What did Thiering conclude from the similarities between early Christianity and Qumran?
Thiering concluded that the similarities between early Christianity and the Qumran sectarians indicated the Qumran sect represented the form of Judaism out of which Christianity emerged. She then identified the Qumran Teacher of Righteousness as John the Baptist and the Wicked Priest, conflated with the man of the lie, as Jesus.
Les explains that Dr. Thiering, a scholar at the University of Sydney who is almost totally committed to studying the Dead Sea Scrolls, believed the Gospels were written on two levels: one for ordinary people who need help believing, and another hidden level that only she could extract from the Dead Sea Scrolls. From the similarities all scholars see between early Christianity and the Qumran sectarians, she concluded the Qumran sect represented the form of Judaism out of which Christianity came. She then jumped to the conclusion that the Qumran Teacher of Righteousness is John the Baptist, and his opponent, the Wicked Priest conflated with the man of the lie, is Jesus. Les notes this is not the view of Biblical Archaeology Review, which reviewed her book and does not agree with it. Thiering also said the virgin birth story was written at the level of a miracle for those for whom a virginal conception had symbolic power.