DANVILLE, KY -- Michael Wise, a scholar acclaimed for his new translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, will lecture at Centre College on Wednesday, March 8. His presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Weisiger Theatre in the Norton Center for the Arts. It will be open to the public at no charge. Wise has titled his remarks "The First Messiah," which also is the title of his newest book. The title refers to Judah, a nearly-forgotten prophet who predated Jesus by a century. Judah is known in the Dead Sea Scrolls as the teacher of righteousness, and he claimed -- like Jesus -- to bring a divine message from God. He also claimed to have messianic status and, because of those claims, was arrested and condemned. Judah built up an extensive following, and his life and work had tremendous impact on the course of Christianity and Western civilization. He left behind a personal testament, contained within the Dead Sea Scrolls, of his relationship with God. For his book about Judah, Wise analyzed a portion of the scrolls known as the Thanksgiving Hymns. A scholar of ancient languages and history, Wise won acclaim as coauthor of the bestselling work, The Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered. He subsequently completed a new translation of the scrolls, which has been hailed for giving fresh insights into the prophetic mind of Jesus and his contemporaries. Wise holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He has been a scholar-in-residence at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn. - end - Communications Office Coordinator of public information: Patsi Barnes Trollinger |