Desert fathers

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PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,576
9,093
113
#21
Separating ourselves in enclaves, away from others, is exactly what we are NOT supposed to do.

How did these guys further the great commission sequestered from the rest of humanity?
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#22
Carrier pigeon?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,947
5,648
113
#23
No. Those were the Essenes, a Jewish sect in the Judean desert. Their writings were found in Qumran. The desert fathers were Christian hermits.
Ok I had heard someone a long time ago mention the sons of light claiming Jesus lived with them part of his life before his showing In israel .

thanks for clarifying God bless
 

JeffA

Minstrel
Mar 31, 2022
360
72
28
#24
No. Those were the Essenes, a Jewish sect in the Judean desert. Their writings were found in Qumran. The desert fathers were Christian hermits.
Actually, there is no evidence that Essenes were in Qumran. Their known writings are quite different than those found in Qumran.
They were known by Pliny to be located near Ein Gedi, which is 25 miles away (Jericho is about 10 and Jerusalem 20).
According to MANY maps, Qumran IS Bethabara, where John baptized.
The Qumran Authors self Identify as the exiled temple priests who located there after the usurpation of the Pharisees (Maccabees).
 

JeffA

Minstrel
Mar 31, 2022
360
72
28
#25
Ok I had heard someone a long time ago mention the sons of light claiming Jesus lived with them part of his life before his showing In israel .

thanks for clarifying God bless
Actually, there is no evidence that Essenes were in Qumran. Their known writings are quite different than those found in Qumran.
They were known by Pliny to be located near Ein Gedi, which is 25 miles away (Jericho is about 10 and Jerusalem 20).
According to MANY maps, Qumran IS Bethabara, where John baptized.
The Qumran Authors self Identify as the exiled temple priests who located there after the usurpation of the Pharisees (Maccabees).

So, yes, Jesus did spend time there. At least, he was baptized there. The location also fits John 1:28 as it is near Bethany but, specifically Bethabara, "the house at the crossing". It is "beyond the Jordan (valley)" as it is to the extreme south as opposed to Galilee, were Jesus was at the time. BTW there is no reason to insist that "beyond Jordan" means "east of the river". It is also located at the northern tip of the "wilderness".

There is a misconception about John the Baptist that he was a loner who roamed about. He had many followers and many came to see him (so they knew where to find him). Jesus knew where he was...Bethabara.
 

JeffA

Minstrel
Mar 31, 2022
360
72
28
#26
To clarify: I meant the usurpation of the Temple Priesthood by the Pharisees (Farsi/Maccabees) from Samaria.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,947
5,648
113
#27
Actually, there is no evidence that Essenes were in Qumran. Their known writings are quite different than those found in Qumran.
They were known by Pliny to be located near Ein Gedi, which is 25 miles away (Jericho is about 10 and Jerusalem 20).
According to MANY maps, Qumran IS Bethabara, where John baptized.
The Qumran Authors self Identify as the exiled temple priests who located there after the usurpation of the Pharisees (Maccabees).

So, yes, Jesus did spend time there. At least, he was baptized there. The location also fits John 1:28 as it is near Bethany but, specifically Bethabara, "the house at the crossing". It is "beyond the Jordan (valley)" as it is to the extreme south as opposed to Galilee, were Jesus was at the time. BTW there is no reason to insist that "beyond Jordan" means "east of the river". It is also located at the northern tip of the "wilderness".

There is a misconception about John the Baptist that he was a loner who roamed about. He had many followers and many came to see him (so they knew where to find him). Jesus knew where he was...Bethabara.
yes I really had no clue about it it was just something I had heard back a long time ago. I don’t really know much about the Bible but what’s in there and whatever fraction of it I’m able to understand.

I appreciate the info thank you !
 

Simona1988

Active member
Mar 15, 2021
197
139
43
#28
Desert fathers.Who were they? What did they contribute to the Christian faith. They keep getting brought up in some of the ministries I listen to. Is there any good reliable reads about these ancients that anyone could suggest? I hit google search and it’s overwhelming and don’t want to get steered into the wrong path.[/QUOTE
Desert fathers.Who were they? What did they contribute to the Christian faith. They keep getting brought up in some of the ministries I listen to. Is there any good reliable reads about these ancients that anyone could suggest? I hit google search and it’s overwhelming and don’t want to get steered into the wrong path.
The desert fathers are Christians who fled the world and settled in the desert and mountains of Egypt. They were seeking peace silence and above all, holiness (Hebrews 12,14). Their ascesis comprised: prayer, fasting, repentance, tears, work, helping the poor, humility, self-denial, abstinence, patience etc.
They were called “avva” (father) by the younger ones who followed them, meditated on their words, wrote down some of their advices, sayings, life-style…

Their words are gathered in a book called Patericon.
I have the book. Some of the sayings are difficult to understand. The words are mainly aimed at young hermits. But Christians too can put in practice according to their power some of the advices.