The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography

by John J. Collins

Unraveling the controversies surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls

Since they were first discovered in the caves at Qumran in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have aroused more fascination--and more controversy--than perhaps any other archaeological find. They appear to have been hidden in the Judean desert by the Essenes, a Jewish sect that existed around the time of Jesus, and they continue to inspire veneration and conspiracy theories to this day. John Collins tells the story of the bitter conflicts that have swirled around the scrolls since their startling discovery, and sheds light on their true significance for Jewish and Christian history.

Collins vividly recounts how a Bedouin shepherd went searching for a lost goat and found the scrolls instead. He offers insight into debates over whether the Essenes were an authentic Jewish sect and explains why such questions are critical to our understanding of ancient Judaism and to Jewish identity. Collins explores whether the scrolls were indeed the property of an isolated, quasi-monastic community living at Qumran, or whether they more broadly reflect the Judaism of their time. And he unravels the impassioned disputes surrounding the scrolls and Christianity. Do they anticipate the early church? Do they undermine the credibility of the Christian faith? Collins also looks at attempts to reclaim the scrolls for Judaism after the full corpus became available in the 1990s, and at how the decades-long delay in publishing the scrolls gave rise to sensational claims and conspiracy theories.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Judaism, Archaeology, Biblical Studies, Theology

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. A native of Ireland, he has a doctorate from Harvard University, and earlier taught at the University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame. He has published widely on the subjects of apocalypticism, wisdom, Hellenistic Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls and served as president of both the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Reviews

[Bill Sleeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very good introduction to what can be an overwhelming topic. Collins does a great job explaining the background related to the scholarship surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls and the academic and theological egos that guided (and oftentimes hindered) publication of, and research about, this important collection of documents. Some photographs and/or maps though would have helped the overall understanding of the issues and, despite the series introduction at the outset,I don’t think this book is for the lay reader but is better suited to someone with a little background.

The inclusion of guides for additional reading at the end of each chapter is a welcome aspect of this title and series. I look forward to the next titles in this series.

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book summarizes the 60 plus years of history since the discovery of the dead sea scrolls in 1947 near Qumran in the Judean desert of Israel. It presents the story of the scrolls from several perspectives - from the people of Qumran, from those second temple Israelites living in Jerusalem, from the early Christians, and what it means today. I have read much about these topics and I didn't find anything really new in the book, but it provides a good overview of what the scrolls meant if you do not know much about them. The book was fairly short and a quick read. This would be a good first book to study the scrolls.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collins has crafted an enjoyable survey of the history surrounding the D.S.S.
As per usual, his handling of the data is fair and his insight across the material is vast.

The chapters on the Essenes (Ch2), and the D.S.S. and the bible (Ch6) were stand out chapters for me. The former considers the many theories circling this mysterious group - the most enjoyable being the barbed insight of FM Cross. Collins concludes in similar fashion to Cross that the identifying of the Essenes as the Qumran community is still the best theory available.

As for the latter chapter, it provides an excellent introduction to how the First Testament has been put together (MT, LXX, also considering peripheral works SP, etc...), as well as highlighting some very important interpretive issues.

The most striking for me was the realisation that the Hebrew Bible appears to have had layers of “canon.” That is to say that the D.S.S. show that whilst the Law and the Prophets were transmitted largely without any changes, that the writings appear to have been treated as an “open-ended category of edifying literature” that could be reinterpreted and added to by the community. (199)
This makes a lot of sense in light of the apocryphal additions to Daniel (as he was considered to be part of the writings, rather than the prophets).

The final chapter concerning the “ownership” of the scrolls (or at least the constraints put on translating and releasing them to the public), shows an unexpected and juvenile side of scholarship that left me shocked.
(You’ll never guess what [blank] said to [blank]!)

Overall Collins has masterfully communicated the material in this book. The language is accessible and the ideas are made plain.
It is an excellent way to explore the D.S.S. and the evidences of what took place at Qumran.

[G0thamite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical Dead Sea Scrolls book. Sure, it covers the basics like when and how they were found and the early deals made to secure them in various libraries. However, it sets itself apart in that it details the "difference the Scrolls have made to the study of ancient Judaism and early Christianity." (p. xii)

To that end, its chapters are devoted to, in order, the Essenes, the Site of Qumran, The Scrolls and Christianity, The Scrolls of Judaism, The Scrolls and the Bible, The Battles for the Scrolls (release of the texts and publishing issues). Each chapter ends with a short but helpful bibliography of important works dedicated to each chapter. Collins has added an appendix with a short description of major personalities involved with the Scrolls over the 70 year history. He includes a glossary of important terms and a helpful bibliography.

This book covers material you will not find in any single volume but brings together a wealth of material and summarizes it in as objective manner as possible. You'll be glad you read it.

