Christian archaeology – why is it important?

Answer

Archaeology originates from two combined Greek words—archae, meaning “ancient,” and logos, meaning “knowledge”; hence, “knowledge or study of the ancients.” An archaeologist is more than just an Indiana Jones-type individual traveling the world in search of old artifacts to exhibit in a museum. Archaeology is a scientific field that examines ancient cultures by retrieving and recording materials from the past. Christian archaeology is the study of ancient cultures that have influenced Christianity and Judaism, as well as the Jewish and Christian cultures themselves. Christian archaeologists aim not only to uncover new information about the past but also to confirm existing knowledge and enhance our comprehension of the customs and practices of the peoples mentioned in the Bible.

The biblical text and other written records are crucial sources of information regarding the history of ancient biblical peoples. However, these records have left numerous questions unanswered. This is where Christian archaeologists play a vital role. They can supplement the incomplete picture provided by the biblical accounts. Excavations of ancient refuse sites and deserted cities have yielded fragments that offer insights into the past. The objective of Christian archaeology is to authenticate the fundamental truths of the Old and New Testaments through the physical remnants of ancient civilizations.

Christian archaeology did not emerge as a scientific discipline until the 19th century. The foundations of Christian archaeology were established by individuals such as Johann Jahn, Edward Robinson, and Sir Flinders Petrie. William F. Albright rose to prominence in the 20th century. Albright was instrumental in integrating Christian archaeology into contemporary discussions concerning the origins and credibility of the biblical narratives. Albright and his disciples supplied a significant portion of the physical evidence supporting the historical events recounted in the Bible.The Bible. However, today it seems as though there are as many archaeologists trying to disprove the Bible as there are those proving it to be accurate.

We do not have to go very far to find new attacks on Christianity from the secular world. An example is much of the programming on the Discovery Channel, such as “The Da Vinci Code” docudrama. Other offerings have dealt with the historicity of Christ. One program, by James Cameron, argued that the tomb and burial box of Jesus had been found. From this “discovery,” the conclusion was drawn that Jesus had not risen from the dead. What the program failed to say is that the box had been discovered years earlier and that it had already been proven not to be Christ’s burial box. This knowledge was achieved through the hard work of Christian archaeologists.

It is archaeological evidence that provides the best possible physical information on the life and times of the ancients. When proper scientific methods are applied to the excavation of ancient sites, information emerges that gives us a greater understanding of the ancient peoples and their culture and proofs that validate the biblical text. Systematic recordings of these findings, shared with experts worldwide, can give us the most complete information on the lives of those who lived in Bible times. Christian archaeology is just one of the tools scholars can use to present a more complete defense of the biblical narrative and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Often, when sharing our faith, we are asked by non-believers how we know the Bible is true. One of the answers we can give is that, through the work of Christian archaeologists, many of the facts of the Bible have been validated.