How were the Romans prepared for Christianity?
The Greeks had occupied Palestine for many years. After a brief period of independence, it was conquered by the Romans. The Jews bitterly resented Roman rule, and particularly disliked the heavy taxes that they imposed. In the middle of this general unrest and rebellion, prophets predicted the arrival of a Messiah who would lead the Jewish people to freedom.
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are religious writings that were first discovered in 1947, hidden in caves near the Dead Sea. The dry atmosphere of the caves had the effect of preserving the scrolls. About 800 scrolls have been found, mostly in a place called Qumbran in Israel. They date from between 150BC and AD68, and they include all of the books of the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, except for Esther.
Scholars believe that the scrolls were concealed by members of a religious sect called the Essenes, who lived in the isolated community. They hid the scrolls to keep them safe during political unrest in the area, where they remained hidden for hundreds of years.
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