Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Revealing the Jewish Roots of Christianity

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)

GOOD BOOK that connects time of Jesus with 2022

Thank you John Bergsma!
for compiling this book!
So many books, so little time so be sure to hear this one audible searchers...

Entire book is filled with gold nuggets for us all. The way John the author interjects his own life story into his discovery is fascinating.

The Essenes need to be revealed/ studied more and this book does that. Jesus walked earth for a short time in a small place. Aprox 30 yrs 30 miles

Today, Jesus through the Holy Spirit can live in us all...But the Holy War we all must live through either brings us back home or to hell. Easy to see in 2022...Some modern Jews and Church scholars will poo poo this book. Also, the topic of celebacy is interesting especially when we see so many Church / Syagogue sex drug addicts that do the deeds of the devil...
Also, Lies like dinosaurs that never existed and earth is NOT billions of years old or we wouldnt be living in year 2022. Enoch said earth will be 7K yrs,
2K yrs from Adam - Noah
2K yrs from Noah - Jesus
2K yrs from Jesus - present day
That makes earth circa 6K yrs ...only 1K til God takes back his creation

Thank you God for creating John Bergsma

MY ONLY CRITICISM OF THIS BOOK IS HIS VIEW ON PRIESTS AND CHURCH TODAY...CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A SATANIC PEDO ORG. I SAY THIS HAVING BEEN A CATHOLIC FOR 50 YRS AND WITNESSING CHURCH COLLECTING MONEY TO PROTECT PEDOPHILES AND SODOMITES

Must READ for every Christian or historian

This was packed and rich in history.
I went back and read it multiple times. I can't wait to read it again and since I'll be going to Jerusalem this year, it made the anticipation that much better.
Bergsma has done it again. He takes complex and simplifies it. It's no wonder he's won many accolades as a teacher.

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.

Much Needed Context

I have studied the scripture for over 20 years. This book adds much needed context to the discussion of Christ, Christianity and Second Temple Judaism. So many great questions are answered here with the Dead Sea Scrolls. I'm very impressed with the detail of information and the avoiding of opinions that only tend to confuse matters. This is an easy read and enjoyable on higher speeds. I preferred 1.4x.

Incredible!

John Bergsma uses his usual in-depth scholarly approach to take a deep dive into the dead sea scrolls, their relationship to the Jewish practices of the day, and the light they shed on Christianity. He manages to take complex theological points and break them down so they are easily understood. Just beautiful, as always.

I cannot recommend this book too much.

Fascinating information by an author who obviously loves God's Word. Great insights into the Essenes & the time period.

The Essences and early Christianity, they weren’t that divergent.

Excellent fact based summary in compare and contrast format making sense of the essene way of life and early Christianity development. Especially how the reformation altered literal and spiritual interpretations.

Excellent

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

An Absolutely Amazing Book! A Must Buy!

An Absolutely Amazing Book! A Must Buy! Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum.

Extremely insightful regarding the Biblical Hebraic and Israelite roots of Jesus and Christianity

This book brings understanding to the many difficult and enigmatic passages and narratives in the New Testament regarding Jesus and the Church, which turn out to be the inheritors, carriers and fulfillment of the Hebrew and Israelite Scriptures and tradition.