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Bible Review, February 1992

Volume8Number1

Features

The Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Christianity: Part Two

What they share

By James C. VanderKam

Many of the ritual and community practices of the Qumran covenanters, who lived near the Dead Sea and who produced what we call the Dead Sea Scrolls, have impressive parallels among New Testament Christians. Here are just a few: Acts describes the events of the first Pentecost...Read more ›

The Book of Esther

Where does fiction start and history end?

By Michael Heltzer

The Book of Esther is the only book of the Hebrew Bible that describes life in the Jewish Diaspora, or dispersion. Although the book is relatively little known among Christians, it is known by Jews because it is the basis of the joyous Jewish...Read more ›

The Hidden Hand of God

By Rachel B. K. Sabua

The preceding article discusses historical events that may or may not be reflected in the fascinating book of Esther. The article that follows explores ways that traditional Jewish exegetes seek deeper and sometimes mystical meaning in the text. —Ed. The book of Esther presents a special challenge...Read more ›

Did Sarah Have a Seminal Emission?

By Pieter W. van der Horst

The anonymous Epistle to the Hebrews contains a justly famous panegyric to faith (see the sidebar to this article). In a series of sentences that begins “By faith,” the letter recites the accomplishments of ancient heroes—Abel, Enoch, Noah; then Abraham—and Sarah. What did Sarah accomplish by faith?...Read more ›

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