[Jared Willett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collins has the incredible ability to make as interesting a topic as the DSS unbearably dull. His prose is hardly readable. He makes it a point to relay every possible interpretation of the scrolls only to dismiss them as “unlikely” or “improbable” while rarely providing an alternative. I wanted to like this book. I just couldn’t see past Collins’ stifling lack of enthusiasm for the topic.

[Sanjuro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few introductions to the Dead Sea Scrolls, and this is by far the best of them. Fast paced, well written, and incredibly thorough for such a brief introduction, this book makes for a perfect primer for anyone looking to learn about the DSS for the first time.

Collins covers every angle, from the fascinating history of the discovery of the scrolls and their life as black market products, to their actual content, to the scholars who have been the most influential in their publication and analysis. Much of the history of the DSS plays out like an Indiana Jones adventure, and this book describes the unbelievable details perfectly.

I have to admit, I'm not on board with a lot of what Collins concludes about the Old Testament. But there is no question that he is a first rate scholar, and in this treatment he is fair and helpful. A joy to read.

[Mysteryfan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd to think of writing a bio of these but I liked his approach. It was a very readable account of the discovery of the scrolls, placing them in their historical and social context. There wasn't much discussion of their actual content but there was a fascinating chapter on their controversial translation and release. I also liked the way he placed Further Readings at the end of each chapter and included an appendix on the personalities.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book presenting the significance of the material in the scrolls, and summarizing the high points of the controversies over the dilatory nature of the scholars responsible for the first 40 years of the preparation of the scrolls text and the contradictory and sensationalist interpretations of the meaning of the texts. He's very generous to those who screwed up big time, but you can tell who they are....

[Charlotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Loved the way he showed the reader that those in academia are pretty radical when it comes to who publishes something. Well, documented history with lots of further reading. Be prepared for a rather technical read.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a wonderful general overview. I liked it so much I'm going to buy it for my library.

[Rosalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Collins gives us an analysis of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their importance for both Christianity and Judaism. He discusses a range of theories about the Dead Sea Scrolls and uses evidence of the Scrolls to either disprove or support the theories. These are balanced and well thought out analyses with little hysteria.
The book starts off with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and then takes us through the Essenes and Qumran before starting to get serious about the Dead Sea Scrolls, Christianity, Judaism and finally how the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible fit together. The book ends with the academic struggle for control of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the “ownership” of the translations and theories around them. This chapter was probably irrelevant to the average reader, but it did show just how important the Dead Sea Scrolls really are both in the academic world and more generally.
John Collins was very even handed and balanced in his approach. There was no obvious bias or favouring of any particular researcher or historian. I did find that the book did lack good maps of the area around Qumran and the Essene community and clear photos of the caves. Considering the book was published in 2013, surely someone, somewhere had some clear photos of the area.
John Collins did, I think, get the balance right as this book is neither too academic and thus out of reach of most people, nor too simplified. Rather, it charts a middle path that gives access to most people who are interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The comment made about the Essenes “They were simply too extreme to have enduring appeal” brilliantly sums up the reality of the Dead Sea Scrolls

[wulf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat little book on the life of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The last chapter is by far the best chapter, in my opinion, and if I could rate that alone I would give the book five stars. Admittedly, the chapters leading to the last became a drag to read, especially while taking notes. It was just so much information. Compared to that absolute effing snoozefest, the last chapter felt like reading a summary of a reality tv series. I was so disappointed in Strugnell, who I thought was such a diva in his quotes. (I’m still a little sensitive about the…other prominent figure…with manic depression who woke up one day and decided to go on a Jew-hate spiral.) All in all, at least give that last chapter, “The Battle for the Scrolls,” a read. It is a perfect summary of the key ideas of the former chapters as well, so you won’t miss out on the meat of the book’s ideas if you choose to skip chapters 1-6.


(Unrelated to the text, however it charmed me and made me like the book a little more, the copy of the book I borrowed from my library has pages that look very much like aged scrolls someone unburied from Qumran (the location of the Scrolls) itself. The edges are jagged and the paper is thick with a slight sepia tone. I think it made reading it more enjoyable than if it were a standard print. If you can get that version I highly recommend it, if nothing but for the vibe.)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An admirably clear introduction to the Scrolls' contents and their interpretation over the 80 or so years since they started coming to light, best read with at least a 101-level familiarity with the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Collins agrees with the mainstream that the Scrolls were compiled by the Essenes, and shows how that sect's beliefs, as revealed in its library -- a peculiar mix of The End Is Near, obsessive obedience of religious law, reverence for the group's leader, and intersectarian venom -- compared to those of other Jews, and of the Christians who came along a bit later. The more colorful aspects of the Scrolls' modern history are here too, including the journey of one of the original editors, Britain's John Allegro, around the bend and into the writing of "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross," which holds that Christianity originated as a fertility cult based on the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. The vast majority of scholarly discussion has been less exciting, of course, although the beard-tugging, lawsuit-filing and intersectarian venom of modern academics are not neglected.

