What started out as an exploration of some ancient scrolls discovered in the Dead Sea region has become a career for some people, a controversy regarding control of the material, and a matter leading to interpretation and reinterpretation of central issues in Christianity. The intent in the following pages is to examine the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls, describe the controversies, and set forth current findings.
It appears as though the documents which we call the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden away in cave in what is now Jordan during the period between approximately 2 B.C.E. and 70 C.E. These scrolls were not located again until 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd, starting an ongoing controversy about the use and meaning of those scrolls. Ultimately 800 scrolls have been found, located in 11 caves above Qumran near the Dead Sea. The find is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological finds of this century, affecting two of the major world religions. Perhaps that is why there have been so many controversies; there was fear that some discovery or interpretation would shake the foundations of these religions, or even overturn them in some way.
After the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, they were not simply randomly handed out to people for examination and interpretation. Instead, a formal project was begun in order to bring the best scholarship to bear on the issue. This ultimately developed into the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project, which had a number of general editors.
The focus of these editors was multiple. They were trying to determine the meaning of the scolls, while also attempting to understand the sect at Qumran, the nature of Jewish society of the time, and the origins of Christianity. This is a massive task. As such, it has extended over several decades now, creating controversies regarding the control of the material, as well as the interpretations coming forth from the Publication Project...