The Historical
Reliability Of
The Bible
By David Dann
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“The entirety of Your word
is truth, And every one of
Your righteous judgments
endures for-ever” (Psalm
119:160--NKJV).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“…knowing this first, that
no prophecy of Scripture
is
of
any
private
interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will
of man, but holy men of
God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit”
(2 Peter 1:20-21).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“However, when He, the
Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you
into all truth; for He will
not speak on His own
authority, but whatever
He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you
things to come” (John
16:13).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“…how that by revelation
He made known to me the
mystery (as I have briefly
written already, by which,
when you read, you may
understand my knowledge
in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was
not made known to the
sons of men, as it has now
been revealed by the Spirit
to His holy apostles and
prophets” (Eph. 3:3-5).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
“Sanctify them by Your
truth. Your word is
truth” (John 17:17).
Historical Reliability of the Bible
• The
Bible—rooted
in
history, but not a textbook of history.
• Is it historically accurate?
– Bible vs. Higher Criticism.
Historical Reliability of the Bible
Langdon Gilkey,
(Professor of
Theology,
University of
Chicago)
“Suddenly a vast panoply of divine
deeds and events recorded in Scripture
are no longer regarded as having
actually happened. Not only, for
example, do the six days of creation,
the historical fall in Eden, and the flood
seem to us historically untrue, but even
more the majority of divine deeds in the
biblical history of the Hebrew people
become what we choose to call
symbols rather than plain old historical
facts…these ‘acts’ vanish from the
plane of historical reality and enter the
never-never
land
of
‘religious
interpretation’ by the Hebrew people.”
Historical Reliability of the Bible
• The
Bible—rooted
in
history, but not a textbook of history.
• Is it historically accurate?
– Bible vs. Higher Criticism.
– Do the facts support the
faith?
Historical Reliability of the Bible
• The
Bible—rooted
in
history, but not a textbook of history.
• Is it historically accurate?
• Archaeology & secular
history confirm the historical accuracy of the
Bible.
– General confirmation.
– Specific confirmation.
General Confirmation of O.T.
General Confirmation of O.T.
• The Flood (Genesis 6-9).
General Confirmation of O.T.
• The Flood (Genesis 6-9).
• Widespread Famine (Genesis
12:10-20; 42:1-4; 43:1-2).
General Confirmation of O.T.
• The Flood (Genesis 6-9).
• Widespread Famine (Genesis
12:10-20; 42:1-4; 43:1-2).
• Large-scale migration.
Beni Hassan Wall Paintings of
Asian Semitics in Egypt
General Confirmation of O.T.
• The Flood (Genesis 6-9).
• Widespread Famine (Genesis
12:10-20; 42:1-4; 43:1-2).
Code Of
Hammurabi
• Large-scale migration.
• Patriarchal names.
• Abraham’s behavior (Genesis
12:11-13; 16:1-3).
General Confirmation of O.T.
• Stories
involving
Jacob, & Esau.
Isaac,
– Birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).
– Oral Blessing (Genesis 27:140).
– Household
31:17-42).
Nuzi Tablets
Idols
(Genesis
General Confirmation of O.T.
• Stories
involving
Jacob, & Esau.
• Story of Joseph
37:28; 41:39-41).
Isaac,
(Genesis
General Confirmation of O.T.
• Stories
involving
Jacob, & Esau.
• Story of Joseph
37:28; 41:39-41).
Isaac,
(Genesis
• Egypt’s treatment of Israel &
Moses’ census (Exodus 5:613; Numbers 1-4).
Thutmose III
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Hazor (Joshua 11:1).
– Megiddo (Joshua 12:21).
– Jerusalem (Joshua 10:1).
– Lachish (Joshua 10:3).
– Dor (Joshua 11:2).
– Gaza (Genesis 10:19).
– Karnaim (Genesis 14:5).
– Canaan (Genesis 11:31).
Ebla Tablets
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Hazor (Joshua 11:1).
– Megiddo (Joshua 12:21).
– Jerusalem (Joshua 10:1).
– Lachish (Joshua 10:3).
– Dor (Joshua 11:2).
– Gaza (Genesis 10:19).
– Karnaim (Genesis 14:5).
– Canaan (Genesis 11:31).
Ur of the Chaldees
– Ur of Chaldees (Genesis 11:2728; 12:1; Hebrews 11:9).
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Haran (Genesis 11:31-32).
