‘To Master his own Vessel’. 1 thess 4.4 in Light of new Qumran Evidence
A parenetic text from Qumran, which is only unofficially published, refers to 'כלי חיקכה' ‘the vessel of your bosom’.
This passage might shed new light on the enigmatic σκηxs22EFоς of 1 Thess 4.4. The passage in question belongs to one of the admonition sections of Sapiential Work A from Qumran. Sap. Work A is a sapiential composition preserved in seven fragmentary copies, one from Cave 1 (1Q26) and six from Cave 4 (4Q415/416/417/418a/418b/423). Six copies display early Herodian script (30 BC – 20 AD), while one (4Q423) represents a late Herodian hand (1 – 50 AD). The high number of copies and the fact that this book was being copied even until a late stage in the history of the Qumran settlement shows that it was highly regarded within the Essene Community.