"Archaeology" Article Items

I have discussed several ancient secular eyewitnesses to Christ in another post evaluating the historicity of Scripture from a broad perspective.  In this article, I am going to concentrate on the evidence substantiating the historicity of Christ. The historicity of Christ is, after all the most important question that must be answered regarding all of Scripture. As Paul said, if the Resurrection of Christ did not happen, then Christians are deluded and, above all, to be pitied.  If Christ did not exist, then neither did the Resurrection. I will only evaluate secular, extra-Biblical sources for the historicity of Christ to avoid… Read More »

The Biblical ancient city of Ziklag has been discovered in Israel.  The Times of Israel reports that the site was accidentally found by archaeologist Saar Ganor surveying the Elah Valley in 2007.  This valley is most popular as the site of the confrontation between King David and Golia. The boy shepherd defeated the mighty Philistine warrior with a slingshot stone knocking him unconscious. David would become king of Israel only after spending thirteen years on the run from King Saul.  Saul was jealous of David’s abilities and likely viewed him as a rival to his throne.  Saul relentlessly hunted David down… Read More »

The Dead Sea Scrolls represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last century.  The noted American archaeologist William F. Albright called it “the greatest manuscript discovery of all times.” But, on the other hand, the French scholar Dupont-Sommer felt, It is not a single revolution in the study of biblical exegesis … [it is] a whole cascade of revolutions.” The Dead Sea Scrolls have also produced no end of controversy.  For example, William LaSor noted, In the August, 1966 issue of Harper’s Magazine, Allegro spun a story of falsification, distortions, and innuendoes, the total effect of which was… Read More »

The recent discovery of the destruction of Gath confirms the Biblical historicity of the period.  It is important because it is yet demonstration of how modern archaeology is confirming the Biblical narrative. Gath, Goliath, and David The mighty warrior Gath was one of five brothers who had come out to defeat the overwhelmed Israeli army.  Saul, the King of Israel, was despondent because it appeared all hope was lost as there was clearly nobody in his army who stood a chance in defeating Goliath in the natural.  Goliath yells curses at David and God, but the young shepherd boy is… Read More »

There are three doomed cities pronounced by Christ in the New Testament.  These particular cities had seen more miraculous events and the personal teaching of Christ for years, and yet they failed to understand.  They could not see the meaning of what was right before their eyes. Many readers are familiar with Christ’s pronouncement against Jerusalem, For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before your, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave… Read More »

The Labayu letters are important in establishing the historicity of the Old Testament – especially some of its most contested parts.  There are 382 preserved letters from the Egyptian city of Amara.  About 150 of these letters were written from Canaan to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep at around 1400 BC. Three of these letters were written by Labayu who was the king of Shechem while several others were written by other local rulers accusing Labayu of being an ally of the hated Habiru. The Habiru was an ancient designation of a people who first appeared in the 18th century BC… Read More »