-Geisler, Norman. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 189.

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The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating between 135BC and 135AD, provide an important contribution toward the reliability of the Old Testament Hebrew text, as well as the earliest copies of parts of the Old Testament books and even whole books. This is important in showing that the predictive prophecies of the Old Testament were indeed made centuries before they were literally fulfilled. Furthermore, the Dead Sea Scrolls provide possible support for the New Testament. They may contain the earliest known fragments of the New Testament, and they definitely contain references to messianic beliefs similar to those taught in the New Testament.