Dead Sea Scrolls
Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls has increased the faith of Bible-believers. Why? Because they prove that the hand-copied texts that have come down from the Masoretic scribes are accurate.
Printed Bibles have been in use for about 500 years. Prior to that, copies of the Scriptures were hand-written. Each Bible was a copy, made from a previous copy. No original texts were preserved. In fact, the oldest copy in existence, until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, dates back about 1,100 years. The question could always be asked: How can we know that errors did not occur in the copying?
The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth – 394 metres below sea level. The exceptionally dry climate meant that the hidden scrolls could better survive the ravages of time.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the years 1947 to 1956, in eleven caves near Qumran, have answered that question. The Scrolls can be positively dated. They are 1000 years older than previously used manuscripts — and yet the text shows no deviation.
The Masoretic scribes who made the copies kept a remarkably accurate record.
It is another proof that the Hebrew Bible is trustworthy. It is the Word of God, as delivered by Him and preserved by Him.
A fragment of the scroll of the book of Exodus
dated to approximately 100 BC.
The text is Exodus 6:25-7:19 in palaeo-Hebrew script.
To learn more about the Dead Sea Scrolls, follow these links:
- Dating the Dead Sea Scrolls
How we know that they are as old as they are claimed to be.
- What was found?
A brief summary of the story of the most famous archaeological discovery of our time, and the work of the scholars who analysed the findings.
- The ancient scribes
How the Scriptures were copied and preserved before the invention of printing.
- Controversies
How delays in publishing the Scrolls led to speculation and why the controversial suggestions raised have been rejected by scholars today.
Your faith is worth more than gold