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Items Posted In June, 2019

Bones of Caiaphas
Caiaphas

Posted on June 5, 2019 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence, Philosophical, Resurrection

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The bones of the ancient Jewish High Priest Caiaphas Caiaphas have been found.  He is one of the most despised New Testament figures – right up there with Pilate.  Caiaphas was an important official in Jerusalem and is named multiple times in the New Testament.  He served for eighteen years (AD 18-36) as a high priest appointed by the Roman government.  As such, he had two loyalties; one to the Jewish population for whom he served as their high priest, but also to the Roman government who appointed him. Caiaphas and Annas Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas (John 18:13)… Read More »

The Pilate Ring
Herodium

Posted on June 5, 2019 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Pilate Ring The New York Times reported on the discovery of a ring bearing the name of Pontius Pilate – the Roman official who ordered the killing of Christ – now called The Pilate Ring.. It was discovered in the late 1960s as one of the many artifacts found in the excavation of Herodium. The Herodium is an ancient fortress just south of Bethlehem in the West Bank. The area currently is controlled by Israel although claimed by the Palestinian.  The ring was badly worn and required the use of an advanced photographic technique to decipher the ring’s inscription…. Read More »

Bad Design Features
design

Posted on June 2, 2019 by

Categories: Biology, Science

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Bad Design Features Evolutionary scientists have had a field day with what are supposed to be “bad design features” of the human body.  These scientists bring up several design features which seem to work against the purpose of the organ system involved. The late Stephen Gould presented examples of what he considered “bad design” as an argument against a creator.  The best-known example was that of the panda’s thumb which he described as being clumsy. Another classical example of allegedly poor design is the human retina which seems to be inverted with the light-sensing cells behind a membrane.  This means… Read More »

Jezebel Seal

Posted on June 1, 2019 by

Categories: Archaeology, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Jezebel Seal Jezebel is the quintessential evil queen in the Old Testament and even today is emblematic of a sinful woman. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, an ancient king of the Phoenicians (1 Kings 16/31). The ancient Jewish historian Josephus notes Ethbaal was a priest of Ashtoreth and usurped the throne and ruled over Tyre and Sidon in current day Lebanon for 32 years.  She is also identified as the great-aunt of Dido, the first Queen of Carthage.  Dido is most famous for the account given by the Roman poet Virgil in his epic poem Aeneid.  In this… Read More »

The Divine Watchmaker
watch

Posted on June 1, 2019 by

Categories: Cosmology, Philosophical, Science

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The Divine Watchmaker The illustration of a “divine watchmaker” has been a popular thought experiment to illustrate the involvement of an intelligent designer of life. The evidence for God as the Designer of the world has been a popular argument for the existence of God.  The appearance of design is everywhere and its presence admitted by even the staunchest of atheists such as Richard Dawkins. A classic historical example of the design argument is from the eighteenth-century British theologian William Paley and is called the “Watchmaker argument.” The argument is presented in his opus, Natural Theology published in 1802 and is presented… Read More »