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The Essenes (es'-eenz) were followers of a religious way of living in Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD. Many scholars today argue that there were a number of separate but related groups that had in common mystic, eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs that were referred to as the "Essenes". There are also contemporary movements which identify themselves as Essenes.

Contemporary ancient sources


The main source of information about the life and belief of Essenes is the detailed account contained in a work of the 1st century Jewish historiographer Josephus entitled The Jewish War written about 73-75 CE (War 2.119-161) and his shorter description in his Antiquities finished some 20 years later (Ant. 18.11 & 18-22). Claiming first hand knowledge (Life ยงยง10-11), he refers to them by the name Essenoi and lists them as the followers of one of the three "choices" in "Jewish Philosophy'" (War 2.119) alongside the Pharisees and the Sadduccees. The only other known contemporary accounts about the Essenes are two similarly detailed ones by the Jewish philosopher Philo (fl. c. 20 BCE - c. 54 CE; Quod Omnis Probus Liber Sit XII.75-87, and the excerpt from his Hypothetica 11.1-18 preserved by Eusebius, Praep. Evang. Bk VIII), who, however, admits to not being quite certain of the Greek form of their name that he recalls as Essaioi (Quod Omn. Prob. XII.75), the brief reference to them by the Roman equestrian Pliny the Elder (fl. 23 CE - 79 CE; Natural History, Bk 5.73).

The Dead Sea Scrolls, found in caves at Qumran, are widely but not universally believed to be the work of Essenes or to reflect Essene beliefs. See below.

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The Essenes informed Saint Anne of the birth and location of Lucifer's next incarnation into the world would be as the Messiah Jesus Christ.
LGBTBIBLE (LGBT BIBLE) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:37:38 -0000
The Essenes informed Saint Anne of the birth and location of Lucifer's next incarnation into the world would be as the Messiah Jesus Christ.
The path of Lucifer's many incarnations have been precalculated for thousands of years by the Melchizedek priesthood.Essenes are Melchizedek
LGBTBIBLE (LGBT BIBLE) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:36:00 -0000
The path of Lucifer's many incarnations have been precalculated for thousands of years by the Melchizedek priesthood.Essenes are Melchizedek
RT @SimpleLiving1 - re the Essenes .. Have you read the book 'The Hidden Face of Jesus' from Essene memory - just came thru my postbox.
wildwitchyju (juliette owens) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:59:05 -0000
RT @SimpleLiving1 - re the Essenes .. Have you read the book 'The Hidden Face of Jesus' from Essene memory - just came thru my postbox.
RT @SimpleLiving1: Who were the Essenes? http://short.to/l4hk
Ghunibee (Glynis Smy : Author) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:51:03 -0000
RT @SimpleLiving1: Who were the Essenes? http://short.to/l4hk
it even mentions the Essenes who wrote dead sea scrolls. though their story (what I read of it when saw scrolls) seems different though
kathodonnell (AliaK) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:55:47 -0000
it even mentions the Essenes who wrote dead sea scrolls. though their story (what I read of it when saw scrolls) seems different though
Rich minority Pharisees? W Then who was the majority? The Essenes?? The ... (YouTube http://youtu.be/xYoxvqlLVPw?a)
KREPLACH (KREPLACH) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:19:11 -0000
Rich minority Pharisees? W Then who was the majority? The Essenes?? The ... (YouTube http://youtu.be/xYoxvqlLVPw?a)

 
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Essene Church of Christ - The church operates many activities including a home-study Essene Ministerial Training Program, an Essene Mystery School, and an International Essene Gathering.
Meta Description: [ The Essene Church of Christ, The Essene Path Quarterly Journal, books and Ministerial Training Program ]

Essene Nazarean Church of Mount Carmel - Essene Nazarean Church of Mount Carmel is the congregation of the B'nai-Amen Temple Orderr, an esoteric spiritual Order, which fully embraces the deeper levels of the ancient Nazarite 'Way' of Yeshua Ha Mashiakh (Jesus the Messiah).
Meta Description: [ The Nazarenes of Mount Carmel is an esoteric spiritual Order which fully embraces the deeper levels of the ancient Nazorean 'Way' of Jesus the Christ. We are a modern resurrection of the ancient Nazorean Christians. ]

First Essene Church of Hawaii - Site on The ancient Essenes, The Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of The Holy Twelve. The attempt to found an Essene church in Hawaii.

Order of Nazorean Essenes - An Essene Nazorean site of Sons Aumen Israel.
Meta Description: [ The Order of Nazorean Essenes is a modern resurrection of the ancient Nasaraean and Manichaean sects of Gnostic Chrisitianity, and of the pre-Buddhist faith of Central Asia. We are a small esoteric school organized into three different Levels, As delivered by Christ in the Pistis Sophia, there ex... ]

The Essene Healing Ministries of the Sevenfold Peace - Includes practical tools for self-healing; the beliefs and practices of the Ancient Essenes; biographical and contact information on member minsters.
Meta Description: [ A spiritual community dedicated to healing, peace and other traditions of the writers of the Dead Seas scrolls, the ancient Essenes. Includes practical tools for healing yourself and finding inner peace; the beliefs and practices of the Essenes including the use of angelic forces; biogra... ]

The Essenes and the Essene Way of Life - Brief summary of the Essenes from Enoch to Jesus. Describes Essene beliefs, teachings, communions, vegetarian and hollistic lifestyles using Dead Sea Scroll texts, Dr. Edmond B. Szekely, and Edgar Cayce.

The Essenes and their Way of Life - A resource about the Essenes: Who were they? The Essene Way of Life. The Essene Principles and Rules of Life. Jesus and the Essenes.
Meta Description: [ Who were the Essenes? The Essene way of life. The Essene principles and rules of life. Jesus and the Essenes. Essene exercises and methods. Books about the Essenes. ]

The Nazarene Way - Details Christian history according to an Essene/Nazarene view, including use of a Gospel of the Holy Twelve.

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