Reasonable Faith UTD:
Does Archaeology Support
the Accuracy of the New Testament?
Jan 17, 2013
Allen Hainline
www.OriginsDiscussion.info
Reasonable Faith UTD
Spring 2013 Schedule
Jan 17 – Archaeological Confirmations of the New Testament (Allen)
Jan 24 – Response to New Atheists (Allen)
Feb 7 – A skeptical look at skepticism (Beau Bishop)
Feb 14 – Contradictions in the Bible (Dr. Justin Bass)
Feb 21 – Prophecies in the Bible (Dr. Justin Bass)
Feb 28 – Consciousness: evidence that you are a soul and that God made you (Beau)
Mar 7 – Did Jesus really claim to be Divine? (Dr. Justin Bass)
Mar 14 – Spring Break
Mar 21 – Hume’s Argument Against Miracles (Steve Lee)
March 28 – The Historical Case for Jesus’ Resurrection (Blake Giunta)
April 4 – The Historical Case for Jesus’ Resurrection – Part 2(Blake Giunta)
Fri April 5 – Special Event: Dr. Frank Turek speaks on “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to
be an Atheist” – in auditorium ( CN 1.112), part 2 from his Sept 23 talk at UTD
April 11 – Quantum Physics – Are there any implications to Christianity? (Allen)
April 18 – The Problem of Evil (Steve Lee)
2
posted at www.OriginsDiscussion.info
Intro
Why important?
• Some critics challenge early dates of Biblical writings
or eyewitness testimony
– If so, accounts could not have accurately reflected so many details verified
through archaeology
“The sum total of the literary, historical and archaeological evidence from the
ancient world dramatically supports the New Testament record on Jesus. Those
who claim it does not are sadly misinformed, tragically closed-minded, or
dishonest.” Dr. Paul L. Maier, professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan
“On the whole … archaeological work has unquestionably strengthened
confidence in the reliability of the Scriptural record. More than one
archaeologist has found his respect for the Bible increased by the experience of
excavation in Palestine. Archaeology has in many cases refuted the views of
modern critics.” Millar Burrows, Professor of Archaeology, Yale
3
Biblical Archaeology
• What can it show?
– Only a “fraction of a fraction of a fraction” remains
• Most artifacts did not survive past their time
• Only a fraction of those survived 2000+ years
• Less than 2 per cent of sites have been excavated
– Provides insight into Biblical culture and times
– Validates accuracy/reliability of text
"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological
discovery has ever contradicted a biblical reference.”
Nelson Glueck (highly respected Jewish archaeologist)
• What can’t it show?
– That Bible divinely inspired
4
Absence of Evidence is not
Evidence of Absence
• Many ancient historical events have no
archaeological confirmation
• So-called gospels that were rejected from inclusion in NT
were forgeries written 100-300 years after Christ
– Virtually no place names or details that could be confirmed
archaeologically
• Very different than New Testament!
• Long history of overly skeptical claims
refuted by archaeology
– We’ll look at several examples
5
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar–when
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of
Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis,
and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene–during the high
priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to
John son of Zechariah in the desert.” Luke 3:1-2
Does it sound like he’s making up a story?
•
•
•
•
An exact year can be determined (A.D. 29)
All 8 people known from extra-biblical sources
All known to live at this exact time
E.g. Lysanias previously challenged
• Until inscription found at right time/place
naming him as Tetrarch
Inscription Translated:
“The prefect of Judaea,
Pontius Pilate, erected
the Tiberium (temple in
honor of Tiberius Caesar)
to the August Gods”
Scholars of all
backgrounds believe this
ossuary corresponds to
the Caiaphas mentioned
by Luke (who is most
famous for presiding over
Jewish trial of Jesus
1. Acts - 84 historically-confirmed
eyewitness details.
2. Luke’s gospel includes several others
3. John- 59 historically-confirmed or
historically probable eyewitness details.
4. New Testament Documents cite more
than 30 people confirmed by secular
sources or archaeology
1.
16.
2.
17.
18.
3.
19.
4.
20.
5.
21.
6.
22.
7.
23.
8.
24.
9.
25.
10.
26.
11.
27.
12.
28.
13.
29.
14.
