The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea ScrollsThe Dead Sea Scrolls

The Great ISAIAH ScrollThe Great ISAIAH Scroll

Caves of QumranCaves of Qumran

1947-1956

Qumran

7.5 mi S of Jericho

1 mi W of Dead Sea

Essene CommunityEssene Community

The Essene FocusThe Essene Focus• Religious Jewish Sect Religious Jewish Sect • Broke away from Temple-Broke away from Temple-

centered workshopcentered workshop• Established Messianic-Established Messianic-

focused communityfocused community• Settled at Qumran at time Settled at Qumran at time

of Jesusof Jesus

The Essene LIBRARYThe Essene LIBRARY

• 400400++ scrolls scrolls• ALL books of Hebrew Bible ALL books of Hebrew Bible

((except Esther)except Esther)

• Biblical CommentariesBiblical Commentaries

• A few non-biblical booksA few non-biblical books

The Book of IsaiahThe Book of Isaiah

Only INTACT Scroll Found

ALL 66 Chapters

Isaiah Scroll’sIsaiah Scroll’s SIGNIFICANCE SIGNIFICANCE• OLDEST complete copy of OLDEST complete copy of

any known biblical bookany known biblical book 335-100 BC335-100 BC

• ONLY known copy of entire ONLY known copy of entire book of Hebrew Biblebook of Hebrew Bible

• 95% EXACT replica of what 95% EXACT replica of what we study todaywe study today

MANYMANY Isaiah Scrolls Isaiah Scrolls

• At least 6 copies foundAt least 6 copies found• 22ndnd most popular book most popular book

DT-DT-ISIS-PS-12 Minor Prophets-PS-12 Minor Prophets

• 6 Isaiah Commentaries 6 Isaiah Commentaries found found (more than for any other book)(more than for any other book)

MAJOR SourceMAJOR Source of Jewish Apocalyptic Thinkingof Jewish Apocalyptic Thinking

– Most Quoted Prophet in NTMost Quoted Prophet in NTMost Quoted Prophet in RevMost Quoted Prophet in Rev

– Showed MANY Jewish groups Showed MANY Jewish groups relied on ISAIAH for relied on ISAIAH for understandingunderstanding

– ““Isaiah, Prophet Isaiah, Prophet for the End of Days” for the End of Days”

MAJOR SourceMAJOR Source of of HOPE for Jewish People for Jewish People

– Raise MORALE of exiles Raise MORALE of exiles captive in Babyloncaptive in Babylon

– Promised SALVATION from Promised SALVATION from oppressors through ______oppressors through ______

– God planning God planning NEW CreationNEW Creation NEW Things NEW Things

MAJOR SourceMAJOR Source of of MESSIANICMESSIANIC Hope Hope

7:14 Before His Birth7:14 Before His Birth40:3 Prepare His Way40:3 Prepare His Way11:2 His Baptism11:2 His Baptism61:161:1 Begins His MinistryBegins His Ministry

(by reading Isaiah)(by reading Isaiah)

52-53 His Death52-53 His Death Suffering ServantSuffering Servant

Shrine of the BookShrine of the Book

Jerusalem

The Great Isaiah ScrollThe Great Isaiah Scroll

Future HopeFuture Hope

God does nothingwithout first revealing it through His servants, the prophets.

-- Amos 3:7