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The Bible and Archaeology
This book is a brief, popular (but informed and up-to-date) introduction to the relationship between the Bible and archaeology. Material culture (i.e., artifacts) and the biblical text illuminate each other in various ways, but many of us find it difficult to reach a nuanced understanding of how this process works and how archaeological discoveries should be interpreted. This book provides an irenic and balanced perspective on these issues, showing how texts and artifacts are in a fascinating “dialogue” with one another that sheds light on the meaning and importance of both. What emerges is a rich and complex picture that enlivens our understanding of the Bible’s message, increases our appreciation for the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written, and helps us be realistic about the limits of our knowledge.
152 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 16, 2024
Quick and easy read introducing you to archaeology and how it relates to God’s Word.
June 28, 2018
Here’s the perfect book for either pastors or Bible students to get a clear overview of the connection between Bible and archaeology. This book succeeds because it strikes the perfect balance between archaeological detail and basic understanding. In other words, you will not drown in the minutia of archaeology, but you will have an informed grasp of both the value and limitations of archaeology in your Bible studies.
Matthieu Richelle, a respected professor of Old Testament, has a nice list of credentials to be able to produce this work on archaeology. I appreciated his respect of the Bible, his academic integrity, and his civility toward other archaeologists with whom he might disagree. In the same vein, while I might disagree with him on a few points myself, I respect greatly what he has produced here. To take something as complex as archaeological methodology and make it accessible to a popular audience is a gift. It’s a gift that’s present in this book. He will walk you through some subjects you might normally dodge, but he will guide you in a way that you can both learn and easily comprehend.
In the introduction, he describes his disdain for sensationalists and his desire to give us the tools to understand the clearly divisive controversies of biblical archaeology. Chapter 1 explains what archaeologists are looking for, or at least what they usually find. He guides us through archaeological sites, he explains what a “Tell” is, and uses some popular Bible sites to explain. He explains why these “Tells” have developed the way that they have and why they make it possible for archaeological discoveries. He explains the important difference between relative and absolute chronology and commonly accepted archaeological periods. He describes the main tools that archaeologists use to make their conclusions. Further, he explains what they tell us about the people, the architecture of the time, and what can be learned about life in ancient Israel.
Since chapter 1 only took us through what can be learned about life in general, the rest of the book must take us into the things that archaeologists discover that help with the more critical subjects of dating and verification of historical information. You will learn about the principal types of inscriptions and the difficulties of epigraphy. He doesn’t hide the dark side of the archaeological world that includes things like forgeries and other unscrupulous behavior.
Chapter 3 is outstanding and proves his balance. In this chapter, he discusses the limits of archaeology. He confesses the lack of certainty that exists, how that sometimes we can only say what is possible and not what is proven, and that there is much interpretation of the findings that can truly be biased. He talks about other natural limitations like the fact that what is excavated is ruins in the first place.
Chapter 4 finally broaches the subject of the Bible and archaeology. He is very gentle in this chapter and explains some of what I would call the more radical beliefs in the archaeological world. Those radical theories show a true bias to the Bible. He’s almost fair to them than seems reasonable, but he lays out the information so kindly that you will be able to come to the right conclusion. Chapter 5 is a case study involving David and Solomon. Because of their centrality to the story of Israel, their historicity is commonly attacked. Chapter 6 is a little more technical in that it describes writing in the times of David and Solomon and how that might help arrive at dating. The conclusion is short and to the point yet is reasonable. There’s a final listing for further reading if you’re interested in extending your studies.
This book is a complete success in what it sets out to do. Not only is it a perfect book for pastors and Bible students, but I imagine for most of them it will be all they want or need.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Matthieu Richelle, a respected professor of Old Testament, has a nice list of credentials to be able to produce this work on archaeology. I appreciated his respect of the Bible, his academic integrity, and his civility toward other archaeologists with whom he might disagree. In the same vein, while I might disagree with him on a few points myself, I respect greatly what he has produced here. To take something as complex as archaeological methodology and make it accessible to a popular audience is a gift. It’s a gift that’s present in this book. He will walk you through some subjects you might normally dodge, but he will guide you in a way that you can both learn and easily comprehend.
