The oldest biblical manuscripts in existence, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves near Jerusalem in 1947, only to be kept a tightly held secret for nearly 50 more years, until the Huntington Library unleashed a storm of controversy in 1991 by releasing copies of them. In this gripping investigation authors Baigent & Leigh set out to discover how a small coterie of orthodox biblical scholars gained control over the Scrolls, allowing access to no outsiders & issuing a strict "consensus" interpretation. The authors' questions begin in Israel, then lead them to the corridors of the Vatican & into the offices of the Inquisition. With the help of independent scholars, historical research & careful analysis of available texts, the authors reveal what was at stake for these orthodox guardians: The Scrolls present startling insights into early Christianity, insights that challenge the Church's version of the facts. More than just a dramatic expose of the intrigues surrounding these priceless documents, The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception presents nothing less than a new, highly significant perspective on Christianity.