Here is a readable and informative introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first half of the book traces the story of the discovery of the scrolls and their subsequent publication through the controversies of the past few years. The book’s second half discusses some of the major scholarly and sensational issues surrounding the interpretation of the scrolls. The ‘suffering messiah’ text and the presence of a fragment of the gospel of Mark at Qumran are two examples. Cook has written an accurate and fair guide to the field for the beginner.

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