 |
A “tell” is like a layer cake with different levels of dirt and debris from 1 to 5 feet in thickness representing a particular time in the history of the city or site occupants.
|
Slide 1
Online Academy
of Biblical Studies
Introduction To
Christian Evidences
Archaeology and the Bible
Lesson 9a
Introduction:
We have examined three areas which lend evidence
to the Bible being the Word of God: (1) The unity of the Bible; (2) The purity
of Bible ethics and (3) Inspiration of the Bible.
We propose in this study to examine some of the
external evidences from archaeology which show that the Bible is an accurate and
historically trustworthy record.
Archaeology does not prove the Bible in the sense
of It being God’s revelation or inspired of God.
However, it does give us factual proof of the accuracy of the Biblical
accounts.
Archaeology corroborates, illustrates,
illuminates and supplements the Biblical record.
Our confidence in the Bible is made greater by verification of Its
accounts.
This gives us an additional proof to use in
dealing with the skeptic who discredits the Biblical account.
What
Is Biblical Archaeology?
Archaeology is a systematic study of ancient
people as that life …can be learned by what they left behind (Jenkins).
It is the study of “tells” or mounds where
ancient cities were destroyed and rebuilt time and time again on the same site.
|
A “tell” is like a layer cake with different levels of dirt and debris from 1 to 5 feet in thickness representing a particular time in the history of the city or site occupants.
|
Archaeology is limited in that we have only a
very small fraction of evidence. Areas of this limitation are: (1) What exists
or survived the destruction of the city or place; (2) Not all sites are
identified; and (3) Not all sites identified have been excavated.
Biblical Archaeology deals with places and sites
that are mentioned in the Biblical text or Bible lands.
The
Value of Archaeology
It provides a
cultural background for various Biblical people and events.
It helps us to visualize these accounts.
It resurrects
forgotten people, some of which are denied as existing, such as the Hittites
and the Canaanites.
It provides
evidence for the accuracy and integrity of the Biblical text.
It helps us
to identify Biblical locations accurately. Gibeon Josh 9:3 Derbe
Acts 14:20 Gezer
Thyatira
It gives us a
basis for the Biblical time table. It
places the Biblical accounts in a consecutive chronology.
It helps us to answer the form critic and proponent of the Documentary Hypothesis.
Documents
& Monuments
Law Codes:
Vast Libraries:
Language Keys:
Examples
From O.T. Period (1)
Moses wrote the Pentateuch – Ugaritic alphabet
dating back 3,500 years has sequence of Hebrew alphabet.
Wine in Egypt – Herodotus disagreed with Gen.
40. Tomb in Egypt has picture of them
practicing viticulture.
David King of Israel - In 1993 Biram discovered a
3,000 year old obelisk with the phrase “house of David” 1 Kgs 12:19
Solomon’s Seaport – 1 Kgs 9:26
Ezion-geber Glueck looked
and found this seaport where the Bible placed it.
Queen of Sheba – 1 Kgs 10
Skeptics denied the existence until about 100 years ago when Marib the
capital found.
Sargon – Isaiah 20
Skeptics denied his existence until his palace was excavated in 1843 and
Tartan’s name was found at the site.
Examples
From O.T. Period (2)
Babylonians and Daniel – tablet in British
museum which gives exact information of the city of Jerusalem
2 Kings 24.
Daniel 1 – Babylonian captives never treated decently.
Daniel 3 – Never used lions to execute or punish.
Daniel 4 – Nebuchanezzar’s seven year madness denied.
Daniel 5 – Belshazzar was never king of Babylon and the city could not be taken so suddenly. However, various sources support the account in Daniel as accurate:
Examples
From N.T. Period
Luke’s accounts accurate.
Sir William Ramsey begin to follow form critics.
However his honest investigation led him to accept Luke’s accounts as
accurate. He concluded, “Luke is
a historian of the first rank… Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of
its trustworthiness.”
Geisler wrote of Luke’s accuracy, “In all,
Luke names 32 countries, 54 cities and 9 islands without an error.”
The Pilate inscription – In 1961 Antonio Frova
discovered a slab which shows Pilate was Prefect of Judea.
New Testament Coins:
Conclusion:
We have touched on only a very small amount of
the overwhelming evidence which shows the historical accuracy and
trustworthiness of the Biblical record.
The problems often associated with archaeology
and the Bible stem not from the data itself, but from the incorrect handling of
it or reliance upon false science, such as inaccurate dating methods, false
assumptions or the inexact nature of this science.
The evidence of archaeology is in favor of the Bible. Albright wrote that the “result is throughout favorable to the biblical record.” True science and the Bible never contradict, they are always in harmony.