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

Authors

Sidnie White Crawford, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

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.