Author of the Paper: Jane Doe Title of the Paper: “An Introduction to the Theology of the Hodayot Scroll” Date Submitted: April 20th, 2012 Title of the Class” The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Apocrypha: BOTB 685A Introduction When the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered in 1947, the collection contained several never before seen non-biblical scrolls. Among these unknown scrolls, was the scroll given the Hebrew name Hodayot or the Thanksgiving Hymns. The scroll received this name based on the presence of the phrases “I thank the, Lord” and “Blessed art thou,” which preceded the “psalm-like compositions.”(Page #1 of Bonnie Kittel) Cave 1 contained one large and rather well persevered version and one smaller poorly preserved version of the scroll. Cave 4 contained another six copies of the scroll, varying in size and quality. (Page # 86 in Vanderkam) According to Marilyn J. Lundberg, these scrolls represent the beliefs of those who lived at the Qumran site. (“The Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls” by Lundberg) The number of Hodayot manuscripts and fragments found at Qumran implies the document was highly valued and used by the sectarian community residing there. A brief study of the scroll’s theological themes reveals that the theology of the Hodayot and New Testament share similar roots in Second Temple Period Judaism; thus, studying the text of the Hodayot could result in a deeper understanding of the environment from which early Christian thought and practices emerged. Theological Themes The theological themes of Hodayot vary greatly, but they can be centered on the idea of thanksgiving to God. While thanksgiving is a key component in all the hymns, Puech identifies two major areas of theological discussion that inspire thanksgiving to God: “the salvation of the just, and the final doom of the godless.” (Page # 367 in Puech) Menahem Mansoor provides the more detailed themes of God and creation, knowledge, salvation through election, humanity’s frailty and sinfulness, and dualism and predestination. (Page # 1-21 in Mansoor) Others have divided the theological themes by the two categories of the teacher hymns and the community hymns. Esther G. Chazon identifies the teacher hymns’ main themes as persecution, suffering, mockery of enemies, “reliance on divine salvation,” justice, and the destruction of evil; then, she identifies “the human condition, communal affiliation, congregational praise and communion with angels” as the main themes of the community hymns. (Page # 267 in Chazon) As can be seen, no clear consensus exists on the primary themes of the text. However, based on the above themes, most scholars agree the text deals primarily with the relationship between God and humanity. Specifically, the Hodayot speaks of humankind relying on God for life, preservation, salvation, and the punishment of the wicked, with the topics of predestination and dualism playing a vital role. Puech provides a great summary of the relationship between ...

1. Author of the Paper: Jane Doe
Title of the Paper: “An Introduction to the Theology of the
Hodayot Scroll”
Date Submitted: April 20th, 2012
Title of the Class” The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Apocrypha:
BOTB 685A
Introduction
When the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered in 1947,
the collection contained several never before seen non-biblical
scrolls. Among these unknown scrolls, was the scroll given the
Hebrew name Hodayot or the Thanksgiving Hymns. The scroll
received this name based on the presence of the phrases “I thank
the, Lord” and “Blessed art thou,” which preceded the “psalm-
like compositions.”(Page #1 of Bonnie Kittel) Cave 1 contained
one large and rather well persevered version and one smaller
poorly preserved version of the scroll. Cave 4 contained another
six copies of the scroll, varying in size and quality. (Page # 86
in Vanderkam) According to Marilyn J. Lundberg, these scrolls
represent the beliefs of those who lived at the Qumran site.
(“The Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls” by Lundberg) The
number of Hodayot manuscripts and fragments found at Qumran
implies the document was highly valued and used by the
sectarian community residing there. A brief study of the scroll’s
theological themes reveals that the theology of the Hodayot and
New Testament share similar roots in Second Temple Period
Judaism; thus, studying the text of the Hodayot could result in a
deeper understanding of the environment from which early
Christian thought and practices emerged.
Theological Themes
The theological themes of Hodayot vary greatly, but they can be
centered on the idea of thanksgiving to God. While thanksgiving

2. is a key component in all the hymns, Puech identifies two major
areas of theological discussion that inspire thanksgiving to God:
“the salvation of the just, and the final doom of the godless.”
(Page # 367 in Puech) Menahem Mansoor provides the more
detailed themes of God and creation, knowledge, salvation
through election, humanity’s frailty and sinfulness, and dualism
and predestination. (Page # 1-21 in Mansoor) Others have
divided the theological themes by the two categories of the
teacher hymns and the community hymns. Esther G. Chazon
identifies the teacher hymns’ main themes as persecution,
suffering, mockery of enemies, “reliance on divine salvation,”
justice, and the destruction of evil; then, she identifies “the
human condition, communal affiliation, congregational praise
and communion with angels” as the main themes of the
community hymns. (Page # 267 in Chazon) As can be seen, no
clear consensus exists on the primary themes of the text.
However, based on the above themes, most scholars agree the
text deals primarily with the relationship between God and
humanity. Specifically, the Hodayot speaks of humankind
relying on God for life, preservation, salvation, and the
punishment of the wicked, with the topics of predestination and
dualism playing a vital role. Puech provides a great summary of
the relationship between God and humanity in the Hodayot with
the following statements: “God's greatness and perfection is
described, along with his justice and kindness, and his
forgiveness. God's creation of the universe is contrasted with
the wretchedness and smallness of a human being, a creature of
clay who is dependent on divine help.” (Page #367 in Peuch)
As stated above, God’s role in creation plays a notable part in
Hodayot. According to Eugene Merrill, the Hodayot’s author
accepted “Creation as a direct act of God” that did not need to
be questioned or explained. (Page # 24 in Merrill) The text
shows that because God created the world his rule and authority
over it cannot be questioned. It also reveals that God has an
established law to which all creation, including its established