– Hebron (Genesis 23:2).
– Beersheba (Genesis 21:31).
– Shechem (Genesis 12:6).
– Laish (Judges 18:29).
Nineveh
– Nineveh (Genesis 10:11).
– Ekron (Joshua 13:3).
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Haran (Genesis 11:31-32).
– Hebron (Genesis 23:2).
– Beersheba (Genesis 21:31).
– Shechem (Genesis 12:6).
– Laish (Judges 18:29).
– Nineveh (Genesis 10:11).
– Ekron (Joshua 13:3).
– Jericho (Joshua 2:1).
Jericho
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Copper in Canaan
eronomy 8:9).
(Deut-
– Solomon’s horse stables in
Megiddo (1 Kings 9:19).
Megiddo Horse Stables
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• Geography of Old Testament.
– Copper in Canaan
eronomy 8:9).
(Deut-
– Solomon’s horse stables in
Megiddo (1 Kings 9:19).
– Jeroboam’s “high place” in
Dan (1 Kings 12:26-31).
“High Place” at Dan
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Merneptah
Stele
mentions
Israel (13th century B.C.).
– Earlier reference to “Asher”
(14th century B.C.).
Merneptah Stele
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Moabite Stone of Mesha refers
to Israelite king Omri (1 Kings
16:16) and his son (1 Kings
21:25).
Moabite Stone
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Shalmaneser
III
makes
reference to Hazael’s usurpation of Ben-Hadad (2 Kings
8:15).
Shalmaneser III
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
III speaks of Jehu’s tribute to
Assyria (2 Kings 9:1-10).
Black Obelisk
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Records of Tiglath Pileser III
mention Menahem, Pekah, and
Hoshea (2 Kings 15:29-30).
Tiglath Pileser III
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Records of Sennacherib refer
to Hezekiah’s tribute to Assyria
(2 Kings 18:14-16).
Sennacherib
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Taylor Prism of Sennacherib
harmonizes
with
Biblical
account of his unsuccessful
siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18;
19:35-36).
Taylor Prism
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Hezekiah’s
20:20).
Hezekiah’s Tunnel
tunnel
(2
Kings
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Shebna’s tomb (Isaiah 22:15).
Tomb of Shebna
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– Babylonian king MerodachBaladan (2 Kings 20:12).
Merodach-Baladan
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– The records of king Esarhaddon of Assyria agree with
Biblical accounts (2 Kings
20:36-37; 2 Chronicles 33:1011).
Esarhaddon
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– King
Nebuchadnezzar
Babylon (2 Kings 25).
Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace
of
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
• People of the Old Testament.
– King
Nebuchadnezzar
Babylon (2 Kings 25).
of
– The
Babylonian
Chronicle
mentions
Nebuchadnezzar’s
removal of Jehoiachin as king
of Judah (2 Kings 24:17).
Babylonian Chronicle
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
– Seals inscribed with the
names of Gemariah, king
Jehoiakim’s scribe (Jeremiah
36:10), Baruch, who was
Jeremiah’s scribe (Jeremiah
36:4), Gedaliah the governor
(Jeremiah 40:5), and Ishmael,
the
son
of
Nethaniah
(Jeremiah
41:2)
who
assassinated him.
Gemariah
Gedaliah
Baruch
People of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
People of the Old Testament.
– The list of rations king EvilMerodach
appointed
for
Jehoiachin while captive in
Babylon (2 Kings 25:27-30).
Jehoiachin’s Rations
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
People of the Old Testament.
– The Cyrus Cylinder confirms
king Cyrus of Persia and his
lenient stance toward captive
nations (2 Chronicles 36:2223; Ezra 1:1-4).
Cyrus Cylinder
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
People of the Old Testament.
– The Behistun Rock confirms
the reign of Darius the Great
(Ezra 5-6).
Behistun Rock
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
People of the Old Testament.
– The Persian king Ahasuerus
of the book of Esther has
been identified in secular
history as “Xerxes,” who was
succeeded
by
his
son,
Artaxerxes (Neh. 2:1).
Xerxes (Ahasuerus)
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
People of the Old Testament.
– The
Elephantine
papyri
confirm the existence of
Sanballat of Samaria (Neh.
4:1), while the Zeno papyri
confirm the existence of
Tobiah the Ammonite (Neh.
4:3).
Zeno Papyri
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
Events of the Old Testament.
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
Cornelius Tacitus
Events of the Old Testament.