In the introduction, he describes his disdain for sensationalists and his desire to give us the tools to understand the clearly divisive controversies of biblical archaeology. Chapter 1 explains what archaeologists are looking for, or at least what they usually find. He guides us through archaeological sites, he explains what a “Tell” is, and uses some popular Bible sites to explain. He explains why these “Tells” have developed the way that they have and why they make it possible for archaeological discoveries. He explains the important difference between relative and absolute chronology and commonly accepted archaeological periods. He describes the main tools that archaeologists use to make their conclusions. Further, he explains what they tell us about the people, the architecture of the time, and what can be learned about life in ancient Israel.
Since chapter 1 only took us through what can be learned about life in general, the rest of the book must take us into the things that archaeologists discover that help with the more critical subjects of dating and verification of historical information. You will learn about the principal types of inscriptions and the difficulties of epigraphy. He doesn’t hide the dark side of the archaeological world that includes things like forgeries and other unscrupulous behavior.
Chapter 3 is outstanding and proves his balance. In this chapter, he discusses the limits of archaeology. He confesses the lack of certainty that exists, how that sometimes we can only say what is possible and not what is proven, and that there is much interpretation of the findings that can truly be biased. He talks about other natural limitations like the fact that what is excavated is ruins in the first place.
Chapter 4 finally broaches the subject of the Bible and archaeology. He is very gentle in this chapter and explains some of what I would call the more radical beliefs in the archaeological world. Those radical theories show a true bias to the Bible. He’s almost fair to them than seems reasonable, but he lays out the information so kindly that you will be able to come to the right conclusion. Chapter 5 is a case study involving David and Solomon. Because of their centrality to the story of Israel, their historicity is commonly attacked. Chapter 6 is a little more technical in that it describes writing in the times of David and Solomon and how that might help arrive at dating. The conclusion is short and to the point yet is reasonable. There’s a final listing for further reading if you’re interested in extending your studies.
This book is a complete success in what it sets out to do. Not only is it a perfect book for pastors and Bible students, but I imagine for most of them it will be all they want or need.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
May 31, 2018
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Hendrickson Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
Biblical archaeology is an immensely conflict-ridden field and the author certainly has a perspective that is different than my own on the subject. Rather unfortunately, the author sought to take aim at the approach of two of my favorite writers in the genre [1], and worse, the author praises a historian of negligible skill in dealing with the Bible with whom I have had difficult personal interactions [2]. To say that the author and I do not see eye to eye on the matter of biblical archaeology is certainly a considerable understatement. That said, when the author was not sticking his foot in his mouth when it came to making specific recommendations of archaeologists of the ancient near east that he appreciates, with most of whom I have serious concerns and criticisms about their unsound methodology and perspective, there was a great deal that I could appreciate about this book as well even if the author is not as sound in such matters as he thinks he is.
In terms of its structure and organization, this book is six chapters that take up a bit more than 100 pages--it is worthwhile to note that this does not include the book's extensive endnotes and suggestions for further reading as well as some lovely photos at the very end of the book that I almost missed when reading the book. The first chapter of the book examines what archaeologists discover in ancient cities and about ancient Israel (1) before the author looks at what happens when stones speak (2) in inscriptions of various kinds as well as the difficulties of epigraphy. After this the author discusses the limits of archaeology (3) concerning the limits imposed by interpretation of the data as well as the inherent limit of excavations and the fraught relationship of the Bible and archaeology (4) through a discussion of different approaches, use of the Bible, and real life scenarios. The author then concludes the volume with case studies on the kingdom of David and Solomon as it is understood from the Bible and available archaeological finds (5) and the question of what writing existed in the Israel of David and Solomon (6). Throughout the author seems to think himself a more fair-minded and balanced writer than he turns out being, as he seems to be a partisan of archaeology more than of the Bible, which is a shortcoming and seems to influence the archaeologists he criticizes and those he (lamentably) endorses.
