Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible - Fort Worth, Texas Exhibition

Exhibition

The Dead Sea Scrolls are the greatest manuscript discovery of the 20th century—here’s your chance to see them.

Dating back as far as 2,250 years, the Dead Sea Scrolls include thousands of fragments of some 300 biblical manuscripts representing every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther) and are more than 1,000 years older than any previously known complete copies.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered by Bedouin herders in 1947, in caves near Khirbet Qumran by the Dead Sea in Israel. By 1956, a total of 11 caves had been found near Qumran and a number of other caves nearby. Pieced together, the fragments made up more than 1,350 separate scrolls, including biblical texts, hymns, prayers and other writings, providing a fascinating glimpse into the time of the Second Temple, during which Jesus lived.

Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible: Ancient Artifacts, Timeless Treasures is one of the largest and most comprehensive exhibitions of Dead Sea Scroll fragments ever assembled, and the largest ever presented in Texas. The exhibition will include 21 fragments of original Dead Sea Scrolls—at least 12 of which have, until now, only been seen privately—along with other recognized fragments and unique artifacts.

Visitors to Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible have the opportunity to view fragments of original scrolls bearing texts from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, the Psalms, Isaiah, and Daniel.

Among these are:

  • Eight identified fragments and several others under study—all owned by Southwestern Seminary
  • A rare large fragment from a Genesis scroll, on display for the first time (also recognized as the largest fragment of a Dead Sea Scroll to be offered for purchase in the last 45 years)
  • Two fragments found in Cave 1 at Qumran, on loan from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Exact facsimiles of the Isaiah A scroll, the Manual of Discipline and the Habakkuk Commentary—all found at Qumran
  • New Testament papyri and other Ancient New Testament manuscripts
  • Original objects from the 1950s excavations at Qumran

These artifacts, and more, are on display in Fort Worth right now! Plan your visit to learn more about the historical and spiritual impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls.