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Title: FIRST-PERSON: Can archaeology help confirm the Bible?
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Published: Dec 2, 2013
Author: David Roach
Post Date: 2013-12-02 06:59:39 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 5700
Comments: 13
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Whenever there's an archaeological discovery related to the Bible, conflicting interpretations by various experts can leave a believer's head spinning.
Take the discovery in Israel of a palace from the era of King David earlier this year. An archaeologist from Hebrew University in Jerusalem said there's "unequivocal evidence" that David and his descendants ruled at the site. But critics, including some committed believers, say it could have belonged to other kingdoms and that David's palace likely would have been in Jerusalem some 18 miles northwest. Still others claim there is no archaeological evidence that David even existed. Similar confusion ensued this spring when archaeologists discovered a massive complex that may have been an administrative center in Abraham's native Ur, with division over whether the patriarch's Ur was at that site or farther north.
Since debate often surrounds the discovery of biblical sites, lovers of the Bible may be tempted to give up on archaeology, pronouncing it unhelpful and opting instead to accept Scripture's historical accounts on "blind faith," convinced that historical evidence will never be able to confirm biblical accounts. Admittedly, archaeology's main contribution to biblical studies has been to provide background information. But at the same time, 20th-century theologian Carl F.H. Henry reminded that archaeologists have done significant work in confirming biblical claims (see “God, Revelation and Authority,” volume 4).
Before giving up on archaeology, consider the following:
-- In the late 1800s, critical scholars regarded the Hittites as an Old Testament fiction. Except for references in the Bible, there was no evidence they existed. Then archaeologists discovered some 10,000 Hittite and Akkadian texts and over time concluded that Hittites were the dominant power in Asia Minor until 1200 BC.
-- Skeptics once regarded as ludicrous the claim that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, since writing was thought not to have existed in his day. But thanks to archaeology, we now know that full-fledged phonetically spelled writing existed as early as 2400 BC, well before Moses.
-- Critics once claimed the Hebrew exile to Babylon was a myth. Over time, though, scholars of the ancient Near East realized, according to archaeologist William Albright, that "there is not a single known case when a town of Judah proper was continuously occupied through the exilic period."
-- Genesis 10:21 names Eber as a main figure in the line of Shem, producing the Hebrews, the Joktanide Arabs and some Aramean tribes. Numbers 24:24 calls these people groups "Eber" collectively. For years, critics said the name Eber had no historical basis. Then archaeologists discovered 15,000 clay tablets in 1976 in Syria, some of which mentioned Eber by name.
The examples of archaeology's value in confirming the Bible could continue, perhaps most notably with mention of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which helped establish the accuracy of the Old Testament text. But the idea is clear.
Of course, new finds will continue to spur debate, and archaeology is an inexact science. Still, informed believers should never let secular pundits convince them it has no value in confirming Scripture. As the decades pass, new discoveries will add to the list of accounts once scoffed at by skeptics but later established as indisputable facts.
--30--
David Roach is a writer in Shelbyville, Ky. This column first appeared at the blog of Bible Mesh, a website that teaches the Bible as a unified story pointing to Christ (online at www.biblemesh.com/blog). Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
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#1. To: A K A Stone (#0)
This is a great site: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/ I posted a few articles from the above site a few years back on LP and think here too. Have not been back there in a few months but get their newsletters.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct[a] your paths.(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Good website, I like it!
"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."
In many ways science and the field of science of archaeology confirms the absence of facts for supporting many of the Biblical tall-tales. The Jewish exodus from Egypt is one such tall-tale; outside of the Bible there are no known historical or social records describing the incredible faebles. The lack of collaborative evidence tends to support that the tall-tales originated with sheep and goat herders having nothing better to do but make things up.
Could you give say 3 examples of this. I would be most interested. Thank You in advance. Also I sincerely hope that you are feeling the love of the Christmas season.
Oh buck you are so infomed on some things but you are ignorant of so many thihgs. Ignorance isn't stupid, remember that. Let me share a little knowledge my old sparring partner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzb4ekyX1kc Images for chariots found bottom red sea - Report imagesThank you for the feedback. Report another imagePlease report the offensive image. CancelDone
There are no examples of the Jewish Exodus from Israel in any historical record anywhere to be found on the planet. However, the Bible sez it it so and your Sunday school teacher sez it is so and you think it is so.
Where are there any authoritative documents from that era to support historical significance of the Jewish exodus from Israel? Here, let me tell you: there are none.
Buck I already shot that one down with archeological evidence. Pay attention. I asked for 3 examples. Nice try but no cigar.
Where are ANY social or historical documented records about the Jewish exodus from Israel in any society or culture other than a pack of sheepherders/goat herders making stuff up in a "Bible?" Answer: there are no records ANYWHERE on the face of the planet.
How many paper documents have survived from that period? Their archives have been flooded numerous times. Ever heard of the Nile river?
Have you ever heard of papyrus such as Reu nu pert em hru? What about hieroglyphics? What about word of mouth? Not one word anywhere on the planet but in the Bible.
I don't have all of the answers. There is plenty of proof for the bible historically and archeloloically. I wouldn't expect the Egyptians to be talking much about how God showed that their little fake gods weren't real. I seem to recall the Israelis destroying some nations. There is archeological evidence for that also. You have not addressed the chariots at the bottom of the red sea. Do you think that some christians or jews dropped them there centuries ago because they knew that submarines would be to go there someday to see their "forgery"?
To be accurate, you don't have any answers. Isis and Osiris [Egyptian folk lore] spawned the myths and beliefs of Judaism. Christianity adopted the same. They probably had an axle break or a wheel fell off; got pissed off that God left them to rot in the desert.
#2. To: redleghunter (#1)
www.biblearchaeology.org/
#3. To: A K A Stone (#0)
Can archaeology help confirm the Bible?
#4. To: buck (#3)
In many ways science and the field of science of archaeology confirms the absence of facts for supporting many of the Biblical tall-tales.
#5. To: buck (#3)
The Jewish exodus from Egypt is one such tall-tale; outside of the Bible there are no known historical or social records describing the incredible faebles.
#6. To: A K A Stone (#4)
#7. To: A K A Stone (#5)
#8. To: buck (#6)
There are no examples of the Jewish Exodus from Israel in any historical record anywhere to be found on the planet.
#9. To: A K A Stone (#8)
#10. To: buck (#9)
#11. To: A K A Stone (#10)
#12. To: buck (#11)
#13. To: A K A Stone (#12)
(Edited)
I don't have all of the answers.
There is plenty of proof for the bible historically and archeloloically. I wouldn't expect the Egyptians to be talking much about how God showed that their little fake gods weren't real. I seem to recall the Israelis destroying some nations. There is archeological evidence for that also.
You have not addressed the chariots at the bottom of the red sea. Do you think that some christians or jews dropped them there centuries ago because they knew that submarines would be to go there someday to see their "forgery"?
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