30.
15.
31.
Agrippa
I
Acts 12
Herod Antipas
Mt. 14: Mk. 6; Lk. 3, 23
Agrippa
II Acts 25
Herod Archelaus
Mt. 2
Herod the Gt.Acts 23,
Mt.24
2: Lk. 1
Ananias
Herod
I
Mt.Jn.
14;
Mk.
6 4
Annas PhilipLuke
3;
18;
Acts
Herod
II
Lk.
Aretas Philip2Cor.
11 3
Herodias
Mt. 14; Mk. 6
Bernice
Acts 23
Salome
Augustus
Lk. 2 Mt. 14; Mk. 6
James
Acts
Gal.
Caiaphas
Mt. 26;
Lk.15;
3; Jn.
11,1 18; Acts 4
John
the Baptist
Mt.18
3; Mk. 1; Lk. 3; Jn. 1
Claudius
Acts
11,
Judas of Galilea Acts 5
Drusilla
Acts 24
Lysanias
Lk. 3
Egyptian
(false prophet)
Pilate
Mt. 27;Acts
Mk. 21
15; Lk. 23; Jn. 18
Erastus
Quirinius Acts 19
Lk. 2
Felix
Acts 23
Porcius Festus
Acts 24-26
Gallio
Acts 18
Sergius Paulus
Acts 13
Gamaliel
Acts 5Lk. 3
Tiberius Caesar
Archaeological Confirmations
of Latest Gospel (John)
John 5:2 mentions a pool with 5 porticos in Bethesda located near a Sheep Gate
– Skeptics questioned all 3 of these features – took 5 porticos as being symbolic
• Now archaeologically confirmed after digging in location specified in Bible
• In John 9:1-9 Jesus heals blind man - tells him to wash in the Pool of Siloam
in Jerusalem
– Pool has now been discovered
11
Archaeological Finds
Refute Skeptics’ Dating
Gospel of John
– Critics: “written after 160-170 A.D.”
– P52 found in 1920 in Egypt dated to 125 A.D.
• Papyrus fragments of 4 verses from John 18
– One scrap rendered mounds of skeptical
articles worthless!
12
Surprising Confirmation of
Incidental Details
“Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and
our brother Quartus send you their greetings.” (Rom
16:23)
In Corinth, this 1st century pavement is inscribed:
“Erastus Pro Aedile S.P. Stravit” – Erastus provided
pavement at his expense
Archaeological confirmation that
Gallio was proconsul in Corinth at
in year indicated in Acts 18
• 1 year tenure 51-2 AD
13
New Testament Archaeology
Sir William Ramsay (renowned archaeologist)
– Initially skeptical of NT accuracy due to supposed late authorship (2nd century)
– Investigated for 30 years 300+ references to events, people, places, districts,
official’s titles etc. (Politarch, Tetrarch, Archon, Proconsul, etc.)
– Concluded: "Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact
trustworthy... this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.“
"For example, skeptics claimed Acts 14 wrong - Iconium in Lycaonia not Phyrgia
• Based on Cicero’s writings dealing with a slightly different time period
• In 1910, Ramsay discovered an inscription declaring Iconium under authority of
Phyrgian district from A.D. 37-72 (only)
14
Early Christian Artifacts
Near Jerusalem
Skeptics claim Christianity grew legendarily
•
•
•
Oxford historian indicates 2 generations insufficient for legends
Refuted by early Christian worshippers near Jerusalem and
empty tomb
Findings from Ossuaries (Bone Boxes)
– Ossuaries used primarily prior to 70 AD
– 3 archaeologists led excavations finding Christian ossuaries
• Clermont-Ganneau, Bagatti, Sukenik
• Sukenik (atheist Jew) dated site prior to 50 AD
“World’s greatest authority on Jewish ossuaries”
“All our evidence indicates that we have in this tomb the earliest
records of Christianity in existence. It may also have a bearing on the
historicity of Jesus and the crucifixion.”
• Christian symbols found (crosses, chi-rho, etc.)
• Critics questioned early use of symbols such as crosses
•
•
Herculean cross cannot have been later than 79
Cross might not be symbolic but testify to actual event
16
Other Ossuary Evidence
Ossuaries found that correspond to NT figures:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Caiaphas the High Priest
Sapphira of Acts 5
Lazarus and Martha of Bethany
Alexander son of Simon of Cyrene (carried Jesus’ cross)
Matthias, Joseph Barsabbas (replacement apostles -Acts 1)
Simon bar Jona with cross in Christian tomb
James son of Joseph brother of Jesus?
• Forgery charges but skeptics agree patina for “Jesus” portion ancient
17
Dead Sea Scrolls
•
First discovered in 1947
– First scrolls sold to make leather shoes!
•
•
Some manuscripts dated as old as 3rd century BC
Confirmed level of accuracy of scribes’ copying
– Isaiah scroll matched exact Masoretic texts in 95% of
words
– 5% variation almost entirely spelling alterations or slips of
the pen
Masoretic Text
Oldest ~1000 AD
18
Isaiah Scroll
19
Frank Zindler on Nazareth
“[A]t the turn of the era, there
was no place called Nazareth,
and we do not know when the
place now called by that name
became so identified. . . .
Nazareth was as mythical as the
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus family
that was supposed to have lived
there.”
—Frank Zindler, “Where Jesus Never
Walked,” American Atheist 36 (19967), pp. 33-42.
20
A Jewish archaeologist on recent
excavations in Nazareth
“The discovery is of the utmost
importance since it reveals for the
very first time a house from the
Jewish village of Nazareth and
thereby sheds light on the way of life
at the time of Jesus. The building that
we found is small and modest and it
is most likely typical of the dwellings
in Nazareth in that period.”
Yardenna Alexandre, excavation director for
Israeli Antiquities Authority, “For the Very
First Time: A Residential Building from the
Time of Jesus was Exposed in the Heart of
Nazareth” (12/21/09)
21
Nazareth Decree
•
•
•
Claimed to have been found in Nazareth in 1878
Imperial decree proclaiming death penalty for tomb
robbers
Some scholars date to time period of Emperor Claudius
(41-54 A.D.) but possible range of dates is from 14-70
– Based on reference to Caesar and Jewish burial practices
•
May have been inspired by growing movement that
believed in resurrection of Jesus
–
•
And Jewish story that body stolen from tomb
Some scholars skeptical of connection to Jesus but the
timing and location seem significant
– Consider that Nazareth was a tiny town not even mentioned
by Josephus despite references to 50-60 other towns
– Estimated 50 houses in 1st century Nazareth
• Based on number of tombs
22
Robert M. Price on
Synagogues in Capernaum
“A major collision between
the gospel tradition and
archaeology concerns the
existence of synagogues … in
pre-70 C.E. Galilee.”
Robert M. Price, The Incredible
Shrinking Son of Man (2003), p.
14
Zindler also skeptical of this …
23
Implications of Gospel statements
• Luke suggests that synagogue at Capernaum was a
particularly impressive structure requiring
considerable construction costs
• Other passages in Gospels (e.g. Mark 1, Matthew 4)
make it plain that Capernaum was Jesus’ principal
base of operations in Galilee
• Have the Gospel authors been caught in a huge
mistake?
24
1st Century Synagogue
Found in Capernaum
“The first-century Capernaum synagogue in which
Jesus preached has probably been found. Because
more than one synagogue may have existed in
Capernaum at this time, we cannot be sure that this
new find was Jesus’ synagogue. But this recently
discovered first-century building is certainly a likely
candidate. . . . The conclusion that this was a firstcentury A.D. synagogue seems inescapable.”
James F. Strange and Hershel Shanks, “Synagogue Where Jesus
Preached Found at Capernaum,” Biblical Archaeology Review 9 (1983)
• Unusually thick walls and much larger floor plan than other synagogues
25
Next Week: Responding
to the New Atheists
Who are the New Atheists?
What are there claims and arguments?
www.OriginsDiscussion.info
•
•
Lee Strobel notes that “Skeptics have been asserting for a long time that Nazareth never
existed during the time when the New Testament says Jesus spent his childhood there.”[23]
For example, “atheist Frank Zindler noted that Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old
Testament, by the apostle Paul, by the Talmud (although sixty-three other Galilean towns are
cited), or by Josephus (who listed forty-five other villages and cities of Galilee, including
Japha, which was located just over a mile from present-day Nazareth. No ancient historians
or geographers mention Nazareth before the beginning of the fourth century.”[24] However,
Paul Barnett reports that “in 1961 a mosaic dated from the third century in which Nazareth
appears was unearthed in Caesarea Maritima. Nazareth … is not mentioned in the Old
Testament, nor in Josephus’s work. Questions as to its genuineness were resolved by this
discovery.”[25] Dr James Strange notes that “when Jerusalem fell in AD 70, priests were no
longer needed in the temple because it had been destroyed, so they were sent to various
other locations, even up into Galilee. Archaeologists have found a list in Aramaic describing
the twenty-four ‘courses’, or families, of priests who were relocated, and one of them was
registered as having been moved to Nazareth.”[26]
Moreover: “archaeological digs … have uncovered first-century tombs in the vicinity of
Nazareth, which would establish the village’s limits because by Jewish law burials had to take
place outside the town proper. Two tombs contained objects such as pottery lamps, glass
vessels, and vases from the first, third, or fourth centuries.”[27] Archaeologist Jack Finegan
states that “From the tombs … it can be concluded that Nazareth was a strongly Jewish
settlement in the Roman period.”[28]
31
Note from Craig Evans book
•
At one time it was fashionable to assert that the early Christian confession of
Messiah Jesus as ‘Son of God’ arose not from Jewish and Old Testament
antecedents (2 Sam. 7.14; Ps. 2.2, 7, for example) but from the influence of the
Greco-Roman world, where Greek kings and Roman emperors were hailed as
sons of the gods. The discovery of 4Q246, comprising two columns of Aramaic
text from Qumran’s fourth cave, demolished this view. The author of this firstcentury BCE text anticipated the coming of a deliverer who will be called ‘Son of
God’ and ‘Son of the Most High’. The remarkable parallels to the language of the
annunciation (Luke 1.31–35)
•
Other minimalists have suggested that there were no synagogue buildings in the
time of Jesus; that the New Testament Gospels, which refer to these buildings,
are anachronistic. As we shall see, archaeological discoveries have demolished
this position.
32
Early Attestation of Jesus
Being Worshipped
Alexamenos Graffito
• This piece of graffiti, from near the
Palatine Hill in Rome and rather roughly
dated to late in the second-century AD,
was apparently drawn by one Roman
soldier to mock the faith of a fellow soldier
who was a Christian. It shows a man
standing by a crucifixion victim with the
head of a donkey. The Greek caption reads:
“Alexamenos worships [his] God”.
33
Shroud of Turin
– Wrist wounds not located in palms as depicted in Medieval times
• Art historian Phillip McNair states that not one of hundreds of depictions portrays wounds on
wrists
– Pierced scalp covers entire skull
• Very different than medieval expectations
– Abnormal for crucifixion victim
• Decent burial
• with cloth
• Side wound (post-mortem flow of blood and water) rather than broken legs
– Body wrapped in shroud didn’t decompose
•
the body does not appear to have been moved by conventional means, either, due to the
condition of the bloodstains, which are anatomically correct, including precisely outlined
borders, with blood clots intact. If the cloth had been pulled away from the body, the blood
clots would have smeared or broken.
• Kinds of things faked would not be important in medieval times
http://www.case.edu.au/images/uploads/03_pdfs/williams-shroud-turin.pdf
34
Top Ten New Testament Archaeological Finds of the
Past 150 Years
"How do shrouds, boats, inscriptions, and other
artifacts better help us understand the Christ of the
Ages?"
• http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/se
ptemberweb-only/9-22-21.0.html?start=3
35
Contrast Bible with Book of Mormon
The latter has no arch. confirmation
http://www.bethinking.org/otherreligions/beginner/what-to-say-to-mormons--ch-3-mormon.htm
36
The Greek term translated here as ‘city officials’
is politarchs. Since the term doesn’t appear in
classical literature, “Critics of the New Testament
asserted for many years that Luke was mistaken
in his use of the term ‘politarchs’ … for the
officials of Thessalonica…”[13] However, an
inscription using this term was found on a firstcentury AD arch torn down in 1867.
