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The Scrolls and Christian Origins: Studies in the Jewish Background of the New Testament (1961) is a book by Matthew Black.

Abstract

"The Scrolls and Christian Origins: Studies in the Jewish Background of the New Testament by Matthew Black is a mid-twentieth-century synthesis that seeks to interpret the Dead Sea Scrolls within the broader framework of New Testament studies, with particular emphasis on the Jewish background of early Christianity. Developed from a series of lectures and subsequently revised in light of newly published Qumran materials, the volume is structured in two main parts—historical and theological—reflecting its dual concern with the identity of the Qumran community and the religious significance of its writings ... In the historical section, Black argues in favor of identifying the Qumran sect with the Essenes and explores their origins within the wider development of post-Maccabean Judaism. He critically engages classical sources such as Josephus and Philo, attempting to correlate their descriptions with the evidence of the Scrolls. The theological section examines key elements of Qumran belief and practice—such as covenantal theology, communal organization, ritual life, and messianic expectation—and evaluates their relevance for understanding early Christian traditions ... The central thesis of the work is that the Dead Sea Scrolls significantly illuminate the Jewish matrix of the New Testament, particularly in relation to apocalyptic thought, sectarian identity, and scriptural interpretation. At the same time, Black maintains a cautious stance regarding direct dependence, emphasizing that similarities between Qumran and early Christianity are best explained within a shared religious environment rather than through straightforward lines of influence ... Methodologically, the book reflects a transitional moment in scholarship: it moves beyond the initial enthusiasm of the 1950s while still operating with a relatively limited corpus of texts and provisional historical reconstructions. Its lasting contribution lies in integrating Qumran studies into mainstream New Testament scholarship and in articulating a model of contextual continuity that would shape subsequent research."--

Editions

Published in New York, NY: Scribner, 1961. First British edition published in London: Nelson, 1961. Reprinted in New York, NY: Scribner, 1969; Chico, CA: Scholars Press 1983, 1984.

Translations

• 死海写本とキリスト敎の起源 = The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins (1966 Black / Shinmi), book (Japanese ed.)

Table of contents

• The Qumran Essenes
• The reports of the Greek historians
• The patristic accounts of Jewish sects
• Sectarian Judaism and the primitive church
• Qumran baptismal rites and sacred meal
• Legalism, prophetism, and apocalyptic
• The Qumran Messiah and related beliefs.

External links

• Google Books (excerpts)