Deciphering the Dead Sea Scrolls

Jonathan G. Campbell studied at Aberdeen and Oxford and has taught at the University of Wales, Lampeter. Since 1996, he has been teaching Biblical Studies, Hebrew and Judaism in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Bristol, where he is Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and early Judaism. He has published widely on the Dead Sea Scrolls, including Use of Scripture in the Damascus Document (1995). Until recently he was Secretary to the British Association for Jewish Studies.

"The new edition is somewhat expanded and brought up to date. The success and usefulness of Campbell's introduction is further demonstrated in a Polish translation of the work." Journal of Jewish StudiesPraise for the First Edition: "Without being sensational, of all the popular introductions on the market this one explains best how revolutionary the discovery of the Scrolls really was."– Professor P. R. Davies, in Journal for the Study of the Old Testament "In Deciphering the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jonathan Campbell, an established expert on Qumran, has written for students and the general reader a clear, well researched, balanced and highly informative account of the discovery of the Scrolls, the debates surrounding them, and their significance for a better understanding of ancient Judaism and the beginnings of Christianity." – Professor G. Vermes, author of The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English

• List of Plates. List of Maps and Figures.Text Acknowledgements.Author's Acknowledgements.Abbreviations.1. What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?.2. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible.3. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essenes.4. An Essene Community at Qumran.5. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Judaism.6. Christianity Reconsidered.7. Controversy and Conspiracy.Appendix I.Further Reading.Notes.Index.