This week in Christian history: AME founder born, Dead Sea Scrolls

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

American scholar views newly found Dead Sea Scrolls – Feb. 19, 1948

Sections of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls are seen on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem May 14, 2008. Sections of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls that call for nations to 'beat their swords into ploughshares' will be put on display in Jerusalem this week to be seen by the public for the first time in more than 40 years. About five metres (15 feet) of the Isaiah Scroll, one of the world's oldest texts from about 120 BC, will be taken out of its dark, temperature-controlled chamber at the Israel Museum for an exhibit honouring Israel's 60th anniversary.
Sections of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls are seen on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem May 14, 2008. Sections of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls that call for nations to "beat their swords into ploughshares" will be put on display in Jerusalem this week to be seen by the public for the first time in more than 40 years. About five metres (15 feet) of the Isaiah Scroll, one of the world's oldest texts from about 120 BC, will be taken out of its dark, temperature-controlled chamber at the Israel Museum for an exhibit honouring Israel's 60th anniversary. | Reuters/Baz Ratner

This week marks the anniversary of when John Trever, an American scholar who famously photographed the Dead Sea Scrolls, first got to view the ancient documents.

Trever was in Jerusalem for unrelated academic research when Father Boutros Sowmy brought several of the scrolls to the American School of Oriental Research.

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The first American scholar to see the influential discovery, Trever took photos of the scrolls soon and was credited with helping to propagate the notable find.

“His photos continue to appear widely in books and articles on them,” explained the National Council of Churches, USA in a 2006 obituary for Trever.

“Trever spent much of his life lecturing and writing books on the scrolls, as well as returning to the holy land from time to time to take part in archaeological digs.”  

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