3. order and pending events, is subject. (Page # 2 in Mansoor)
Furthermore, creation’s primary function is to bear witness of
God’s greatness. Mansoor has observed the progression in
describing God that clearly took place between the Old
Testament and the Hodayot; whereas the Old Testament
primarily referred to God in anthropomorphic terms, the
Hodayot speaks specifically of “God’s absolute word, his
absolute will.” (Page # 3 in Mansoor) Included in God’s
absolute control of creation is his absolute control of humanity.
The text speaks of ordering the destinies and lots of all
individuals, both righteous and wicked. (Page # 340 in Hopkins)
Many see this order of destinies as a dualistic theme, stating
that God created some with evil dispositions and others with
good. (Page #25 in Merrill) This naturally results in the author,
as one receiving the lot of righteousness and the spirit of God,
expressing praise and thanksgiving to God for his place in
creation. (Page # 341-343 in Hopkins) According to David
Flusser, the Hodayot contrasts the flesh and the spirit very
similarly to the New Testament where the Holy Spirit that God
gives to his elect enables them to overcome the flesh and be
saved. (Page # v in Flusser)
Another Hodayot feature of the relationship between God and
humanity is the contrast between God’s righteousness and
humanity’s sinfulness. The writer of Hodayot clearly
communicates the existence of a chasm between God and
humanity created by the sinfulness of humankind and the
righteousness of God. In addition, the author of Hodayot seems
to employ the word “flesh” to describe the foundation of
sinfulness and wickedness in humanity, which the Apostle Paul
also does in the New Testament.(Page # 8 in Mansoor)
Therefore, the author continuously praises God for extending
his mercy, redemption, and salvation. (Page # 343-344 in
Hopkins) According to Mansoor, the Hodayot communicates an
utter dependence of humankind on God, so much so that an
individual is only saved if God predestined that person to the

4. elect and so chooses to extend his mercy and spirit. (Page # 6 in
Mansoor) Furthermore, the extension of God’s mercy includes
the ability to repent, an act of which only the elect are capable.
(Page #6 in Mansoor) The extending of God’s mercy coincides
with the extending of God’s knowledge, which explains the
Hodayot’s emphasis on knowledge and revelation. For
Hodayot’s author, the revelation of knowledge specifically
applies to predestined eschatological events. (Page # 20 in
Merrill)
All knowledge in the Hodayot is attributed to the “God of
knowledge” who crafted the divine order of the world and hid
the mysteries of this order from humankind. However, God
chooses to reveal knowledge of the divine order to those he has
elected and who follow the law, which the author of Hodayot
clearly believed was his sectarian community. (Page # 14 in
Mansoor) Furthermore, the Hodayot reveals this knowledge was
considered necessary for understanding one’s salvation and
election and was only imparted to those within the covenant
community. The knowledge consisted both of the secrets of the
created order, the proper interpretation of the law, and the
revelation of future events. (Page # 33 in Merrill) While the
Hodayot contains many more themes, the theme of God’s
relationship to humanity through creation, salvation, and
revelation of knowledge serves as the foundation for all other
themes not addressed by this paper, including angels and
eschatology.
Conclusion
The major area of relevance the Hodayot holds for New
Testament studies is its deeper understanding of the culture and
theology from which Christianity emerged. It reveals that many
Christian concepts and themes scholars previously thought
originated from Greek and Hellenistic culture actually

5. originated within Judaism. (Page #21 in Mansoor) This does not
imply that the community at Qumran influenced Christianity; it
only means that Christianity had deep roots in the same Judaism
as the Qumran sectarians. In other words, Christianity and
Qumran were offshoots of the same tree. Therefore, the
theology of Qumran gives greater insight into Jewish thought of
the Second Temple Period, which in turn gives greater insight
into Christian thought of this same period. Therefore, further
study of the Hodayot and other Dead Sea Scrolls could
significantly further New Testament studies. Since the Hodayot
was an influential document at Qumran and reveals information
concerning Jewish thought in Second Temple period Judaism,
further study of this text is essential for gaining more insight
into the environment from which Christianity was formed as
well as the development of early Christian thought.
Sources in Order of 1st Appearance
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Total of 185 Volumes in the Series
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6. Title of Website Article/Page: The Discovery of the Dead Sea
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Access Date: December 6, 2012
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7. Year of Publication: 1998
City of Publication: Leiden
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