Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls

By: John Bergsma

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

A major new work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest sacred documents of Judaism, which reveals their surprising connections to early Christianity.

"A luminous treatment of a fascinating subject! Highly recommended!" (Scott Hahn, author of The Fourth Cup)

From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing audiobook 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, worshiped, 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.

"An accessible introduction.... This is a handy entry point for readers unfamiliar with Essenes or those interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls." (Publishers Weekly)

©2019 John Bergsma (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"The Dead Sea Scrolls give us a window into the thought of first-century Jews such as Jesus and the disciples. Through that window we see the continuity between the Old Testament and the New. The New is not a novelty. An expert on the Scrolls, Dr. Bergsma shows us how the texts and rituals of the Qumran community illuminate the New Covenant sacraments and Christian liturgy as we know it today." (Scott Hahn, author of The Fourth Cup)

 

"John Bergsma has provided the missing link between the assembly of the Old Testament and the Church of the New Testament. Read this book and you’ll see the Gospels and the sacraments more vividly than ever before. You’ll understand your place in history and in God’s people. If you read just one book about first-century Judaism, let it be this one." (Mike Aquilina, author of The Fathers of the Church)

"Since the Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered in 1947, there have been countless books written about them. But there is nothing quite like what John Bergsma has done in Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. If you have any interest whatsoever in the Jewish roots of Christianity, then buy this book! It will radically transform the way you see Jesus, Judaism, and the origins of Christianity." (Brant Pitre, author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist)

excellent

...but would like to hear less information in parentheses (biblical and scroll locations) and just stick to story/information being recited. overall -very well done.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent

Excellent work! This is a very useful book for anyone interested in New Testament studies or Apologetics.

Fascinating and thought provoking

This work had quite a few startling insights into the old covenant practices and the New Testament fulfillments found in the early Church period and contemporary practices. I've heard about the Essene community found at Qumran, responsible for the dead sea scrolls, but hadn't known too much about them. This is a great place to broaden your knowledge base about not only that community, then scroll, and Old Testament Judaism, but about what and how beliege understand Christianity today. Excellent.