Quamran Fragment-Mark's Gospel?

[marvin]

I recently read about fragments found amidst the Quamran collection that could be from Mark’s gospel.

I realize that this is old news but I had never heard of this. Does anyone know what I’m talking about and if so is there any objective info about it?

 

[Fidelis]

I haven’t heard this, but I seriously doubt it as the Qumran (i.e. Dead Sea Scroll) documents are widely known to be restricted to Old Testament writings, as well as other teaching and devotional writings distinctive to the Qumran sect, whoever they were.

What was your source for this info?

 

[marvin]

While poking around the name Carsten Thiede came up. He apparently based his findings on someone named O’Callaghan.

Sorry, I’m not too knowledgeable about this kind of stuff.

 

[Ignatius]

I recently read about fragments found amidst the Quamran collection that could be from Mark’s gospel.

I realize that this is old news but I had never heard of this. Does anyone know what I’m talking about and if so is there any objective info about it?

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the mid 1950’s.
It has been argued that one fragment (7Q5) is a New Testament text from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 52–53. Scholars argue that the fragment is tiny and requires so much reconstruction (the only complete word in Greek is “και” = “and”) that it could have come from a text other than Mark.
Is that what you are referring to?

 

[Fidelis]

These are clearly fringe theories, not taken seriously by reputable scholars.

An excerpt from one article I found:

Along conspiratorial lines similar to those found in the popular – and roundly debunked – theological thriller “The Da Vinci Code,” [British scholar John Marco] Allegro contended that the Catholic Church actively worked to suppress and denigrate his findings because they challenged the traditional views.

Most experts today, while acknowledging Allegro’s early contributions to deciphering the scrolls, reject his interpretation.

At about the same time Allegro was arguing the case for the sacred mushrooms, Spanish scholar Jose O’Callaghan announced his finding that, while less bizarre than Allegro’s, still caused a furor within the scroll community.

In 1972, O’Callaghan claimed to have proved that several of the Dead Sea Scrolls written in Greek clearly contain portions of New Testament books such as Mark, Acts, Romans, James and Peter. His argument, perhaps because it is based on a liberal interpretation of some very tiny scroll fragments, remains unpersuasive to most experts.

A mainstream scrolls scholar, Lawrence Schiffman of New York University, said “despite some misinformation, no New Testament materials were found at Qumran.”
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/285572_deadseatabmain.html

I’d advise you to stay away from controversial and speculative discussions of this type until you gain a solid basis in the mainstream facts. That way, you’ll be better equiped to separate the wheat from the the sensational chaff and to recognize facts from speculation.

 

[marvin]

Thanks for the info. But next time spare me the lecture. I’m not a child, a moron, or a conspiracy theorist. I don’t have an agenda, I’m not digging for anything. I’m just a guy who heard something and figured someone here could shed light on it, which you did.
Thank you.

Sheesh!

 

[Fidelis]

Thanks for the info. But next time spare me the lecture. I’m not a child, a moron, or a conspiracy theorist. I don’t have an agenda, I’m not digging for anything. I’m just a guy who heard something and figured someone here could shed light on it, which you did.
Thank you.

Sheesh!

I don’t consider you any of the above, so it wasn’t my intent to lecture, but since you noted you didn’t know much about these things, I was trying to give you some helpful advice to keep you from being misled.
You’re welcome.

 

[CA3891]

Marvin,

The DSS has a few copies out that are pretty explanatory. If you look it up on Amazon, I’m sure you can find a few scholars who are reputable and have written accessible material on the stuff.

It is true, though, that the DSS mainly have been found on the OT (even Isaiah is almost in tact completely!) and Jesus quoted from Isaiah more than any other book!