At its best, this book succeeds in appealing to a general approach by which people should appreciate archaeology for what it is and not expect it to serve as an opportunity for confirmation of our interpretations of the Bible. Recognizing that archaeology and the Bible often have different areas of focus and have different but often complementary things to say is not generally a bad one. The author is at his best here when he is pointing to a nuanced approach that we should have to the Bible and a skepticism we should have towards sensationalistic claims of journalism about archaeology which is a disservice to everyone involved in the serious, academic study of biblical archaeology. That said, the author fails badly in the specific recommendations he makes about what archaeologists have the right approach, and that seems to suggest that he wishes to curry favor with academics rather than demonstrate himself to be faithful to the Bible, which makes his approach less than praiseworthy to adopt for genuine Christians.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
Biblical archaeology is an immensely conflict-ridden field and the author certainly has a perspective that is different than my own on the subject. Rather unfortunately, the author sought to take aim at the approach of two of my favorite writers in the genre [1], and worse, the author praises a historian of negligible skill in dealing with the Bible with whom I have had difficult personal interactions [2]. To say that the author and I do not see eye to eye on the matter of biblical archaeology is certainly a considerable understatement. That said, when the author was not sticking his foot in his mouth when it came to making specific recommendations of archaeologists of the ancient near east that he appreciates, with most of whom I have serious concerns and criticisms about their unsound methodology and perspective, there was a great deal that I could appreciate about this book as well even if the author is not as sound in such matters as he thinks he is.
In terms of its structure and organization, this book is six chapters that take up a bit more than 100 pages--it is worthwhile to note that this does not include the book's extensive endnotes and suggestions for further reading as well as some lovely photos at the very end of the book that I almost missed when reading the book. The first chapter of the book examines what archaeologists discover in ancient cities and about ancient Israel (1) before the author looks at what happens when stones speak (2) in inscriptions of various kinds as well as the difficulties of epigraphy. After this the author discusses the limits of archaeology (3) concerning the limits imposed by interpretation of the data as well as the inherent limit of excavations and the fraught relationship of the Bible and archaeology (4) through a discussion of different approaches, use of the Bible, and real life scenarios. The author then concludes the volume with case studies on the kingdom of David and Solomon as it is understood from the Bible and available archaeological finds (5) and the question of what writing existed in the Israel of David and Solomon (6). Throughout the author seems to think himself a more fair-minded and balanced writer than he turns out being, as he seems to be a partisan of archaeology more than of the Bible, which is a shortcoming and seems to influence the archaeologists he criticizes and those he (lamentably) endorses.
At its best, this book succeeds in appealing to a general approach by which people should appreciate archaeology for what it is and not expect it to serve as an opportunity for confirmation of our interpretations of the Bible. Recognizing that archaeology and the Bible often have different areas of focus and have different but often complementary things to say is not generally a bad one. The author is at his best here when he is pointing to a nuanced approach that we should have to the Bible and a skepticism we should have towards sensationalistic claims of journalism about archaeology which is a disservice to everyone involved in the serious, academic study of biblical archaeology. That said, the author fails badly in the specific recommendations he makes about what archaeologists have the right approach, and that seems to suggest that he wishes to curry favor with academics rather than demonstrate himself to be faithful to the Bible, which makes his approach less than praiseworthy to adopt for genuine Christians.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
February 18, 2022
It's tidy little book with some useful information in just over 100 pages, but unless there is some deliberate subliminal message it is hard to see what the purpose was in writing it?
On the one hand it gives a brief description of what archaeology is, can achieve and its limitation - much of this is common sense, or at least common knowledge for anyone with even a passing interest. However smattered amongst this as examples, are some useful updates of the recent discoveries and the debates engendered by various analyses. Also we are given names of the various "reputable" scholars taking various points of view - such that we know who those are which are hell bent (and I chose the word deliberately) on disproving every word of the bible (such that fallen Israel under Ahab et al must perversely be shown to be higher than the Davidic united Kingdom); through to those like p80 Eric Cline who timidly affirm, "In no case has the Biblical account of an event of the first millennium BCE yet been shown shown by and extra-biblical inscription to be completely false".
