Newseek published a paper on Steve Green and his collection of biblical antiquities. I was interviewed about his Dead Sea Scrolls.

Journalist Nina Burleigh wrote a lengthy piece on American businessman Steve Green, owner of crafts chain “Hobby Lobby,” who recently acquired numerous artefacts that will be part of a Bible museum in Washington DC.

She asked me about the Dead Sea Scrolls in his collection; I told her that I had doubts as to their authenticity and that I offered to examine them. Unfortunately, I was told they were not interested in finding out whether their Dead Sea Scrolls are genuine.

I have similar doubts as to the authenticity of other Dead Sea Scrolls recently purchased by private collectors. I might actually publish about this problem. But for now, I invite you to read Nina Burleigh’s excellent paper! 😉

Nina Burleigh, “Jesus Goes to Washington,” Newsweek, April 15, 2016, p. 32-41.

SEE ALSO

Dead Sea Scrolls Forgeries: Interview for Science & Life Magazine ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries: Interview for National Geographic More Dead Sea Scrolls Forgeries in the Schøyen Collection The Dead Sea Scrolls Mystery, in Le Figaro Fake scrolls at the Museum of the Bible The 13 Fake Dead Sea Scrolls: Interview in Life Magazine Interview for Live Science: Are the Museum of the Bible’s Dead Sea Scrolls Fakes? Nine Dubious “Dead Sea Scrolls” Fragments from the Twenty-First Century

16 thoughts on “Interview in Newsweek”

  1. Sorry, but no access to Newsweek. Do you have specific concerns for any particular fragments you have personally examined, or just general suspicions?

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    1. As I said, I wasn’t able to examine them, and the people working on it have signed a Non Disclosure Agreement, so they’re not even allowed to share pictures! But more generally, fragments recently acquired by private collectors share common suspicious material and palaeographical features. My suspicions are based on personal examination of some of them, and I would be happy to examine others if private collectors are willing to.

      Reply

  11. @Stephan, yes, Strugnell did testify this, even though the details were peculiar. And Cross refers to fragments seen in Lebanon. However, most of these fragments are quite different, and — as Michael says — are dubious both from a physical and from a palaeographic point of view. Unfortunately, the content of these tiny fragments is not even of any interest (nothing like the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife), and the assumption is they have been forged purely for financial reasons. They are the 21st-century protestant relics.

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