Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the oldest known manuscripts of any Biblical books.  Most of them were discovered in or near dry riverbed caves along the western side of the Dead Sea in what are now Israel and the West Bank.  The more than 800 scrolls that have been found date from as early as the 200's B.C. Because they were found miles apart and are dated to different centuries, all the scrolls cannot come from one source. 

Reports describing the discoveries of texts in the caves have been documented from the A.D. 100's through the middle Ages.  The most famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered beginning in 1947.  The scrolls were found at a number of sites, including Nahal Hever, Murabbaat, and the fortress of Masada.  The most famous site is Qumran, which has yielded the most texts. 

Qumran may have housed a working library, but scholars are not sure why the scrolls were collected there.  Many scholars believe the residents from about 150 B.C. to about A.D. 68 were members of a Jewish sect called the Essenes (see ESSENES).  The Essenes may have controlled the Qumran manuscripts, but it is not certain if they wrote them, collected them, or owned them.  Scholars also do not know if the Essenes put the scrolls in the caves to protect them or to avoid them.  Many Qumran texts are literary works, but there are also letters and legal documents that shed light on personal and national events before, during, and after the time of Jesus Christ. 

The Dead Sea Scrolls include fragments of every book of the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament, except the Book of Esther.  Some texts are almost identical to Bible texts used today.  A few are complete or almost complete.  The scrolls also include fragments of the Septuagint, the earliest Greek text of the Hebrew Bible.  In addition, the scrolls include large parts of an Aramaic translation of Job, and parts of books found only in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles. 

Scholars found previously unknown texts among the scrolls.  The so-called Temple Scroll summarizes laws in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.  The Manual of Discipline (also called the Community Rule) describes how a community, located in Qumran, organized its spiritual life.  The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness offers a detailed plan for the final war awaited by the Qumran community.  Other scrolls contain prayers, hymns, commentaries on parts of the Bible, legends, prophecies, religious arguments, and otherwise unknown stories about characters in the Hebrew Bible. 

Most of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written in Hebrew on leather or papyrus.  One scroll written on copper describes the locations of huge treasures, perhaps from the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Contributor: B. Barry Levy, Ph.D., Prof. of Biblical Studies, Chairman of Jewish Studies Department, and Director of Jewish Teacher Training Program, McGill Univ.

Article taken from the 1999 World Book (copyrighted by World Book Inc 1998) Family Reference Suite published on CD by IBM.

Show pictures of the excavation along the Dead Sea of the location where the Essenes lived from the November 1958 National Geographic.

The bible is ageless. In the Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947 is a complete copy of the Old Testament except for Ester. The text was almost exactly the same as the Old Testament that we are familiar with. This proves that throughout all this time from 100 A.D. when the earliest scrolls were placed until the present the text has not been altered. God’s promise has been proved to be true.

Luther - From his introduction (1523) to the Old Testament.

3149 The Abiding Worth of the Old Testament Some people think little of the Old Testament, considering it a book given only to the Jewish people and now out of date and containing only stories of times past. They think they have enough in the New Testament. . . . [But the apostles] teach us not to despise the Scriptures of the Old Testament but to read them with all diligence; for they themselves emphatically base the New Testament on them, prove it by them, and appeal to them. Thus St. Luke writes (Acts 17:11) that the people at Thessalonica searched Scripture daily to see whether it agreed

with what Paul taught. Surely, the foundation and proof of the New Testament are not to be despised; therefore also the Old Testament is to be highly esteemed. (W-DB 5, 2 {— E 63, 7 f — SL 14, 21)

Written with a purpose

        To authenticate the divinity of Christ

                   John 20:24-31(31) - Read 24-31

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31 NIVUS)

There are a lot of people in the world like Thomas – who need to see to believe. But God has not given us that option so we are blessed since we believe on faith. However, we do have the real, truthful Word of God on which to base this faith. By believing on Jesus only we have eternal life. The bible is inspired by God and written by man through the Holy Spirit and also what is not written. The intricate weaving of prophecy and fulfillment, phrases and words, are like there is one author of the Bible. The Bible is complete and we do not need to know anything else.

                   Luther - From a sermon on the Day of St. Thomas, December 21 (John 20:24-31)

590   Direct All Your Enemies to Christ

When the Law comes and accuses you of not having kept it, direct it to Christ, and say: There is the Man who has done it; to Him I cling; He has fulfilled it for me and has given me His fulfillment. When sin comes and would kill you, direct it to Christ, and say: As much as you can do to Him, you can do to me, too, for I am He, and He is in me. When death comes and would devour you, say: Dear Death, do you know that Man over there? Go, bite out one of His teeth.   Once upon a time He made biting sour enough for you.   If you long for a fight, then rub yourself against Him again. You   thought   you   should   also have a share in Him when   He hung between two murderers and died a shame­ful death, this Man, condemned before God and before the world.   But what good did it do you?  You took a bite at that time which did not turn out well for you.   To this Man I belong, I am His, and He is mine; and where He stays, I, too, stay.   You were not able to do anything to Him and will nicely leave me undisturbed too.   When the devil comes and would also have a share in you, and hell would devour you, direct them to Christ: then you will silence them."⁴ (W 17 II, 292f—E 15, 63 —SL 11, 1966)

          To give hope to men

                   Romans 15:1-6(4)

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 15:1-6 NIVUS)

                   Luther – From comments 0n Romans 15:4

200     Bible the World's Only Book of Comfort

No book but Holy Scripture can comfort us. It alone has the title St. Paul here gives it: the "Book of Comfort." It can support the soul in all tribulations so that it does not give way to despair but keeps on hoping; for the soul apprehends the Word of God, in which it learns His gracious will, to which it firmly clings, and thus re­mains unshaken in life and death. But the man who does not know the will of God must doubt; for he does not know what his relation to God really is.¹" (W 10 I, 2,75 —E 7, 61 — SL 12, 33)

          To relate human experience as a warning

                   1 Corinthians 10:1-13(11) – Read 10:1-13

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” (1Co 10:11 NIVUS)

          Luther - From a sermon on 1 Cor. 10:6-13 (1544).

