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The Bible and Archaeology
9"x6.10"x1.25" hardcover edition
474 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2021
"The Bible and Archaeology" was first published in 1962, but sections of it have appeared in other titles as early as 1957. Who knows what further discoveries they have uncovered in the meantime? And that is just what they were: discoveries. Towards the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries several critics were claiming that there were various faults and untruths in the Bible, therefore the writings couldn't be trusted. What archeology has done was prove that not only were these stories based on fact but that writers, such as Luke, were historians of the first rank. Luke started many of his chapters by stating times and places for events. Evidence of such has since surfaced showing that he knew what he was talking about. It has come to light in the form of coins, wall paintings and inscriptions, papyri, pottery, and ruins. Of special note is the 'Dead Sea Scrolls,' one of which has the complete book of Isaiah.
Just how the archeologists come up with their facts sometimes takes some detective work. They might be digging on a site of a city and find that at a lower level are ruins of an early city which was destroyed by fire. The ruins themselves tell a story because of the composition of building materials or how the bricks were laid. While digging around they might find pieces of pottery. Certain types originated in certain places and at certain times. Alexander's Greek garrisons of Palestine preferred Greek wine, which was delivered in jugs with inscriptions and seals on the handles. Thus, piles of these handles were found at garrison sites.
Coins can tell a lot by the inscriptions and images they carry or didn't carry. The emperor's image and his name would be on a Roman coin, but not on a coin minted by the Jews, for that was a sacrilege. And of course, the coins would not be found at sites that dated from a time before they were made.
Papyri wasn't the only source of written word by the ancients. Clay tablets and scrolls were also found. One Babylonian scroll speaks of the Great Flood. 'Darius the Mede' from Danial 5:31 may have been Cyrus the Persian. Xerxes was Ahasuerus in the Bible, and the story of Esther may have been true as all the background events were real. And based on the timing of various historical events, both John the Baptist and Jesus may have actually been born before 4 B.C.
There were historical sites that had not been touched by 1962, even though their locations had been found. Many sites in Jerusalem have had Christian churches built over them in ages past. Unfortunately, the great Mohammedan Mosque stands over the original temple site in Jerusalem, so they can't dig there.
Pictures were included, as well as maps. What I found most interesting and helpful was the author referred to quotes from the Bible as he spoke of sites and events.
Just how the archeologists come up with their facts sometimes takes some detective work. They might be digging on a site of a city and find that at a lower level are ruins of an early city which was destroyed by fire. The ruins themselves tell a story because of the composition of building materials or how the bricks were laid. While digging around they might find pieces of pottery. Certain types originated in certain places and at certain times. Alexander's Greek garrisons of Palestine preferred Greek wine, which was delivered in jugs with inscriptions and seals on the handles. Thus, piles of these handles were found at garrison sites.
Coins can tell a lot by the inscriptions and images they carry or didn't carry. The emperor's image and his name would be on a Roman coin, but not on a coin minted by the Jews, for that was a sacrilege. And of course, the coins would not be found at sites that dated from a time before they were made.
Papyri wasn't the only source of written word by the ancients. Clay tablets and scrolls were also found. One Babylonian scroll speaks of the Great Flood. 'Darius the Mede' from Danial 5:31 may have been Cyrus the Persian. Xerxes was Ahasuerus in the Bible, and the story of Esther may have been true as all the background events were real. And based on the timing of various historical events, both John the Baptist and Jesus may have actually been born before 4 B.C.
There were historical sites that had not been touched by 1962, even though their locations had been found. Many sites in Jerusalem have had Christian churches built over them in ages past. Unfortunately, the great Mohammedan Mosque stands over the original temple site in Jerusalem, so they can't dig there.
Pictures were included, as well as maps. What I found most interesting and helpful was the author referred to quotes from the Bible as he spoke of sites and events.
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April 17, 2009Bible and Archaeology by J. A. Thompson (?)
February 23, 2022
I used this book as a college textbook in 1974 (1972 edition), and it changed my view of how the Bible interacts with historical data. The Bible is about salvation history, and is not intended to give a complete story of the characters it mentions. For example, Omri (King Ahab's father) is very briefly mentioned in the Bible, but was a larger figure in the nations around Israel. This book shows how archeology can create a fuller picture of what is in the Bible. Some of the data in this book is outdated, since much of its material is from the 1950s, and more excavations have happened since the 1970s. But it is still a worthwhile read.
January 19, 2024
Very informative work. It will satisfy the appetite of the history lover.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews