The discovery

4

Discovered: 1947–1956, Qumran (near the Dead Sea)
Date: ~250 BC – AD 70
Material: parchment and papyrus
Languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek

They represent the oldest known copies of the Old Testament texts.

---

1. Historical context

The manuscripts were hidden in caves during the Jewish–Roman war (AD 66–70), before the destruction of Jerusalem.

They originated from a Jewish community devoted to studying Scripture and copying sacred texts.

---

2. What the scrolls contain

More than 900 documents were found:

• copies of biblical books (all except Esther)
• biblical commentaries
• community rules
• messianic and prophetic texts

The most famous is the Great Isaiah Scroll, almost identical to the modern text.

---

3. Comparison with the modern Bible

Before the discovery, the oldest Hebrew manuscripts dated to about AD 1000.
The Qumran scrolls are more than 1,000 years older.

Result:

• minor spelling differences
• the meaning of the text remains the same
• messianic passages are preserved intact

---

4. Example: Isaiah 53

The passage about the “Suffering Servant” appears fully preserved.

This chapter existed in essentially the same form before the Christian era, showing it was not later altered.

---

5. Archaeological significance

The scrolls confirm:

• faithful transmission of the biblical text
• existence of Scripture before Jesus
• expectation of a Messiah within Judaism

They are one of the most important discoveries for the study of the Bible.

---

Central idea of the study

Archaeology confirms the stability of the text.
The Bible carries the same message across millennia.

The scrolls show preservation.
Scripture shows continuity.