741 Christianity Must Be Taken on Faith Let the person who cannot be­lieve that God is able to do what He says stay away from Christendom; for our faith is: What God says, that He is able to do. Therefore a real Christian should close his eyes and think: God has said so; consequently, He is also able to do it. I believe the words, al­though I do not understand how they can be carried out. (W 49, 543 — E 20 II, 173 f)

          To give knowledge of eternal life

                   1 John 5:10-13(13)

“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1Jo 5:10-13 NIVUS)

                   Luther – From his exposition of 1 John 5:13 on Novem­ber 6, I527.

4724 The Word Is Alive and Is Not a "Dead Letter" To the enthusiasts the printed word is a dead thing. But John says: "I write to you"; for Scripture should serve the purpose of a letter, should be a means and a vehicle through which to come to faith and life eternal. For thus John speaks in the last chapter ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that, believing, ye might have life through His name" (John 20:31). Therefore we should know that the witness of God does not come to us except through the spoken or written Word. . . . "Give attendance to reading" (I Tim. 4:13). Why does he enjoin reading if the letter is a "dead thing"? . Listen to Christ: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall be­lieve on Me through their word" (John 17:20). The "word" here certainly means the spoken or the written Word, not the "inner" word. Therefore the Word should be heard and read above all else. It is the vehicle of the Holy Spirit. When the Word is read, the Spirit is present (W 20, 789 f)

The Book that endures for all ages

            Psalm 119:89-96(89)

“Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.” (Ps 119:89-96 NIVUS)

          Isaiah 40:1-8(8)

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."” (Isa 40:1-8 NIVUS)

          1 Peter 1:22-25(25)

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1Pe 1:22-25 NIVUS)

Notice how Peter quotes from Isaiah in 1:25. It is the eternal word that is given to us and not altered by any modern theory or knowledge. Again Isaiah was quoted in Acts 28 below. Actually the Old Testament was defined by Jesus statement:  “He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."” (Lu 24:44 NIVUS) For this reason, and others, the Apocrypha was removed from the Old Testament in the1769 edition of the Authorized Version leaving the 39 books.

Its Words Sacred, not to be altered

Deuteronomy 4:2

  “ Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2 NIVUS)

Proverbs 30:1-6

“ The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh— an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:  "I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.  I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.  Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!  "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Proverbs 30:1-6 NIVUS)

Revelation 22:18-19

  “ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.  And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19 NIVUS)

Divinely Inspired – The bible is the word of God

Jeremiah 36:1-2

“ In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:  "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now.” (Jeremiah 36:1-2 NIVUS)

Ezekiel 1:1-3

“ In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.  On the fifth of the month— it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin-- the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was upon him.” (Ezekiel 1:1-3 NIVUS)

Acts 28:23-29

“ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.  Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.  They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:  "‘Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."  For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’  "Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" ” (Acts 28:23-29 NIVUS)

Luther

192 As God's Book, the Bible Merits Reverent Attention We should know that the sacred stories are to be examined a bit more thoroughly than profane stories and the acts of the heathen. For if these stories of the patriarchs had been told by Latin or Greek authors, they would certainly be considered unworthy to see the light and to be remembered, espe­cially in the church and among the people of God. But it must be noted that this book has a different Author, who is, without a doubt (nimirum), the Holy Spirit. (W 44, 532 f — Eopex 10, 232f—SL2, 1570)

2 Timothy 3:10-17

“ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings— what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:10-17 NIVUS)

Luther

196 Faith in Its Inspiration Endears Bible He who would not read these stories in vain must firmly hold that Holy Scripture is not human but divine wis­dom. Then he will feel his heart aflame with a marvelous love and desire for the matters that Scripture contains. For the Bible is a remarkable fountain: the more one draws and drinks of it, the more it stimulates thirst. . . . (W 43, 366 — Hop ex 6, 131—SL2, 2)

2 Peter 1:19-21

“ And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21 NIVUS)

Luther - To make it possible for all who could read to base their faith at first hand on Scripture itself, the Reformer (in 1521) undertook to translate the Bible from the original lan­guages. In 1530 he wrote an open letter on the principles he pursued in his work.

317 Translating Is Hard Work Trans­lating is certainly not everybody's busi­ness, as the mad saints imagine. It requires a genuinely pious, faithful, dil­igent, God-fearing, experienced, practiced heart. Therefore I hold that a false Christian or a sectarian spirit is unable to give a faithful translation.⁵¹ (W 30 II, 640 —E 65, 115 —SL 19, 978)

319 One Should Not Translate Too Lit­erally What purpose does it serve unnecessarily to abide by the words so rigidly and strictly that people can get no sense out of them? Whoever would speak German must not use Hebrew idioms; but if he understands the Hebrew writer, he must see to it that he grasps his meaning and must think: Now let me see. How does a German speak in this case? When he has the German words that serve the purpose, then let him dismiss the Hebrew words and freely express the sense in the best German he is capable of using. (W 38, 11 — E 37, 258 —SL 4, 130)

(Show Martin Luther video Chapter 15, 1:28:55 – 1:30:25)

Summary from the Bible

Revelation 1:1-8

“ The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw— that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.  John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father— to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.  Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."” (Revelation 1:1-8 NIVUS)