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{en} John Sietze Bergsma, Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Revealing the Jewish Roots of Christianity (New York, NY: Image, an imprint of Random House, 2019).

Abstract

"From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing book that reveals new insights on the Essenes, a radical Jewish community predating Christianity, whose existence, beliefs, and practices are often overlooked in the annuls of history. Bergsma reveals how this Jewish sect directly influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity and offers new information on how Christians lived their lives, worshipped, and eventually went on to influence the Roman Empire and Western civilization. Looking to Hebrew scripture and Jewish tradition, Bergsma helps to further explain how a simple Jewish peasant could go on to inspire a religion and a philosophy that still resonates 2,000 years later ... In this enriching and exciting exploration, Bergsma demonstrates how the Dead Sea Scrolls—the world's greatest modern archaeological discovery—can shed light on the Church as a sacred society that offered hope, redemption, and salvation to its member. Ultimately, these mysterious writings are a time machine that can transport us back to the ancient world, deepen our appreciation of Scripture, and strengthen our understanding of the Christian faith ... This book sheds light on the almost-forgotten Jewish sect of the Essenes, a radical religious group with striking parallels to the first Christians. The library of these devout worshipers is known to moderns as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the only surviving Jewish documents written before or during the lifetime of Jesus. Bergsma reveals how the Judaism of this sect influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity, eventually transforming the Roman Empire and Western civilization. Curious details and often ignored oddities in the Gospels and other New Testament books suddenly make sense and come to life against the backdrop of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which reveal a kind of Judaism unknown to most readers today." --Publisher description.

Contents

The archeological find of the twentieth century -- Waiting for the Messiah -- The scrolls, John the Baptist, and baptism -- The scrolls, John the Apostle, and baptism -- Baptism today -- Did Qumran have a "eucharist"? -- When was the Last Supper? -- Putting it all together: reading the Last Supper in light of the scrolls -- Celibacy in the scrolls -- Marriage in the scrolls -- Priesthood and the scrolls -- Priesthood in the Gospels -- Priesthood in the early church -- Did St. Paul write anything about the church? -- The scrolls, the Reformation, and church unity -- The Essenes and the early church: what is the relationship?

External links