– First century A.D. Jewish
historian Josephus wrote of
evidence of destruction of
Sodom & Gomorrah and
stated that traces of the
destroyed cities could still be
seen in his day, while the first
century A.D. Roman historian
Tacitus speaks of these cities
as having been “consumed
by lightning” and also affirms
that their ruins were visible in
his day.
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
Events of the Old Testament.
– Widespread worship of the
pagan deities Baal (Judges
2:13), Dagon, and Ashtaroth
(1 Samuel 31:10) in Canaan.
Baal
Dagon
Ashtaroth
Specific Confirmation of O.T.
•
Babylonian Chronicle
Lachish Letters
Events of the Old Testament.
– Three
phases
of
the
Babylonian captivity of Judah
(Dan. 1:1-6; Ezek. 1:1-3; 2
Chron. 36:15-21) have been
confirmed
through
the
“Bayblonian Chronicle,” the
“Chronicles of the Chaldean
Kings,” and the “Lachish
Letters.”
General Confirmation of N.T.
General Confirmation of N.T.
•
Augustus Caesar
Character of Roman census
ordered by Augustus (Luke
2:1-3).
General Confirmation of N.T.
•
Coins mentioned in the New
Testament (Matt. 20:2;
22:17-21; 26:14-15; Mk.
12:41-44).
Shekel (First Century A.D.)
Denarius (Augustus)
General Confirmation of N.T.
•
Presence of Jewish
communities (Acts 2:5-11).
General Confirmation of N.T.
•
Presence of Jewish
communities (Acts 2:5-11).
•
Reference to Queen of
Ethiopia as “Candace”
(Acts 8:27).
General Confirmation of N.T.
•
Altars to “unknown gods”
(Acts 17:23).
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament Geography.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Rome
New Testament Geography.
– Cities and towns such as
Rome, Jerusalem, Athens,
Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Antioch of Syria,
Corinth, Ephesus, etc. have
been identified and excavated.
Jerusalem
Capernaum
Athens (Mars’ Hill)
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament Geography.
– The judgment seat (bema) of
Corinth (Acts 18:12-17).
Corinthian Bema (Judgment Seat)
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament Geography.
– Temple of Diana and theater
of Ephesus (Acts 19:27-41).
Temple of Diana
Ephesus-Theater
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Jordan River
Sea of Galilee
New Testament Geography.
– The Jordan River (Matthew
3:13-17), Sea of Galilee (John
6:1), Mount of Olives (John
8:1), and the Pools of
Bethesda and Siloam (John
5:1-15; 9:1-11) have been
identified, along with many
other significant locations.
Mount of Olives
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Pool of Bethesda
Pool of Siloam
New Testament Geography.
– The Jordan River (Matthew
3:13-17), Sea of Galilee (John
6:1), Mount of Olives (John
8:1), and the Pools of
Bethesda and Siloam (John
5:1-15; 9:1-11) have been
identified, along with many
other significant locations.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament People.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Augustus
Tiberius
New Testament People.
– Roman emperors Augustus
(Luke 2:1), Tiberius (Luke 3:1),
Claudius (Acts 11:28), and
Nero, (Acts 25:10-12), are well
known
through
secular
history.
Claudius
Nero
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Herod the Great
New Testament People.
– The ruling family of the
Herods, including Herod the
Great (Matthew 2:1), Herod
Archelaus (Matthew 2:22),
Herod Philip (Luke 3:1), Herod
Antipas (Mark 6:14-18), Herod
Agrippa I (Acts 12:20-23), and
Herod Agrippa II (Acts 26:1-3),
is also well attested in secular
history.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament People.
– Historical
accounts
of
government officials such as
Quirinius (Luke 2:2), Lysanias
(Luke 3:1), Pontius Pilate
(Matthew
27:2),
Sergius
Paulus (Acts 13:7), Gallio
(Acts 18:12), and Felix (Acts
23:23-24) agree with the Bible.
– Pontius Pilate inscription was
discovered in 1961.
Pontius Pilate Inscription
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Caiaphas Ossuary
New Testament People.
– As for Jewish leaders in the
New Testament, the ossuary
(burial box) of Caiaphas the
high priest (Matthew 26:3)
was discovered in 1990,
Gamaliel
(Acts
5:34)
is
mentioned in the Jewish
Talmud, and Ananias the high
priest is known through
secular history.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament People.