So, Richelle bends over backwards to present all points of view 'fairly' and even conforms to the revisionist dating method of CE and BCE against the Christ centred AD and BC - thus permitting his book and himself access to the academic world. However in the end he really comes out squarely defending the biblical account. Perhaps the subliminal point is to get the word out as to who to trust and expose all the lies out there... but not in so many words???
On the one hand it gives a brief description of what archaeology is, can achieve and its limitation - much of this is common sense, or at least common knowledge for anyone with even a passing interest. However smattered amongst this as examples, are some useful updates of the recent discoveries and the debates engendered by various analyses. Also we are given names of the various "reputable" scholars taking various points of view - such that we know who those are which are hell bent (and I chose the word deliberately) on disproving every word of the bible (such that fallen Israel under Ahab et al must perversely be shown to be higher than the Davidic united Kingdom); through to those like p80 Eric Cline who timidly affirm, "In no case has the Biblical account of an event of the first millennium BCE yet been shown shown by and extra-biblical inscription to be completely false".
So, Richelle bends over backwards to present all points of view 'fairly' and even conforms to the revisionist dating method of CE and BCE against the Christ centred AD and BC - thus permitting his book and himself access to the academic world. However in the end he really comes out squarely defending the biblical account. Perhaps the subliminal point is to get the word out as to who to trust and expose all the lies out there... but not in so many words???
February 23, 2023
Uma boa introdução ao tema. O livro aborda de maneira honesta e equilibrada as evidências arqueológicas relacionadas com a Bíblia, sem aqueles vícios costumeiros e sensacionalistas de que “A Bíblia foi provada pela arqueologia”, entre outros.
O autor expõe algumas evidências que corroboram com as narrativas bíblicas, trata das limitações epistemológicas que a arqueologia “pura” possui e também mostra os desafios e as “aparentes contradições” que existem em algumas interpretações arqueológicas, oferecendo alternativas razoáveis que demonstram a harmonia entre os achados arqueológicos e as principais narrativas bíblicas.
O autor expõe algumas evidências que corroboram com as narrativas bíblicas, trata das limitações epistemológicas que a arqueologia “pura” possui e também mostra os desafios e as “aparentes contradições” que existem em algumas interpretações arqueológicas, oferecendo alternativas razoáveis que demonstram a harmonia entre os achados arqueológicos e as principais narrativas bíblicas.
April 1, 2020
This book addresses the problem of the archeological record of the Holy land, as opposed to what we learn from the Bible. These two don’t necessarily tie up, nor do people agree about the interpretation of either the archeological finds or the Bible as a historical record.
The book comes across as a balanced summary of the arguments. It is, however, a translation from French & I really feel it would have benefitted from a good editor. The English isn’t always clear.
The book comes across as a balanced summary of the arguments. It is, however, a translation from French & I really feel it would have benefitted from a good editor. The English isn’t always clear.
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April 27, 2022O autor é muito ponderado, fala sobre os limites da arqueologia.
Sobre a contribuição que as descobertas trouxeram para a compreensão do texto bíblico..
Fala sobre algumas controvérsias entre arqueólogos sobre descobertas relacionadas a trechos do texto bíblico.
É básico, não aprofunda muito, mas é muito bom, resumido e direto, foi um ótimo investimento comprá-lo e lê-lo.
Sobre a contribuição que as descobertas trouxeram para a compreensão do texto bíblico..
Fala sobre algumas controvérsias entre arqueólogos sobre descobertas relacionadas a trechos do texto bíblico.
É básico, não aprofunda muito, mas é muito bom, resumido e direto, foi um ótimo investimento comprá-lo e lê-lo.
August 13, 2024
A well written book highlighting the relationship that the Bible has with Archaeology. I think Richelle is fair to both sides and helps the reader find how to analyze archaeological findings, or lack thereof, in its relation to the Bible.
January 5, 2023
Excelente introdução ao tema, deu vontade de ler mais sobre...
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August 17, 2024Read for class.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews