Online Course
The Dead Sea Scrolls & the New Testament
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls shook the world of Second Temple historians and archaeologists, both Jews and Christians. They proved that there was a messianic expectation before the time of the New Testament for the “Son of God” to arrive. What are the Dead Sea Scrolls and what is the connection between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament?
This course, designed by Dominick S. Hernández, will address these questions and many more in a fascinating conversation with one of the leading New Testament scholars of our time, and an authority on the topic of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Dr. Craig Evans.
FREE SAMPLE LECTURE
About the Course
There has been much scholarly investigation into the historical and cultural events which shaped Second Temple Judaism namely, the world in which Jesus lived and the New Testament was written. The Dead Sea Scrolls & the Qumran community depict elements of Judaism that existed before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, thus providing important insights into the Second Temple period. This course will examine the writings, doctrines, and practices of the Qumran community as they are portrayed through the Dead Sea Scrolls in an attempt to further conceptualize the Jewish world into which Jesus came.
Course at a Glance
- 90 hours of study in total
- 3-5 hours of study per week
- Language: English
Course Format
For Personal Enrichment
The student is guided through the teaching videos and reading material, and encouraged to take the short quiz at the end of each section in order to reinforce the information. The reading assignments are optional. Students are welcome to complete additional written assignments, but they will not be graded on them.
For Academic Credit
This course is eligible for 3 academic credits. In order to pass the course successfully, the student is required to submit all coursework within six months from the day of registration, and obtain a final grade not lower than 60. Course grades are based on quizzes, a mid-term exam, and the final paper.
- The course consists of 14 lessons that contain lecture videos and homework reading assignments.
- This is a Self-Paced Online Course. The student is required to complete the course within six months from the day of registration, but is free to do so at his/her own pace and may review video lectures at any time during the course.
- At the end of each lesson there is a short multiple-choice quiz to help reinforce the material studied.
Course Syllabus:
Unit 1: Introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Lesson 1 – What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
- Lesson 2 – Archaeology of Qumran, Dating of Manuscripts & the Historical Setting of the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Lesson 3 – Theories of Qumran Origins
Unit 2: The Sectarians & the Scrolls
- Lesson 4 – Who Were the Qumran Sectarians?
- Lesson 5 – Sectarian Characteristics
- Lesson 6 – How did the Sectarians Relate to One Another? Daily Routine & Worship
- Lesson 7 – The Messiah(s) at Qumran & 2nd Temple Messianism
Unit 3: An Overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament
- Lesson 8 – Purpose of Studying the Dead Sea Scrolls in Relation to the NT & Some Controversial Texts
- Lesson 9 – Bible and Biblical Commentaries in Qumran
- Lesson 10 – What did the Sectarians Write?
Unit 4: Examining Parallels between Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament
- Lesson 11 – Shared Phrases and Motifs between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels
- Lesson 12 – The Dead Sea Scrolls & the Book of Revelation
- Lesson 13 – Pauline Literature & the Dead Sea Scrolls- Christological Titles and Terms & the “Works of the Law”
- Lesson 14 – The Dead Sea Scroll and the Book of Hebrews
Instructors
Dr. Dominick S. Hernández
PhD, specializes in Semitic Philology. He completed a M.Div. degree at Princeton Theological Seminary and an M.A. at Columbia University. He earned his PhD in Semitic Philology from Israel’s Bar Illan University and currently works as an assistant professor at Moody Bible Institute.
Dr. Craig A. Evans
PhD, is the John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins and Dean of the School of Christian Thought at Houston Baptist University in Texas. A well-known evangelical scholar throughout the world, he is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies and has authored many books and articles on Jesus and the Second Temple Period.
Course Objectives
After completing The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament course, you should be able to do the following:
- Explain who the Qumran sectarians were, what they believed, how they lived, and their administrative structure.
- Describe the Qumran sectarians and their influence on Second Temple Period Judaism
- Outline similarities and differences between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament.
- Responsibly use the Dead Sea Scrolls in the study of the New Testament.
Course Structure
- The course consists of 3 units that comprise 14 lessons. Each lesson contains a video lecture and assigned reading.
- This is a Self-Paced Online Course. The student is required to complete the course within six months from the day of registration, but is free to do so in his/her own pace and may review video lectures at any time during the course.
- At the end of each unit there is a short quiz to help reinforce the material studied. For those who take this course for personal enrichment only, the course assignments and examinations are optional.
Required Textbooks
- Students need to purchase:
- VanderKam, James, C. and Flint, Peter, The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Their Significance for Understanding the Bible, Judaism, Jesus and Christianity, San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2002.
- Evans, Craig A., Holman Quick Source Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.
Aside from the two books listed above, all additional reading material will be available for free on itslearning, in PDF format.
Recommended Background: No prerequisites required
Course Fees
- For Personal Enrichment – $249 USD
- For Academic Credit at a B.A. Level – $900 USD
- For Academic Credit at a M.A. Level – $1,090 USD
*These fees do not include required textbooks
**Payment is non-refundable