– Josephus makes mention of
both John the Baptizer
(Matthew 3:1) and James the
brother of Jesus (Galatians
1:19).
Flavius Josephus
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
New Testament People.
– In 1929 a first century A.D.
limestone inscription which
makes reference to Erastus
the city treasurer (Rom. 16:23)
was discovered in Corinth.
Erastus Inscription
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Non-Biblical References To
Jesus.
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Cornelius Tacitus
Non-Biblical References To
Jesus.
– The
Roman
historian
Cornelius Tacitus (60-120 A.D.)
states
that
Christ
was
executed by Pontius Pilate in
Judea during the reign of
Tiberius
Caesar
(Tacitus,
Annals 15.43).
– The Roman historian, Gaius
Suetonius (69-140 A.D.) traces
a disturbance among the
Jews in Rome back to the
influence of Christ (Suetonius
5.25).
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Non-Biblical References To
Jesus.
– The Jewish historian Flavius
Josephus (37-100 A.D.) makes
reference to the ministry of
Christ and to his crucifixion
by Pilate at the urging of the
Jewish leaders (Josephus,
Antiquities 18.3.3), and refers
to “Jesus, who was called
Christ” in writing of the death
of
James
(Josephus,
Antiquities 20.9.1).
Flavius Josephus
Specific Confirmation of N.T.
•
Trajan
Non-Biblical References To
Jesus.
– Pliny the Younger (62-113
A.D.), governor of Bithynia &
Pontus, wrote to emperor
Trajan
with
questions
concerning
treatment
of
Christians
and
provided
described
their
regular
worship of Christ.
– Greek satirist Lucian of
Samosata
(125-190
A.D.)
wrote of Christ as originator
of this cult who was crucified
in Palestine.
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– Evidence of camels dating to
several hundred years before
Abraham’s day has been
found in Egypt (Genesis
12:16).
Code Of
Hammurabi
– Ancient inscriptions found in
Palestine indicate that alphabetic writing was in use in
that part of the world even
before the time of Moses.
– The Code of Hammurabi
demonstrates sophistication
of ancient law codes.
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– A vast Hittite empire has been
discovered
and
many
universities now offer a PhD
in Hittite Studies (Genesis
15:20; Deuteronomy 7:1).
Hittites
Kadesh Treaty Between
Hittites & Egypt
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– In 1993 a 3,000 year old
monumental inscription referring to “the House of David”
was found in northern Israel
(2 Samuel 5:3).
“House of David” Inscription
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– Palace of Sargon, king of
Assyria (Isaiah 20:1) was
discovered in 1843.
Palace of Sargon
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– Inscriptions uncovered in
ancient Babylonia confirm
Belshazzar’s existence and
indicate that he was co-ruler
of Babylon with his father,
Nabonidus (Daniel 5:1-31).
Nabonidus Cylinder
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
Overcoming The Critics.
– Inscriptions
have
been
uncovered which indicate that
Quirinius actually served as
governor twice (Luke 2:2).
– In 1968 the bones of a
crucified man, Yohanan ben
Ha’galgol, were discovered in
a tomb outside Jerusalem,
having received a proper
Jewish burial (Luke 23:50-56).
Bone of Crucified Man
– The Bible criticizes the
critics!!!
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
The Bible Deserves The
Benefit Of The Doubt.
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
The Bible Deserves The
Benefit Of The Doubt.
– The historical reliability of the
Bible makes it unique.
– The Bible has fended off
criticism at every turn, and its
historical accuracy has been
confirmed.
– We should only expect further
confirmation of the details of
biblical history to emerge in
the future.
Significance of Historical Reliability
•
The Bible Deserves The
Benefit Of The Doubt.
– Critics
should
reserve
judgment
when
before
casting doubt on the integrity
of the Scriptures.
– Passages currently lacking
extra-biblical
confirmation
may yet be confirmed in the
future.
– The Bible has earned the
right to receive the
benefit of the doubt!
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
•
Christians must defend the
historical accuracy of the Bible.
Must be “set for the defense of
the gospel” (Phil. 1:17) &
“always be ready to give a
defense” of the truth (1 Peter
3:15).
Must uphold and guard the
integrity of the inspired record.
The Bible is not a book of
“cunningly devised fables” (2
Peter 1:16).
The Bible truly is “the word of
God which lives and abides
forever” (1 Peter 1:23).
The Bible
is
Historically
Reliable!!!