Biblical Archaeology
Biblical archaeology is an important creation science discipline that substantiates the Bible as a valid historical document, and the Biblical chronology as accurate time-line. Each year new discoveries are made, and creationists are encouraged to keep themselves informed of progress in this field.
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Archaeological Discoveries
Dead Sea Scrolls
- Main Article: Dead Sea Scrolls
The finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls is considered by many to be the most important archaeological find of the last century. Besides confirming the reliability of the Old Testament and its prophecies as untainted by later church leaders, they have also allowed us a glimpse into the era Jesus was born into, and the society that existed at the beginnings of Christianity.
Temple of Jerusalem
- Main Article: Temple of Jerusalem
Not until the time of King Solomon did God permit the construction of a permanent building to be his temple. The first temple was built in Jerusalem in the 10th or 11th century BC by King Solomon. The site was the one purchased for the purpose by King David, the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, on which he built an altar to the Lord. King David’s Altar, Solomon’s Temple, and Herod’s Temple all stood in the same location.
Jericho
- Main Article: Jericho
In the 1950's, archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon supervised the excavation of the ruins of the once great city. Her lack of faith in the Biblical account of Jericho was evident in her statement that she believed the 'folk tale' of Joshua's encounter with the city was merely fabricated after the destruction. However, later digs have prompted other archaeologists to come to a bold conclusion: the walls really did fall as told in Joshua 6 .
James Ossuary
- Main Article: James Ossuary
A 2,000-year-old box was discovered in October of 2002 that might be the ossuary (“Bone Box”) of James, the brother of Jesus. On the side of the bone box is inscribed in Aramaic: “Ya'akov bar Yosef akhui di Yeshua”, which is translated “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”. As the inscription was the first historic record found of Jesus apart from manuscripts, its authentication could prove to be the most significant New Testament find in modern times.
Synagogue and House of Peter
- Main Article: Capernaum
Capernum was a village inhabited from approximately 150 BC to 1100 AD. The ancient ruins of Capernaum have been thoroughly investigated by archaeologists revealing, most notably, an ancient Jewish synagogue and Christian church located at the site of the house of Simon Peter. Although tradition held that the ruins of Capernaum were there on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it wasn't until 1838 that remains of a synagogue were correctly identified.
King David's Palace
Archaeologist Eilat Mazar has found strong evidence that the foundations of a structure in old Jerusalem, confirmed to date to the 10th-9th centuries B.C., are very likely the remains of the palace of King David. Furthermore, the remains match perfectly with the geographic and architectural description of the palace given in the Bible.[1]
Archaeology Sites
Site | Country | State / Province / Region |
---|---|---|
Capernaum | Israel | |
Jericho | Israel | |
Ephesus | Turkey | |
Megiddo | Israel | Jezreel Valley |
Mount Ararat | Turkey | |
Mount Sinai | Egypt | Sinai Peninsula |
Temple of Jerusalem | Israel | |
Qumran | Israel |
Archaeologist
An archaeologist is a person who studies the past using scientific methods with the goal of recording, interpreting, and preserving knowledge of ancient and contemporary cultures. The following is a list of archaeologists whose work has played an integral role in Biblical apologetics.
- William F. Albright
- Millar Burrows
- David Down
- John Garstang
- Sir William Ramsey
- Edwin Thiele
- Clifford Wilson
- Bryant Wood
- Ron Wyatt
Biblical Archaeology News
- Explorers Say They've Found Pieces of Noah's Ark Daniel McGivern and his team claimed to have discovered two large sections just below surface atop Mount Ararat. CBN News. December 09, 2011.
- Search for Biblical Philistines Attracts 100 Archaeologists An international team of archaeologists began digging for remains in Gath, the ancient city of the Philistines. The Christian Post, July 09 2011.
- Is this the first ever portrait of Jesus? The incredible story of 70 ancient books hidden in a cave for nearly 2,000 years The extraordinary picture of one of the recently discovered hoard of up to 70 lead codices – booklets – found in a cave in the hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee is one reason Bible historians are clamouring to get their hands on the ancient artefacts. By Nick Pryer. Last updated at 12:15 PM on 3rd April 2011
- Are lead tablets discovered in a remote cave in Jordan the secret writings about the last years of Jesus? By Daily Mail Reporter. Last updated at 3:54 PM on 21st March 2011
- Oldest written document ever found in J'lem Archeologists unearth 14th century BCE fragment. Jerusalem Post. July 12, 2010.
- Latest Noah's Ark 'just wood planted on Ararat' Archaeologists make astonishing claim about alleged discovery of Bible boat. WorldNetDaily. April 28, 2010.
- 'We've found Noah's Ark!'... claim evangelical explorers on mission to snow-capped Ararat Pictures released by a Hong-Kong based group claims to show the interior of a structure on the top of Mount Ararat that contains wooden beams and compartments that could have held animals. World News, April 28th, 2010.
- Documentary planned to 'prove' events of Bible. A multi-year filmmaking project to document the history of the people of Israel with archaeological evidence now nears completion. Creationism Examiner, February 12, 2010.
- Ancient Hebrew text supports early origin of Bible. A pottery shard recovered from a place near the Elah Valley in Israel contains a text, written in middle Semitic script, that has now been determined to have been in Hebrew. This shows that Hebrew has been a written language for far longer than secular archaeologists previously believed. Creationism Examiner, 15 January 2010
Reference
- ↑ Mazar, Eliat. "Did I Find King David's Palace?" Biblical Archaeology Review 32:01 January/February 2006. Accessed August 24, 2008.
Additional Resources
Biblical Archaeology by CreationWiki
- Biblical Archaeology
- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Temple of Jerusalem
- Jericho
- Durupinar
- Paleoanthropology
- Antediluvian civilizations
- Biblical archaeology quotes
- Megiddo
- Jerusalem
- Israel
- LMLK seals
- House of David
Biblical Archaeology Organizations
- Ancient World Foundation
- ArcImaging Archaeological Imaging Research Consortium
- Associates for Biblical Research
-
Biblical
Archaeology Society
- Archaeology Odyssey Magazine
- Biblical Archaeology Review Journal
- Find a Dig Browse dig sites
- Travel Study Tours and Seminars
- Tours and Seminars in the USA or International tours by the Biblical Archaeology Society
- Madison Biblical Archaeology Society (MBAS) Madison, WI. USA
- The Foundation for Biblical Archaeology Organization
Biblical Archaeology Resource Sites
- Archaeology by Amazing Discoveries
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Archaeology - Christian Answers.Net
- Archaeology by the Institute For Biblical and Scientific Studies
- BASE Institute - Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute
- BibArch The Premier Biblical Archaeology Website
- Biblical Archaeology Class PowerPoint Presentations
- Bib Arch Seminar
- The Megiddo Expedition
- Wyatt Archaeological Research
Creationist Perspectives on Biblical Archaeology
- Dating in Archaeology Challenges to Biblical Credibility by Garry K. Brantley. Apologetics Press
- Evidence of the Exodus from Egypt by the Institute for Biblical and Scientific Studies
- Ark of the Covenant, Lost or Found - ChristianAnswers.Net
- Has Archaeological Evidence for Jesus Been Discovered by John D. Morris, Ph.D. Acts & Facts Vol. 31 No. 12 December 2002 Online Issue No. 28
- In what ways have the discoveries of archaeology verified the reliability of the Bible? by ChristianAnswers.Net
- Sodom & Gomorrah Rediscovered
- Startling Archeological Discoveries from Grant R. Jeffrey's new book The Signature of God