What religious information have/do the dead sea scrolls provided?
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The dead sea scrolls are a group of gospels, much like those which are actually in the bible. In these writings, though, the teachings lean towards the idea of gnosticism. Gnostic teachings, put simply, say that there is secret information/knowledge that can be learned from the teachings of Jesus. Also, some of these writings indicate that there are teachings from Jesus that were not made public. These are sayings and ideas which were meant only for the apostles, which the apostles could then pass down to a select number of people that they deemed worthy (as Jesus had deemed them worthy.) Another theme that runs through these gospels is the basis that women are not subordinate to men. They are equals on the playing field, and in fact, god is sometimes referred to as "she" instead of "he." In the traditional sense (meaning traditional Catholicism) these writings are considered somewhat fake--they are not forgeries, but they are not true first-hand accounts of Jesus' teachings, and therefore subject to mutation. This sort of thing is called apocryphal writings, and are kind of used as supplements to the Bible. The Catholic church has spoken against the writings though, saying that they are false and not truly written by those that claim to have written them. Despite ones view on their validity, they show that during the time they were written, the gnostic movement was large enough to warrant its own set of writings.
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Dead Sea Scrolls—The Prized Find\n\nABOUT 15 miles [24 km] southeast of Jerusalem, Wadi En-Nar, a desolate, dry watercourse runs eastward down to the Dead Sea. A broken line of cliffs stretches behind the shoreline plain. On this plain, in the hot days and contrasting cold nights of autumn, the Ta‘amireh Bedouin tend their flocks of sheep and goats.\n\nIn the year 1947, while tending the flocks, a young Bedouin shepherd threw a stone into a small opening in the crumbling face of a cliff. He was startled by the noise it caused, apparently by shattering an earthenware jar. He fled in fear, but two days later he returned and climbed some 300 feet [100 m] to enter through a larger, higher opening. As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he saw ten tall jars lining the walls of the cave, and a mass of broken pottery amid fallen rocks littered the floor.\n\nMost of the jars were empty, but one contained three scrolls, two of which were cloth-covered. He took the manuscripts back to the Bedouin camp and left them there for about a month, hanging in a bag on a tent pole. Finally, some Bedouin took the scrolls to Bethlehem to see how much they would fetch. The Bedouin were unceremoniously turned away from one monastery, being told that the scrolls were of no value whatever. Another dealer said that the manuscripts had no archaeological merit, and he suspected that they had been stolen from a Jewish synagogue. How wrong he was! Eventually, with a Syrian cobbler acting as broker, their worth was rightfully established. Soon, other manuscripts were evaluated.\n\nSome of these ancient writings opened up a whole new insight into the activity of Jewish religious groups about the time of Christ. But it was a Bible manuscript of Isaiah’s prophecy that excited the world. Why?\n\nThe Great Prize\n\nThe newly discovered scroll of Isaiah was originally about 25 feet [7.5 m] long. It was made up of 17 sheets of carefully prepared animal skin, nearly as refined as parchment. Composed in 54 columns averaging 30 lines each, it had been carefully ruled. On these lines the skilled penman had placed the letters of the text, written in paragraphs.—See photograph.\n\nThe scroll had not been rolled around sticks, and it was much darker in the center where many hands had held it for reading. It was well-worn, with skillful repairs and reinforcements in evidence. Its fine preservation was due to its having been carefully sealed in a jar. How valuable is it to the Bible scholar, and, by extension, to all of us?\n\nThis manuscript of the prophet Isaiah is some one thousand years older than any other surviving copy, yet its contents are not greatly different. Said Professor Millar Burrows, the editor of the text that was published in 1950: “The text of Isaiah in this manuscript, with significant differences in spelling and grammar and many variant readings of more or less interest and importance, is substantially that presented considerably later in the MT [Masoretic Hebrew Text].” Also noteworthy is its consistent use of the Tetragrammaton, ????, God’s holy name, Jehovah, in Hebrew.\n\nOther Valuable Manuscripts\n\nThe divine name also appears in another manuscript from this same cave, now known as Cave 1. In a commentary on the book of Habakkuk, the Tetragrammaton appears four times in paleo-Hebrew letters, an older style that contrasts with the more familiar square Hebrew lettering.—See the footnote to Habakkuk 1:9, Reference Bible.\n\nThe cave yielded portions of another Isaiah scroll, along with leather fragments from the Bible book of Daniel. One of these preserves the change from Hebrew to Aramaic at Daniel 2:4, just as found in manuscripts of a thousand years later.\n\nSmall parts of the scrolls that are well preserved are now exhibited in Jerusalem, in the museum known as the Shrine of the Book. This museum is underground, so as you visit there, you have the impression of entering a cave. The upper part of the museum is in
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No but some years back in San Francisco I saw a partial exhibit which included the whole scroll of the book of Isaiah. Awesome! It was laid out under temperature control ed glass. I cannot read Hebrew so I could not read it for myself.