[Vic Lauterbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent study explains the 'life' of the scrolls which is exactly what Professor Collins set out to do. It is as concise as a complete study could be, because the amount of material recovered from the Qumran caves was huge. It has a short glossary and an index. Professor Collins does a fine job of providing enough information and background on each critical aspect of the scrolls story so that you understand them but never feel overwhelmed or inundated with scholarly detail. He does not mince words when he touches on the more outlandish theories proposed about the scrolls but his focus is on the scholarly consensus, how it developed and its current form. Basic knowledge of the modern Bible is helpful, and sometimes essential, to getting the full meaning of the narrative especially to understanding the disputes causes by interpretation of the scrolls. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Biblical history or the origins of Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise, as I knew nothing about the author and didn't have high expectations for this. He covered the general knowledge basics of the DSS, but there were a few angles new to me.

I thought he explained the controversies around the scrolls' (lack of) publication really well.

He gave quite thorough overviews of how the DSS relate to both Christianity and Judaism and what they meant for modern scholarship.

I should add that, although it wasn't his intention, his description of the contents of the scrolls implies that much of the core of Christianity was already present in Jewish thinking. There's not much new or unique in the gospels, including the main character himself.

I may read this again one day....

[Emily Bronte · Rating 5 out of 5]

John J. Collins offers a lucid and authoritative account of the Dead Sea Scrolls, tracing their discovery, scholarly debates, and lasting impact on our understanding of Judaism and Christianity. Rather than focusing narrowly on the texts themselves, Collins explores the cultural, political, and religious contexts that shaped both their creation and their modern reception.

His writing is clear enough for general readers yet rich with detail for those with a deeper interest in biblical studies. By balancing accessibility with scholarship, this volume succeeds in making complex material both engaging and informative.

A strong contribution to the Lives of Great Religious Books series and an essential read for anyone curious about the Scrolls and their significance.

[Joshua Lister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise survey of the discovery, textual theories, and controversies surrounding the Qumran manuscripts. Collins does a good job of navigating the tumultuous history of the scrolls, as well as, being charitable to the various scholarly views. He presents the strengths and weaknesses of each view judiciously, regardless of their religious and political affiliations. He is also willing to call out the absurdity of many headline grabbers, who seek to capitalize off of the mania surrounding the scrolls.

[Justin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this thoroughly, though I can understand why it might not be everyone's favorite. This really is a book about the reception of the Scrolls, which means its mostly about scholarship. Now, I *love* a good storm in a teacup, and the reception of the scrolls is nothing if not that, so a nicely written, well organized, well informed, mildly skeptical book about that topic is basically aimed at me personally. But this is not about the scrolls; it is about people's reactions to the scrolls. Be warned there. If that's what you want, Collins tells the stories will style.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an odd book, in line with the aim of the series it is part of. Not exactly an introduction, but a 'biography' tracing the discovery, scholarship, and publication of the Scrolls. I found it fascinating, particularly in terms of the people, personalities, and conflicts involved. However, if you're looking for an introduction to the Scrolls themselves, there will be more appropriate books out there.

[Don Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the origins, content, and interpretations of the scrolls.

Speaking with a fairly impartial voice, Collins does a good job of tracing the origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls and discussing how they were understood by different groups of scholars and how they have come to be understood after more than 50 years of discussion.

[Wissenville]

School

[Michael Kenan Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

One its best features is the annotated bibliography at the end of each chapter which is only in the book itself and not in the audiobook. So read the book itself than listen to it!

[David N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to a complex subject. Collins, a world renowned scholar on the subject, writes well and presents the controversies in an even handed way, while indicating where he comes out. Great bibliography as well.

[Wherefore Art Thou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry, but gets the job done.

I was hoping for a little more about the contents and a little less about the drama surrounding their release, but, eh.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In as much as there can be a bio of inanimate objects this is quite a revelation. It includes history of when and where parts of the scrolls were found, whose hands they were transitioned through and good information about the scholars and others who translated and commented on the scrolls. A very in-depth study of the topic. Well worth the read...

[Hope — bookclubberhope · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't download this as an ebook- at least not for the Nook. It is not properly formatted and the very small text cannot be enlarged, changed or adjusted. Makes it a difficult read-literally. Interesting topic, but not sure I'll be ale to finish.

[Michael Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Part of the "Lives of Great Religious Books" series it is, indeed, a "biography" of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As a newcomer to this topic, the book was understandable, readable, and above all, fun!

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a tough book to read, with formatting that was difficult to follow. For the person that is really interested in all aspects of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a great reference! Not for me :-(

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the beginning but not so much after that.

[Amanda Witt]

Very detailed, describing how the scrolls were first found in the cave. Discusses how various scholars, listed in the back of the book, have translated them.