Naude, J. A.2019-02-012019-02-011999Naude, J. A. (1999). Barbara Thiering's interpretation of Jesus' life. Acta Theologica, 19(1), 58-98.1015-8758 (print)2309-9089 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/9683English: The purpose of this paper is to present arguments to disprove Thiering's claim that documents like the New Testament, Dead Sea Scrolls, the writings of Josephus, etc. might reveal the actual historical Jesus. Her use of the pesher technique is also discussed critically. It is shown that Thiering's pesher method is a misconception of the pesher used in the Qumran commentaries and that she overestimated the importance of pesher as a method of text interpretation. The evaluation of Thiering's attempt to equate Christianity and Essenism, as well as the so-called similarities between the Qumran community and early Christianity, will follow logically.Afrikaans: Die doel van die artikel is om argumente aan te bied om Thiering se bewering te falsifiseer dat die Nuwe Testament, die Dooie See-rolle, die geskrifte van Josephus, ens. die werklike geskiedenis van die historiese Jesus openbaar. Haar gebruik van pesher tegniek word ook krities bespreek. Dit word aangetoon dat Thiering se pesher metode 'n miskonsepsie is van die pesher wat in die Qumran kommentare gebruik is en dat sy die belangrikheid van pesher as 'n metode van teksinterpretasie oorskat. Vervolgens word Thiering se poging om Christendom en Essenisme gelyk te stel, sowel as die sogenaamde ooreenkomste tussen die Qumrangemeenskap en vroeë Christendom, evalueer.afBarbara ThieringHistorical JesusPesher techniqueBible interpretationEssinismQumranArticleFaculty of Theology, University of the Free State