Since the photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls were released in 1992, there has been an explosion of interest in them. This volume explores the issue of apocalypticism in the Scrolls; how the notions of the 'end', Messianic expectation and eternal life affected the Dead Sea sect, influenced Judaism and filtered into Christianity. Collins' volume provides a valuable and accessible introduction to the interpretation of the Scrolls, which is an informative addition to the series examining the major themes of the Scroll texts.
Biography
John Collins is currently the Professor of Hebrew Bible and Post-Biblical Judaism at the University of Chicago. His books include Between Athens and Jerusalem (1983); The Apocalyptic Imagination (1984); Daniel (Hermeneia Commentary, 1993); and The Scepter and the Star (1995). He has served as editor of the Journal of Biblical literature and President of the Classical Biblical Association.
'Extemely helpful (especially for undergraduates).' - Dr R.W. Bell, Nottingham University
'This book will be invaluable for students and scholars alike, clarifying as it does the relationship between the Enochic, sapiential, and the Qumran traditions while discussing several central issues concerning the origin and problem of evil, eschatological expectation and war, messianism, the afterlife and the heavenly realm. - Theological Book Review
`As an introduction guide, this book serves its purpose well in engaging the reader with many of the most important texts for studying DSS apocalypticism. His isolation of those features which are representative of the apocalyptic community will provide a helpful point of departure for others working in this area. This book provides a welcome addition on a major topic in the DSS and early Judaism'
`