Folia Theologica 18. (2007)
László Boda: Whether John the Baptist Could Have Been Educated at Qumran? - Johs and Bannus
64 L. BODA Should be the solution: Bannus? According to the overall view - based on the calculations - it is assumed that John was about 20 years old in 16-17 A.D. One year of probation for becoming an inducted member can be added. He had to decide whether he leaves the Essenian monastery, i.e. the "fortress of Hassids". The following 7 to 10 years cannot be accounted for and, according to our present knowledge, they cannot be placed into an unified view according to the requirements of the "Sitz im Leben". This is the most typical obscure section in the life of John the Baptist. It is this period of life that causes the opinions of Qumran-experts to differ. This is briefly referred to by Matthew: "In these days, John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea" (Mt 3,1). This "appearance" took about 7 to 10 years. Then, is he already at the riverside of the Jordan? Therefore, the research of the missing years becomes of dominant importance. Seeking for the "desert" in Perea based on the Qumranian text is a forced attempt, and the chance in other deserts of Judea is still less. Based on our knowledge of history, this gap can be filled by means of a transitory ascetic way of life of a hermit, similar to that of Bannus. Thus, Bannus provides the key for solving the problem. Of course, deducting the way of life of John that became self-dependent, nevertheless, still before his public activity, from the hermit's way of life of Bannus means the opposite in the reality. Thus, it is Bannus who follows the beaten track. Previously, even in case of John, it could be an accepted and usual way of life that might later inspire the way of life followed by the ascetics in the early Christian era (cf. the "properties": desert, cave tomb, poor meal etc.). Clearly, this appears to be the effect of Qumran. The question of the missing seven to ten years offers another possibility for the use of philosophical "categories" associated with the research of riddles of history. The question is, whether the place, time, manner, objective and, primarily, the name could give an answer in case of Bannus? a) In respect of the "place", it is obvious that Josephus talks about a cave in the surroundings of Qumran, without revealing its situation - for the known reasons (probably sworn on secrecy)19. 19 So can be understood that John the Baptist just as John the Apostle speak never about Qumran. The rule of discretion was very strong with hard penalty.
