The Dead Sea Scrolls

Three credits · Undergraduate

This course surveys the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Judean desert. The most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century, these scrolls have generated much controversy. We will examine the major texts from Qumran to assess their impact on our understanding of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and the period of Judaism in which Christianity arose. We will place the scrolls in their various contexts: archaeological, historical, literary, religious, and social. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 404 or RELS 318. Three credits. Not offered 2026-2027; offered every three years.