Is Jesus In the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Newly revealed texts offer tantalizing -- and controversial -- evidence on Christian origins

The Dead Sea Scrolls are an endless source of sensationalism. Supermarket tabloids would have us believe that these ancient Jewish texts reveal visitations from outer space, the cure for AIDS and the date the world will end. In a new book somehow inspired by the scrolls, Barbara Thiering of Australia's University of Sydney tells of a Jesus who was crucified but secretly revived at the Dead Sea and who wed a woman bishop at midnight on March 17, A.D. 50.

Amid all the hokum, however, the latest discoveries on actual details in the scrolls are startling enough to generate legitimate headlines....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!