Question for Catholic beliefs ?

Question

Are the dead sea scrolls real, believed ? what are they? what do they say?

Answer 1

While I am not Catholic I do believe that the Dead Sea Scrolls that were located in 1947 are real. I believe that they contain apart of the Book of Isaiah.

Answer 2

The Scrolls are the focus of much scholarly study including Catholic scholars. One of my former professors is a leading expert in the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and she is also an Ursuline Sister. The scrolls, we believe were versions of various books of the Hebrew Bible that were written by a mystical Jewish sect called the Essenes. Some believe that John the Baptist was part of this sect. The scrolls were discovered by accident in the 1940's. As to their content, I know that one of them is the book of Isaiah. I'm not sure about the other ones. Unfortunately, some of these texts were inadvertently destroyed before it was realized what they were.

The Catholic Church believes that all public revelation has been decided upon and is part of what we call the "deposit of truth" to which we can neither add to nor delete from. While there may be some interesting scholarly discoveries from these texts, they cannot be considered canonical and therefore would not be accepted as Scripture.

VB8

Answer 3

The Dead Sea Scroll contain:
- All of the books of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures) except Esther
- Several books that never became part of the Hebrew Scriptures
- Numerous commentaries on the Scriptures
- Books having to do with
.....- Community life
.....- Rules for living
.....- Temple worship
.....- Other matters

There are many duplicates. Fourteen copies of Deuteronomy have been found and two of Isaiah.

The scrolls are important because they:
- Testify to the accuracy of the people who copied and recopied the Scriptures over the centuries. Despite minor errors, they show us that the Old Testament has not changed since it was compiled.
- Throw light on beliefs and customs in Palestine during times between the Old and New Testamants. There was far more diversity among the Jews than had been thought.

For more information, see:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/SFS/an0500.asp

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

The dead sea scrolls are still in the process of being translated.
Sadly, many of the scrolls are extremely old and weathered which require a very delicate process to place in the condition for study.
A large time will pass before both Catholic and Hebrew scholars will determine their authenticity.
The latter is not saying they are "not genuine", it is a statement as to how and where the linear line is placed within the bible.
The two latter religions take this study very serious and patience is a requirement before complete release.

Answer 5

This is not a question for Catholics. It is an historical issue, needing the input of scholars not because they are Catholic but because they are learned and know the relevant periods when the documents were written.

It is also a matter of interpretation which comes from the pooled expertese of many and not dependent on religious belief.

The fact that Catholic scholars have studied thes scrolls is utterly irrelevant.

Google will give you a more comprehansive summary that any you will get in Answers.

Answer 6

Well, since they are physically present, they are real. They aren't a figment of the imagination.

Are they to be believed? That would depend upon what they say. If a scroll was translated and discovered to say that God commanded the first born daughter to be exposed on a hillside I don't think the Church would be running about and implementing that practice.

Just because something is old doesn't make it true or right.

Answer 7

:-)

so, what is your question to Catholic beliefs either real or not. Dead sea scrolls say something, and Catholic say a few things.


peace

Answer 8

Yes they are real, discovered in a series of caves in Qumran. The materials discovered contained both Biblical and non-Biblical writings.The entire Old Testament (with the exception of the book of Esther) were included in the scrolls. There were other non-Biblical transcripts of wisdom. The scrolls have been attributed to a clasp of Essenes that inhabited the area.

Answer 9

Yes they are real (as in they exist, their authenticity has not not been determined yet). They are mostly historical Jewish documents. You want to know what they say, read them they are not a secret. They have been translated by Hebrew scholars. . . http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Library/library.html

Here is the entire exhibit link http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/intro.html

You can buy a multi volume translation.

Answer 10

yes they're real, i believe there is truth in them, they are surviving bits of the bible that catholicism edited out and then set out to destroy any proof of their existence. they include more gospels i think from mary magdalene and thomas..