To Christians, the title of this book will be very provocative and in some cases shocking. But to those who have been aware of the existence of the Essene community around the area of Qumran on the north western shore of the Dead Sea, it will come as no surprise.
      Author Martin Vining uses the discovery and translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the Bible, Hebrew texts and non-canonical documents to reconstruct a new perspective on the mission and life of Jesus.
      He is a biblical scholar who spent many years researching and writing this book. His reconstruction pivots on the Dead Sea Scrolls found near Qumran in 1947. The Dead Sea Scrolls were ancient manuscripts that comprised a library in a mystic Judaic community. Members of that community were scribes and ascetics that adhered to the ancient prophecies. They were mostly celibate and used an encryption called Pesher in their documents.
      Pesharim use a layered allegorical language. The surface layer is for lay individuals with limited knowledge and the deeper layer is for specialists with higher knowledge. Most of the scrolls were books and commentary from the Old Testament and regulations for the running of the community life.
      There are also accounts that seem to relate directly to Jesus. These texts and fragments are from books that do not appear in the modern Bible Canon. This may be due to their incompleteness or that they were not generally available at the time.
      Vining’s thesis asserts that Jesus was born and raised an Essene and reacted against the sect’s rigid adherence to the ‘law’. This created a schism in the Essene community. The outrage within the community was instrumental in the persecution, trial and execution of Jesus. Vining has used the scrolls to prove this. It has much bearing on the origins of Christianity.
      The terms Teacher of Righteousness and the Wicked Priest recur within the scrolls and are contemporaneous with Jesus’ prophesied birth, upbringing and mission. Vining shows the reader why Jesus is the Wicked Priest for reacting against some of the strict ascetic and often self-defeating doctrines of the Essenes.
      Some of the big questions answered are: Who were the Essenes? Who was the real Jesus? Is reincarnation scriptural? Is virgin birth possible? Was Mary a perpetual virgin or did she produce sisters and brothers for Jesus? Was Gabriel of Annunciation actually a real person?
      Some of these are shocking questions and potentially shake up Christian dogma and the notion of miracles.
      Most of the source material contained in this work is generally available elsewhere but not as thoroughly analysed as it is done by Marvin Vining. He puts the discussion and debate over many issues in early Christian origins and dogma back onto the table.
      Despite the rejection of most of his assertions by mainstream biblical scholars, it is worth giving this research and analysis a very careful reading. It is hard for many Christians – and I include myself here – to separate what is direct spiritual teaching on miracles and in parables from superstition and myth. Having learnt biblical Hebrew many years ago, it is my observation that Hebrew and Aramaic, being related, make use of extremely allegorical language to express abstract concepts. This has led to many translation difficulties and mistakes. Vining uses his language skills to balance the spirit of the documents he examines.
      Some of the books of the Old Testament such as 1 Enoch and Jubilees have been suppressed. The shape of the current Christian Bible is a matter of politics of the early church councils. In Marvin Vining’s book you will start to see the realities of church politics. Politics have also beset the initial work on the scrolls, which was slow and secretive.
      There was a ‘secrecy rule’ that was only lifted after the death of the first leader of the International Team. The scrolls have now been allowed publication in facsimile editions and work can progress for scholars. There is still much to learn.
      This is a controversial work. It does challenge many Christian doctrines. Vining has done detailed research and it is apparent in his writing that he is a man of great faith. The questions for the readers are these: Will the refutation of certain long-held beliefs in Christianity shake your faith? Is Jesus’ divinity in question if there was no virgin birth? Would the reality of reincarnation kill Christianity?
      Miracles are only miracles if you don’t know how something actually happened. I agree with the author that the birth of any child is a miracle, divine or not. That we are here now and live full lives with intelligence, integrity and faith is a miracle. We are surrounded by miracles.
      I recommend this book to those who seek the origins of Christianity. It will be a far different perspective to the mainstream church view. This is not an easy read, but enlightening.
      The subject matter started out in literary dust much like that which covered the Dead Sea Scrolls for centuries. The author has done a fine job of clearing it away. It is suitable for both the interested lay person as well as the biblical scholar.