in 1945 in a ruined tomb
near Nag Hammadi, Upper Egypt. The library consists of fifty-two tractates bound in thirteen
volumes, first composed in Greek, but later translated into the Egyptian language of the day,
Coptic. These were written during the first to fourth century A.D. on papyrus codices (scrolls cut
into leaves and bound in leather covers)
The Nag Hammadi writings are important in that they give us first hand knowledge of several
Gnostic groups of that day. Before the discovery of these writings little was known about the
Gnostics and their beliefs, with the exception of some of the writings of the early church fathers
and a few apocryphal sources.
The Nag Hammadi writings consist of a blend of primitive Christianity, Greek mythology, and
Egyptian lore portraying this world as the product of an evil god where spiritual beings are
imprisoned here in bodies and capable of escaping only through self-knowledge, a recognition of
the divine spark within. Gnosticism, in general, gave rise to a number of apocalyptic books,
false gospels, and epistles which advanced their own mystical worldview.
The Mormon Claim
As stated above, the Mormon claim is the discovery of both the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag
Hammadi writings confirm the truthfulness of the Mormon church. When speaking with an
informed Mormon, the argument generally goes like this:
Christian: 'Mr. Mormon, Mormonism is
refuted not only on biblical and theological grounds but on historical grounds as well! There
simply is no historical data (archaeological or otherwise) confirming the truthfulness of the claims
of Mormonism.'
Mormon: 'Well, that's were you're mistaken! Haven't you heard of the Dead
Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi writings? These writings parallel in many places with the
Mormon gospel and confirm that the Mormon church has been teaching correctly doctrines and
teachings delivered to the church by angels and other other sources, and taught in the first two
centuries of Christ.'
Christians are sometimes taken back by this seeming formidible argument. Is what our
Mormon friends say true or is this just another ploy on the part of Mormon authorities to
circumvent the real issue, namely, are the sacred books of Mormonism the restored Gospel of
Jesus and the Apostles. It really begs the question of whether the contents of the Dead Sea
findings and the Nag Hammadi library are compatible with Christianity in the first place! In other
words, it is very easy for Mormons to say they've received the restored Gospel (true Christianity)
through Joseph Smith and then appeal to similarities or parallels in ancient documents to confirm
their position. It's the classic assuming what your trying to prove arguement! They are arguing
in a circle!
In order to answer their argument, we must first understand a little of what was being taught
by the Qumran sect and by those responsible for the Nag Hammadi writings.
As mentioned above, most scholars believe those living in the Qumran community were a
sect called the Essenes . The Essenes were an ascetic Jewish group, voluntarily poor, devoted
to theological and moral instruction and solemnly observing the sabbath in corporate worship.
They were also know for their deprecating marriage as threating unity (though some adopted
children and practiced trial marriages) and their pacifists views. This community, founded by a
leader called the Teacher of Righteousness, regarded itself as the righteous remanant of Israel,
and withdrew to the wilderness of Judea to prepare for the cataclysmic events which would
terminate the 'epoch of wicknedness' and introduce the kingdom of God. Essene dualism
condemned this world with its children of darkness and heralded an apocalyptic deliverance for
the sons of light.
The Qumran community also practiced strict discipline, ceremonial defilement, and initiation
with a three year preparation.
Having said all this, most scholars see no organic connection between the Essenes and early
Christianity. The differences between normative New Testament Christianity and Essenism are
radical which is probably why the Apostle Paul wrote against such pietistic legalism in the epistle
to the Colossians.
Qumran and Mormonism
The Mormon claim is Qumran literature such as the Manual of Discipline and other Dead Sea
writings parallel their Doctrines & Covenants. However after a closer comparison of the Essene
rules and practices, we find a number of places in disagreement between Qumran and Mormon
teaching. For example, Mormons argue that just as they baptize by immersion between the ages
of 8 or 9, so did the Qumran community. However, the Qumran community didn't baptize a
young man until he was 20 years old! Even traditional Judaism doesn't baptize a child until his
Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13, when he assumes all the duties of an adult.
Then, the question of monogamy is in obvious conflict with the Mormon doctrine of polygamy.
As stated above, though celibacy was practiced, some gave in to trial marriages for whatever
reasons, and maintained monogamous relations to one wife, only. According to the Damascus
Rule, those who live in polygamy fail to understand the true teachings of Moses, and by taking a
second wife while the first is alive 'they commit the sin of fornication.' Clearly, the Qumran
community differes with Mormonism on this point!
Finally, while Mormons regard their temple garments as very sacred as did the Essenes, they
do anoint with oil as a sacred sealing. However, the Essenes, while believing in a ritual washing,
also believed oil to be a defilement! This again, is contrary to Mormon ritual.
Nag Hammadi and Mormonism
The Mormon claim is also that the Nag Hammadi writings parallel their doctrine and confirms
the truthfulness of the Mormon church. For a more comprehensive study regarding this, we will
refer to the handout by Mrs. Melaine Layton entitled, MORMONISM AND THE MIDDLE EAST:
Confirmation or Contradiction?
Conclusion
It is important when witnessing to Mormons that we be as informed as possible. The average
Mormon is often unaware of the difficulties facing the Mormon church with regards to the lack of
historical support. However, there are those Mormons who pride themselves on referring to the
Dead Sea Scrolls and/or Nag Hammadi writings for the confirmation of their faith. They have
simply been sold a bill of goods. To this day there are very few Mormon scholars willing to put
their name in print in defense of the historicity of ther Book of Mormon.
Ironically, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi writings do more damage than not to
the Mormon position. While there exists interesting similarities or parallels with these writings
and Mormon doctrine and practice, the evidence in support of the truthfulness of the Mormon
church is lacking. As with any church, religion, sect, or individual, we must first weigh the
teaching and practice with the truth of God's Word, the Bible. The truthfulness of Mormon
doctrine must be accepted or rejected by that standard only, not by seeming similarities of a
previous era.
Dan
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