April 24, 2026

Letters to the Editor (May 2026)

On "Why Old Scrolls Matter", and "The Chapters That Changed My Life (Part 2)"

By Jason Hensley

Read Time: 3 minutes

About Why Old Scrolls Matter:

In Why Old Scrolls Matter you explain that AI analysis has re-dated the Dead Sea Scrolls as far back as the third century B.C., which is when the Septuagint was being translated. You mention that different versions of the Jewish scriptures were found. Two of these were the Egyptian (the basis for the Septuagint) and the Babylonian (which became the Masoretic text).

Most Old Testament quotes in the New Testament come from the Septuagint. Although Jesus would not have preached in Greek, many think the New Testament was written in Greek and therefore used the Greek translation of Scripture. However, another explanation arises from the recent AI findings. The apparent quotes from the Septuagint match the Egyptian version—suggesting Jesus and the apostles may have used that version of the Hebrew scriptures.

The Septuagint is helpful in Bible interpretation. For example, does Isaiah 7:14 (quoted in Matthew 1:23) prophesy a miraculous “virgin” birth, or simply a “young woman” having a baby? The Greek word in the Septuagint definitely means “virgin,” as does its Hebrew source in the Egyptian text.

AI has determined that many Dead Sea Scrolls are 50 to 150 years older than had been thought. The new dating throws light on the Septuagint and its source, the Egyptian version of the ancient Jewish scriptures. The very latest technology is helping unravel longstanding questions about the Bible text.

Ethel Archard,
Ottawa Ecclesia, ON

Dear Sis. Ethel,

Thanks for your letter. Questions like this encourage us to spend time trying to understand the basis of our current English translations, the versions of the Bible used by Christ and the apostles, and what it would have been like to live in the first century. As such, this really encourages us to go deeper. So thank you for asking.

As you pointed out, many of the Dead Sea Scrolls appear to have been written around the same time as the LXX was translated. For many years, scholars noted some of the discrepancies between the LXX and the Masoretic Text (our Hebrew text) and thus felt that the LXX was unreliable. In fact, I’ve even seen a book from the 1800s in which one scholar argued that the translators of the LXX must not have really known Hebrew—because they appear to mess up the translation so badly.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, have really encouraged scholars to reconsider that opinion. As you pointed out, in some of these variant readings, some of the Dead Sea Scrolls—which were written in Hebrew—support the reading found in the LXX. That shows us that the LXX discrepancies aren’t some kind of invention by the translators, but actually a variant in the Hebrew manuscripts.

To me, this sheds light on why the LXX is quoted in the New Testament: Christ and the apostles knew the most accurate variant and thus, when the Masoretic Text tradition expressed that, they quoted it. When the LXX text tradition expressed it, they quoted that. Ultimately, what this does for us is help us appreciate both the value of the Masoretic Text and the LXX, recognizing that just as Christ and the apostles appear to use both, we can too, appreciating the quotations by Christ and the apostles, and also acknowledging the diversity of the two texts.

Jason Hensley

About The Chapters the Changed My Life (Part 2):

Thank you, Brother Ben, for your series on Romans. We all need to be reminded about the differences in what is happening around us and what the Bible actually says. We’re fortunate today to have so many awesome resources to keep us on the narrow path. We need to encourage our young people to listen to Christadelphian music. It’s so easy to listen to inappropriate music and all of a sudden find the words stuck in your brain. May our Heavenly Father through His son continue to bless and guide you.

Barbara Abel,
Barrie Ecclesia, ON

Thank you Sis. Barbara. Your words are very true and having myself made mistakes with music in my youth I appreciate all the more the wisdom of your words. Music is very powerful but when we’re young we don’t know to treat it as if it will have such an influence. It’s something I’ve been much more diligent about as a father.

Ben Brinkerhoff,
Christchurch North Ecclesia, NZ