39
“For Acts the confirmation of
historicity is overwhelming…
Any attempt to reject its
basic historicity must now
appear absurd. Roman
historians have long taken
it for granted.”
Roman historian A. N. Sherwin-White,
Roman Society and Roman Law
in the New Testament, p. 189
Peter Baptizing Centurion
“I began with a mind unfavorable to it
[Acts]… but more recently I found
myself brought into contact with the
book of Acts as an authority for the
topography, antiquities, and society
of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne
in upon me that in various details the
narrative showed marvelous truth.”
Archaeologist William Ramsey,
St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen, p. 8
Painting of Luke by Andrea Mantegna (1431)
Dead Sea Scroll, 2nd century BC
“In Extraordinary ways, modern archaeology has
affirmed the historical core of the Old and New
testaments—corroborating key points of the
stories of Israel’s patriarchs, the Exodus, the
Davidic monarchy, and the life and times of Jesus.”
Jeffery Sheler, “Is the Bible True”
U.S. News & World Report, October 25th,1999, 52
Old Testament Archaeology Backup
45
Old Testament
Archaeology
• Old Testament shown to be unique:
– Documents non-flattering aspects
– Countless cases where skeptics proven
wrong by later findings
• Hittites – 19th century critics questioned
whether or not such a people even existed
– Countless Hittite artifacts now known
• Who was the last king of Babylon?
– Critics said book of Daniel incorrect in claiming it was
Belshazzar because Herodotus indicated it was
Nabonidus; “Belshazzar made up”
– Artifacts found indicating Belshazzar was Nabonidus’
son and was in charge while his father was away for
several years from Babylon
46
Flood Archaeology
• Ancient Flood Stories
– Every continent had flood stories
•
•
•
•
•
•
South America: Incas
North America: Iroquois, Aztecs
Europe: Celts
Africa: Hottentots (Southern Africa)
Asia: Babylonians, Sumerians, Hindus, Burma(Myanmar)
Oceania: New Guinea, Aborigines, New Zealand
Similarity to Biblical account is proportional to separation in
time and space
47
Jericho
Joshua 6: Jericho walls came down, city burned but
not looted
“The walls fell outwards … This is remarkable … the city walls always
fall inward, not outward.” Garstang
“The city's walls had fallen in a way suggestive of sudden collapse. A
thick layer of soot at the site … supports the biblical idea that the city
was burned, not simply conquered. “ Says Wood: "It looks to me as
though the biblical stories are correct.“ Time Magazine Score One for
the Bible
– Estimated date consistent with Exodus date
• C14 dates to ~1400 BC (exact right time frame)
– Burned artifacts recovered indicating no looting of city
(very unusual!)
• Found large stores of grain
– No long siege
• Unusual time of attack matched Biblical account
48
Old Testament Archaeology
• Tophets
– Liberal disbelieved Biblical accounts of child sacrifice
• Despite Greek and Roman historical accounts concerning this also
– 20,000 Phoenician urns uncovered of young children
• Included animals in sacrifice, inscriptions like “Given to fulfill a vow”
• Hazor – Joshua’s Conquest? – heads of idols chopped off
– “Everyone is a potential destroyer of Hazor, if not mentioned in any
document, except those specifically mentioned in the Bible as having done
so.” – Yadin
– No other ancient peoples would degrade idols
– Tablet Fragment found mentioning king of
Hazor by same name as Biblical account
49
Old Testament Historical Validation
•
Sennacherib’s Prism – Assyrian king admits failure to
conquer Jerusalem just as Bible records (King Hezekiah
prayed for deliverance)
– Conquered 46 out of 47 cities
– Seems miraculous that tiny Judah could survive against
mighty Assyria!
•
Cyrus Cylinder – records King Cyrus of Persia’s Babylonian
conquest and his decree to allow captives to return &
restore temples
– Skeptics questioned whether any ruler would allow this
50
Archaeology of
Early Israel
Amarna Letters
•
Letters to Pharaoh about Habiru invaders in Palestine in
14th century BC
Merneptah Stele
•
Records a Pharoah’s victory over Israel in 13th century
BC
– Word used for Israel corresponds to people group
but not nation
– Consistent with status during this time period of
Judges
51