The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 1st ed. (1962 Vermès), book

The Dead Sea Scrolls in English (1962) is a book by Geza Vermes.

Abstract

Originally published in 1962, this text more than any other introduced readers to the Qumran community and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Vermes intended it to be a basic introduction to the Scrolls. The first three chapters introduce the Qumran community, its organization, history and religion. Following the majority viewpoint, Vermes presents his version of the Essene Hypothesis identifying the Qumran community with the Essenes. The rest of the book offers English translations of the scrolls, which are now commonplace but in 1962 were sorely needed. Vermes later became well-known for his Jesus studies, but his “first academic love,” as he puts it, was the Dead Sea Scrolls. - Ronald Ruark, University of Michigan

Editions

Pelican, 1962, 1965, 1968 Second edition. 1975 Third edition. 1987 Reprint edition. Penguin, 1990.