The Dead Sea Scrolls

IN the early summer of 1947, an Arab shepherd stumbled upon a cave near the Dead Sea containing seven ancient scrolls. They proved to be part of the library of a Jewish monastic community that lived before and during the time of Christ. Later discoveries produced the remains of hundreds more scrolls from the same source, giving us today an undreamt-of insight into the Jewish sectarianism of this vital period. It is already clear that many of the characteristic ideas of Jewish Christianity were born in just such a religious environment.

The study of this exciting new evidence is quickly becoming a distinct field of research. This book surveys, in a popular format, some of the most important results achieved so far, with a particular focus on New Testament studies—the area where the primary significance of these priceless documents clearly lies.