Is The Bible Reliable?
October 21, 2019 at 5:15 am 1 comment
Over the past few weeks, there have been some astounding archaeological discoveries related to the Bible. First, researchers have found possible evidence of the existence of the biblical people of Edom, a people long dismissed by scholars as mythical rather than historical. Reporting for the Daily Mail, Joe Pinkstone writes:
The Biblical kingdom of Edom was long thought to be a myth, but scientists now think they have found proof of its existence in a controversial new finding.
Analysis of copper mines and slagheaps dating back to the 11th century BC reveals evidence of improvements to smelting in mines throughout a 60-mile wide region …
Researchers from the University of California and Tel Aviv University concluded that due to its age and location, the authority controlling the mining and smelting could only be Edom, the kingdom which stood in the way of the expanding Israelites.
The book of Genesis refers to the Edomites, who were thought to be descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau.
That’s incredible. But that’s not all. In another fascinating find, archaeologists uncovered a 1,500-year-old fresco that depicts Jesus feeding a crowd of 5,000 people. Rory Sullivan reports for CNN:
A colorful mosaic recently found in an ancient church in Israel appears to depict a miracle Jesus is said to have performed nearby – the feeding of the 5,000 – archaeologists say.
The discovery was made in the “Burnt Church” in Hippos, an archaeological site on a mountain a mile east of the Sea of Galilee. The church was built around 1,500 years ago and destroyed by fire in the early 7th century AD.
Christian scholars have long argued that the Bible is a remarkably historically reliable document. These recent finds simply contribute additional credence to these claims.
Of course, findings like these do not answer every question or criticism people have about the Bible. But they should at least lead us to consider just how truthful this book just might be. The peoples and places of the Bible seem to be exceptionally archaeologically accurate. So, perhaps we should wonder: What else in this book is accurate? Could the miracles described by the Bible be factual? Could the teachings proffered by the Bible be wise? Could the God confessed by the Bible be real? Could the Bible be what it claims to be – divine revelation?
Archaeological discovery can help us verify the Bible’s accuracy. But the Bible claims to be much more than just accurate. It claims to be authoritative. It is meant to guide and shape our lives. As the Psalmist puts it: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).
It is important to ask the of the Bible: did the events described therein happen way back when? But it is just as critical to answer: how do the events described therein apply to me now? For the Bible is not just a history book. It is a helpful book. And it is not just a helpful book. It is a holy book. May we treat it as such.
Entry filed under: Current Trends. Tags: Archaeology, Bible, Christianity, Edom, Feeding, History, Jesus, Reliability, Scriptures.
Pastor Zach's Blog 
1.
jon trautman | October 21, 2019 at 9:05 am
The Bible, as many in today’s culture promote, is NOT culturally obsolete. It remains a profound book explaining the deity of Christ,His death, and resurrection.