1

Archaeology & the Bible

2

References

“The Stones Cry Out” by Randall Price

“Scientific Evidences of the Bible’s Inspiration” by Bert Thompson (Apologetics Press)

“Ready with an Answer” by John Ankerberg and John Weldon

“Digging for Answers” by Garry K Brantley (Apologetics Press)

3

Bible Archaeology

Definition:

“A study based on the excavation, decipherment and critical evaluation of the records of the past as they affect the Bible”

“Truth shall spring out of the earth” (Psalm 85:11)

“The stone will cry out” (Habakkuk 2:11)

4

Bible Archaeology

Bible archaeology became a serious activity in the 1840’s with the excavation of a number of Assyrian palaces

Explosion of interest in Bible archaeology after the birth of modern Israel in 1948

Numerous journals and periodicals on this subject

5

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Two opposing objectives

Christian apologetics for those who believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God

Disprove the Bible for those who do not believe

6

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Has impact on faith in the Bible

Several historians impressed with the rapid accumulation of data that supports the historicity of the Bible

Bible archaeology has confirmed several events which were rejected as unhistorical by critics

“Nowhere has archaeological discoveries refuted the Bible as history.”

(John Elder, “Prophets, Idols and Diggers”)

7

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Influences one’s philosophical approach to the Bible

Example of three great 20th century American archaeologists who received liberal training but modified their views of the Bible: W F Albright, Nelson Glueck, George Ernest Wright

Albright trained in the German school of higher criticism and tried to use a “rational and empirical” approach - he later concluded that this philosophical basis could not be supported in the light of numerous recent archaeological findings

8

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Silence the critics of the Bible

Advent of “Higher Criticism” in the last century has done much damage to faith in reliability and inerrancy of the Bible

Several Bible events dismissed as myths, legends, inventions of later generations, etc - so as to discount the miraculous

Books of the Bible dated late and attributed to unknown authors and scribes - so as to discount possibility of prophecy

9

Importance of Bible Archaeology

“Recent archaeology has destroyed much nonsense and will destroy more.” (Prof E N Blaiklock)

“All radical schools in New Testament criticism which have existed in the past or which exist today are pre-archaeological . . . quite antiquated today.” (William F Albright)

However, damage has been done for generations and will be hard to un-do in spite of mounting clear archaeological evidences

10

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Leads to better understanding of the Bible

Helps to understand and appreciate more fully the Bible events -

Understanding the historical, chronological, geographical and cultural background has “maximum significance for the theologian” (Dr Edwin Yamauchi)

Example: Increases understanding of Baalism and the significance of Elijah’s prayer to withhold rain (1 Kings 18)

11

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Helps in better translations of the Bible

Discovery of numerous other documents of same period helps scholars to better understand the meaning of the Hebrew, Greek and Aramic words used

Include better understanding of poetic and figurative language, and words which appear only once in the Hebrew Bible

12

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Liberals who have aversion of miracles deny the Virgin birth of Christ - interpret “almah” in Isaiah 7:14 as “young woman”

But one Ugarit tablet shows word 700 years before Isaiah 7:14 was written, and referred to a virgin in a similar context as Isaiah 7:14

“The traditional translation “virgin” is to be preferred over “young woman””. (Edward J Young)

13

Importance of Bible Archaeology

A complementary witness to the Bible

Shed more light on certain figures, people, practice mentioned in the Bible, e.g.

Dead Sea Scrolls shed light on life and thoughts of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Better understanding of the world, culture, way of life of the Bible times - helps the scenes be more real to our context today

14

Importance of Bible Archaeology

Shed further light to explain difficult Bible passages

Examples:

- “Let the dead bury the dead”

- God hardening the Pharaoh’s heart

15

Dead burying the dead?

Does “Let the dead bury the dead” (Matthew 8:22 Luke 9:60) imply a lack of respect for the dead or a dishonouring of parents?

Need to understand Jewish burial practice in NT times

Reported in Harvard Theological Review 83 - 1990, and Archaeology and Biblical Research - Spring 1992

16

Dead burying the dead?

1st burial - "gathered to the fathers" in family cave - i.e. a traditional and proper burial

But in NT times, Rabbi’s taught that decomposition had an atoning value for sins of the dead

Hence, Jews also practised a “secondary burial” at least one year later

Bones buried in bone box ("ossuary") with remains of other family members

17

Dead burying the dead?

