"The oath of the Essenes contained another clause that we must examine. Not only did they want generous transmission to the initiated, not only did they want all knowledge forbidden to those who were not initiated, but they also wanted faithful and unaltered teaching; they also swore to communicate religious doctrines “in the same way” that they had been taught. Could there be a more obvious comparison with the customs, rules, and practices of the Pharisees? Is there anything more proven, more constant than the fidelity, almost servile, that the Pharisees placed in the transmission of the doctrines they had received?"