The Dead Sea Scrolls The Great ISAIAH Scroll

The Dead Sea Scrolls The Great ISAIAH Scroll

Caves of Qumran 1947 -1956

Qumran 7. 5 mi S of Jericho 1 mi W of Dead Sea

Essene Community

The Essene Focus • • Religious Jewish Sect Broke away from Templecentered workshop • Established Messianicfocused community • Settled at Qumran at time of Jesus

The Essene LIBRARY + • 400 scrolls • ALL books of Hebrew Bible (except Esther) • Biblical Commentaries • A few non-biblical books

The Book of Isaiah Only INTACT Scroll Found ALL 66

Isaiah Scroll’s SIGNIFICANCE • OLDEST complete copy of any known biblical book 335 -100 BC • ONLY known copy of entire book of Hebrew Bible • 95% EXACT replica of what we study today

MANY Isaiah Scrolls • At least 6 copies found • 2 nd most popular book DT-IS-PS-12 Minor Prophets • 6 Isaiah Commentaries found (more than for any other book)

MAJOR Source of Jewish Apocalyptic Thinking – Most Quoted Prophet in NT Most Quoted Prophet in Rev – Showed MANY Jewish groups relied on ISAIAH for understanding – “Isaiah, Prophet for the End of Days”

MAJOR Source of HOPE for Jewish People – Raise MORALE of exiles captive in Babylon – Promised SALVATION from oppressors through ______ – God planning NEW Creation NEW Things

MAJOR Source of MESSIANIC Hope 7: 14 40: 3 11: 2 61: 1 Before His Birth Prepare His Way His Baptism Begins His Ministry (by reading Isaiah) 52 -53 His Death Suffering Servant

Shrine of the Book Jerusalem

The Great Isaiah Scroll

Future Hope

God does nothing without first revealing it through His servants, the prophets. -- Amos 3: 7