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The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. It is easy to understand because it is in today's language. And it is properly translated from the original scrolls.\nvisit www.watchtower.org.
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Sparky First let me say I appreciate the 10 pts. I don't know what I did to piss you off though. I told you to look up the work "Qumran" because it is one of the best documented archaeological finds in the world and I knew that there would be plenty of info online (which would be convenient for you). Would you rather me refer you to the dozens of books that I know of offhand or to an infinite # of archaeological reports that are incredibly boring to read? I studied Qumran under Jodi Magness at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and she is the foremost American Archaeologist in the world concerning the "holyland." In particular, she is definitely the foremost authority on Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  In case you don't know, archaeology is SCIENCE, not religion, and archaeological reports and finds are scientific and are not at all connected to the Church or any religion.  \n\nNothing in my answer to you dealt with religious dogma, I simply tried to answer your question as to why SOME Christians see a threat in the DaVinci code. Now, as for your claim that the bible was written 200 years after Christ, well that's true for some of the later NT books, but not of the Gospels. Some of the gnostic texts were much later than the gospels, which is part of the reason they were rejected by the church. \n\nAnd lastly, you claim that the bible has changed so many times that it's all crap. What do you have to support this? Go see the Dead Sea Scrolls some time, which were written between 2500-2000 yrs ago (as I visited a DSS exhibit about a month ago in Charlotte, NC). And then compare that to the KJV or the American Standard Bible.  The Old Testament found in the 1950s in the Caves near Qumran is nearly word for word with what we have today.  It is amazing that in 2000 or more years the Jewish text has changed so little!  This means that we should all reexamine the amount of credit we have granted the Jewish oral tradition that was so important to the early Christian Church.  IT IS ACCURATE, whether you want to admit it or not. SCIENCE and HISTORY support that.\n\nAgain, I answered your question rather well... Let me try one more time in FIVE SIMPLE SENTENCES that will be very easy for you to comprehend this time:\n\n1.  It wouldn't be so bad if Jesus was married.\n\n2.  Christians are NOT offended or threatened by the possibility that Jesus could have been married.\n\n3.  It's simply not historically true or believable, from the bible and from the writings of two Roman historians Tacitus and Josephus.\n\n4.  However, Some Christians ARE offended by the notion that Christ was not Divine; and the "The DaVinci Code" claims his having a child is proof that Jesus was NOT divine.\n\n5.  Such a claim can be damaging to the mission field because people like you believe anything and everything you read in a novel or see on TV and are therefore hostile toward Christianity.\n\nSo, that's why some Christians are offended by the DaVinci Code and by the notion that Christ might have been married to and had a child with Mary Magdalene.  Because of the hostility towards Christianity that such false belief creates.  People like you work directly against anyone trying to bring people to Christ.  \n\nPS.. the whole "MM was a whore" lost in translation thing.. do your history research man, you don't know what you are talking about at all.  You speak fiction and pass it off as truth. \n\nAnd you wonder why people would be offended?  maybe some people just like the truth?\n\nLet me ask you a question.  Why are you so offended by Christianity?  What are YOU afraid of?  The Truth?
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It seems to be a toss up between ancient Hindu scripture or some of the earliest Egyptian writings like the book of the dead.\n\nThe Hindu stuff is fascinating. It sounds like the same things that the quantum physics guys are saying. Makes you wonder how the Hindus knew this stuff 4000 years ago.\n\nLove and blessings Don
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Yes indeed! there are the Holy Scripts, they were found between Jordan and Isreal somewhere below the Dead Sea..
