Classics and Religious Studies

 

Title

The Whole Scroll Story: Review of The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls by James VanderKam and Peter Flint

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

January 2002

Comments

Published in Bible Review XIX (2002), pp. 38–41. Copyright © 2002 Biblical Archaeology Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

James VanderKam and Peter Flint set out to write, in their own words, “a new, comprehensive, and up-to-date introduction” to the Dead Sea Scrolls. They have accomplished that goal admirably, especially when it comes to comprehensiveness. The volume touches on every area of scroll scholarship, and presents a synthetic account of the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, their importance as a collection of ancient primary texts, and their impact on our understanding of Second Temple Judaism and the roots of Christianity.