Practice was unscriptural - hence disapproved by Jesus

Also disapproved by Jesus because of long time wait before person could become His follower - at least a year

Hence, Jesus said to “let the dead bury the dead” - bones buried with old bones

18

Hardening the heart

Why did God “harden” the Pharaoh’s heart?

Egyptians believe a dead person has to face judgment and has to deny a list of sins read out against him

But at the same time, his heart would be weighed and would confess the truth, resulting in condemnation since all sin

Egyptian practice ritual of “hardening the heart”: replace the heart of the dead with a stone scarab

19

Hardening the heart

So, during judgment, the stone heart remains silent when the dead one denies his sins, enabling him to pass

Hence, when God “hardened” the heart of Pharaoh, it was also a condemnation of their theology which let sin go unpunished

Because of the Pharaoh’s hardened heart, he was unable to respond to God when the plagues occurred, thus leading to Egypt’s (=sin’s) defeat

20

A Proper Perspective

21

An Ally

Since Bible Archaeology began 150 years ago, usefulness is recognised - especially so from the 1920’s to the 1970’s

General view was that it “proves” many historical points in the Bible - a great ally of the Bible

“no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference” (Nelson Glueck, 1959)

The Bible determined the agenda and objectives of archaeological expeditions

22

The Pendulum Swings

Change of attitude in the 1970’s

Archaeology appears to have turned from ally to foe

“archaeologists now generally agree that their discoveries have produced a new consensus about the formation of ancient Israel that contradicts significant parts of the biblical version.” (Stephen Strauss, 1988)

Same evidences being re-interpreted to exclude God

23

Ally or Foe?

Signs of pendulum swinging again in the 1990’s due to recent discoveries

Questions

How should one view these swings in attitude?

Are Bible Archaeology findings dependable?

How useful are these findings as Christian Evidences?

24

A Healthy Perspective

For the unbiased inquirer

Usefulness of Bible Archaeology must be recognised

At the same time, must recognise limitations of Bible Archaeology as an inexact science

Adopt an open mind, and do not jump to conclusions before all the data are in

25

A Healthy Perspective

For the Christian

Limitations notwithstanding, Bible Archaeology is merely one aspect of a whole body of evidences upon which he can establish his initial faith in the Bible

Once faith established in the inerrancy of the Word of God, he expands the basis of his faith to the experiential, and grows to new heights of faith from thereon

Fears no threat from Archaeology or Science or Philosophy etc - these can strengthen faith but not necessary for it

26

Proper Use

Bible Archaeology cannot be used to proveor disprove the Bible.

Bible is a book on theology set in a historical background - not primarily a history record. Theology rests in the realm of faith.

Hence can only serve as a useful tool to establish accuracy of some of the historical facts that serve as the stage

Provides clues on what, when, who and sometimes how of past events - but cannot answer why it happened

27

Pre-suppositions

Interpretation of archaeological evidences very much subject to the historian’s paradigm Eg William F Albright, a prominent and mostly

conservative Bible Archaeologist, does not believe in the inspiration of the Bible

Same piece of finding can lead to different conclusions

Need to be armed with a good conviction in and knowledge of the Bible to derive the correct interpretation

28

Tip of the Iceberg

Current archaeological discoveries really only the very small tip of a very huge iceberg yet to be discoveredAll that are reported and published All that are seriously examinedAll that are actually discoveredAll that exist in excavated sitesAll the sites that are excavatedAll the archaeological sites surveyedAll the sites that are known or suspectedAll that survives in archaeological sitesAll that was made and existed in history

29

Paucity

Painstakingly slow process - 98% of major ruins in Palestine are untouched by expeditions

At each site, only a small percentage of the surface area is uncovered - less than 2%!

Many sites located in politically sensitive areas (Palestine, Syria, Jerusalem, etc)

Accessibility of sites

Control of information eg Syrian interference with some implications of the Ebla tablets due to political and religious motivation

30

Inexact Science

Relatively new science and methods of excavation still being improved upon - some rework required of early excavations

Methods of recording vary - some not as meticulous as required

Dating can be difficult - ancient cities are built upon the old ones

Findings are fragmentary and disconnected - subject to interpretation

31

No Dogs Please

No room for dogmatism

Numerous limitations increase risks of misinterpretation

Cannot jump to conclusions before all the relevant data are in

Must take care of how to use the evidences - never lock into a position

Eg An evidence may initially support and then turn controversial when more data come in

Exercise same care when handling scientific discoveries as Christian evidences