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Yes. When the dead sea scrolls were discovered in 1947 the scholars compared the book of Isaiah to the King James Version of 1611 to see if there were ANY differences. Well, there were. Tons of differences. Lots and lots of words were different. How many? 47. That's right. Only 47 words were different. From 450 B.C. to 1947 A.D. the copying of scripture was so accurate that only 47 words were different in the book of Isaiah! And NONE of the words affected ANY meaning or theological meaning of the book. Yes. I believe the Bible is the Word of God.
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The only thing that science can prove, is that the scrolls are of about the right date. No proof has been provided as to the truth of what's written on them. But then, the same can be said for all the scrolls in the bible too.
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The Holy Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew and Greek, of which physical manuscripts actually exist. I cannot remember where they are located, but some texts are located in museums.\n\nTo preserve the text of the Holy Scriptures, exact copies were carefully penned by hand from the orginals (manuscript [manual script - written by hand]) - symbol by symbol (the individuals who copied them dared not alter anything; if "one" symbol was wrong, the whole manuscript was discarded).\n\nThe Bible is from the Greek word "biblios" - or books; written over a period of 1,500 years by over 40 different men. Archeologists actually look at the Bible as a historical document, and use it as a reference; because it is a record "of living history" that reveals the names and locations of people who actually lived thousands of years ago.\n\nIf you research the subject of "Bible Archeology" you will discover that the "physical evidence" of things that are referenced in the Bible actually existed. This reinforces the accuracy of what is written.\n\nNow any historical document has to be taken on "faith" - even books and newspapers written 200 years ago. They were written by people who lived in the past and are accepted as something that is true; the Bible is no different.\n\nWhat makes the scriptures "holy" is not men, but God. In that the "holy scriptures" were "God-breathed" or inspired by God.\n\nhttp://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2Pe/2Pe001.html#21\n\n2 Peter 1:\n\n16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.\n\nThe Apostle Peter wrote a letter about an event he witnessed himself, where he actually heard God "literally" speak.\n\nhttp://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat017.html#5\n\nMatthew 17:\n\n1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.  9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. \n\nNotice that Christ took three disciples with Him. Christ knew what was about to happen, and He made sure that there were three men there to witness it. This is according to a law written in the Old Testament about requiring the testimony of at least two or three witnesses to verify the truth of a claim.\n\nDeuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of
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http://www.biblegateway.com/
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The key sacred text is Torah - the 5 books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) written by Moses about 3500 years ago.\n\nNext is the Neviim - the Prophets, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.\n\nAnd the Kethuvim - the Writings - Psalms, Proverbs, etc.\n\nOn top of that is the Oral Torah of Mishnah said to have been passed down orally from Moses.\n\nThen there is the commentary on Mishnah known as Talmud.\n\nLook up all these terms on Google and learn more.
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God knows best and here is what i know from my knowledge and reading:\n\n[1] By the fig, and the olive. \n-the fig and the olive which is the place of Jurasalem of where God sent Jesus-Son-of-Mary(Peace be uppon him). juraselim was famous with its fig and olive. \n\n[2] By Mount Sinai. \n-this is the Mount of where God talked to Moses. \n\n[3] By this city of security (Makkah).\n-this is Makkah in Sudia Arabia (at the black house).\n\nthose three places are very important to God. and He swear with these three places to start Quran ch95
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I don't know the answer to your Q, but I think I can help you find it for yourself.\nTry to recall any words that you can remember of what wat read, and them look those words up in a concordance or online Bible site such as www.biblegateway.com\n\nit might take some time, but I'm sure you will be able to find it (and might just come up with some interesting Bible reading in the proccess.)
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The scripture of truth is sealed to the time of the end (Dan.12:4, Dan.12:9 below).\n\n\nDan.12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.\n\nDan.12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end (Dan.12:4 above).\n\n\nPat (ndbpsa)
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The most references seem to be in Leviticus, but you'll also see references to mikveh in other books.\n\nHere's a link to references to them all:\n\nhttp://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/7/1163083102-6996.html\n\nPeace.
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It would be a major miracle if any original Parchments remain Today.   They were shared with all the existing Churches of the First Century A.D.. No doubt they would be in poor repair very quickly.\n\nThe Dead Sea Scrolls would be the oldest known copies. So far they have been very valuable in proving the accuracy of The Biblical Text.