The Dead Sea Scrolls are also known as the Qumran manuscripts because the scrolls were found in a group of caves surrounding the Dead Sea in Jordan called Qumran. The scrolls were found at the lower elevations of the Dead Sea. Along with the scrolls artifacts were later found at Qumran, which dated back to the Iron Age 2, which was between the eight-seventh century BC. This site was later named "Ir Ha-Melah" City of Salt. The discovery of the scrolls was not by archeologists, but rather a boy from a Bedouin tribe called Muhammad Adh-Dhib. This boy accidentally stumbled upon the scrolls while looking for treasure in the Qum

When the Bedouin boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was nothing more than a piece of paper to him. After careful translation, the various fragments were pieced back together revealing new interpretations of the Christian Bible. Although similarities were found, it was the differences that most intrigued biblical scholars. "They have known for a long time that the traditional view of Christian Origins is not supported by history so much as by theology." (Daives, 84) And every time we sit down in church to pray, sit down with the bible in our hand, we must take into consideration the ideas that are presented in the Bible, and think to ourselves which ones are real and which ones are not.

The Dead Sea Scrolls have come to make us question the true meaning of our bible. Even though the scrolls have found to be most similar to our modern day Bible. There are still many discrepancies as there are similarities. The Scrolls interest both Jews and Catholics because it shows a non-rabbinic form of Judaism, and contain many important parallels to Christianity in the times of Jesus. Scientists say that the scrolls show Christianity before Christianity. The "Messianic Rule" scroll is interesting because it show certain aspect of Christianity. In the scroll it says, "When they shall gather for common table, the priest shall bless the first of the fruits of bread and wine. Thereafter the Messiah of Israel shall extend his hand over the bread an and all the congregation of the community under a blessing." The quote is most similar to the sacraments that we find today in church prayer. The Bread and wine both a symbolic of the blood of Jesus, and the body of Jesus. And upon taking these sacraments the priest says a prayer over them blessing them in god presence. This perplexity confuses scientists about the origins of Christianity and the idea of Jesus starting the Christian movement. Another odd but strange idea of Christianity is the idea of salvation. There was a major discrepancy with idea of salvation based and Paul, and what was written in the Dead Sea Scroll. In the scrolls they say that through faith in the teacher of righteousness and the doings of laws constitutes the way of salvation. Paul's interpretation on salvation was that justification was by faith alone, good work will result in salvation. This puzzlement intrigues our mind about what the true belief of salvation. However, where there are discrepancies there are similarities. Both the Dead Sea Scrolls and Paul say "salvation means not any forgiveness and cleansing from sin, but also participation in a spiritual fellowship." (Burrow, 336). The origins of Christianity, Daives says, "the account of the beginnings of the church is not simple; it is full of problems. And it is not certain that Jesus founded-or intended to found-the eventual Christian church." (Daives, 85). To fully understand this comment you must understand what the scrolls say about the origins. John the Baptist was believed to be an Essene. He baptized Jesus and was also his uncle. He was known as the "teacher of righteousness" in the Dead Sea scrolls, and is believed to have started the whole beginnings of the Christian movement, as we know it. When he established this movement he broke way from the

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