Listener : I see that you did some studies on the Dead Sea Scrolls. I was wondering, since the KJV was written before these were discovered, what affect, if any they have on that version?
I'm not aware of any influence(s) that the DDS may have had on the KJV. But I can say that reading the DDS will expand your understanding of what the Jews were thinking about (interested in) in the time period in which Jesus taught.
And you may wonder, (if you read some of the DDS) whether dear brother Freddy (as the guru of the JWs) also read some of the scrolls.
The basic text used in that study unit was Geza Vermes' translation of the DDS. I'll refer to sections in that publication. The page numbers I refer to are for the Penguin Revised edition of 2004. In his introduction (p. 11) " ... we note fundamental similarities of language (e.g both in the scrolls and in the New Testament, the faithful are called 'sons of light'). Also Vermes remarks that both communities (i.e. the Qumram and the Jesus communities) considered themselves to be the true Israel, governed by twelve leaders and expected the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God). Both communities considered their own history as a fulfillment of the words of the prophets.
Vermes does not claim that there was any direct influence between the two communities, as those similarities may have been due to the general religious atmosphere of the time.
However, Vermes thinks there are other similarities may suggest a more direct influence, for example - the monarchic administration of both communities, with single congregation leaders - overseers at Qumram and bishops in the Christian communities. and some other points. all suggesting that the early church may have modelled itself on the (by then) more experienced Essenes.
I'll try to get time to list some other points.
