Dr. Mitchell Rothman Professor, Widener University Consulting Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania Museum

Dr. Rothman told us… Lecture not about proving the bible Lecture not about proving the bible Archaeology disproves the bible Archaeology disproves the bible This shouldn’t affect our faith This shouldn’t affect our faith “If it could be proved that Jesus never existed, would it change your faith?”

What archaeological finds? some pictures of pots some pictures of pots some generic pictures of idols some generic pictures of idols the Moabite Stone the Moabite Stone 4 room house foundation 4 room house foundation referred to the Ebla tablets referred to the Ebla tablets Dr. Rothman asserted: OT not written till 700 or 800 years after David (300 years before Christ) OT not written till 700 or 800 years after David (300 years before Christ) Not based on any archaeological evidence Flood Story based on Gilgamesh epic Not based on any archaeological evidence Eden just a story about Jerusalem Eden just a story about Jerusalem Based on “Gihon” NT not written till 100 or 150 years after Jesus NT not written till 100 or 150 years after Jesus Not based on any archaeological evidence JEDP JEDP Not based on any archaeological evidence Paul’s death reported by Clement of Rome, A.D. 96 It is generally believed Paul died during the reign of Nero (A.D. 68) Dionysius (2 nd Century) Dionysius (2 nd Century) Tertullian (early 3 rd Century) Tertullian (early 3 rd Century) Eusebius (4 th Century) Eusebius (4 th Century) Jerome (4 th Century Jerome (4 th Century P 52 John Rylands fragment c. A.D. 125 While it is still generally held that the Pentateuch is the product of many hands and many centuries, since the late 1960s, with the spread of new scholarly tools and a growing recognition of the limitations of Wellhausen's analytical framework, Wellhausen's model has fallen out of favor. But while the terminology and insights of the documentary hypothesis continue to inform scholarly debate about the origins of the Pentateuch, it no longer dominates that debate as it did for the first two thirds of the 20th century. "The verities enshrined in older introductions [to the subject of the origins of the Pentateuch] have disappeared, and in their place scholars are confronted by competing theories which are discouragingly numerous, exceedingly complex, and often couched in an expository style that is (to quote John van Seter's description of one seminal work) 'not for the faint-hearted.'"

“Abraham probably not a monotheist” “Abraham probably not a monotheist” “Abraham probably not from the Ur we know” “Abraham probably not from the Ur we know” “If Abraham were from the traditional Ur, he would have written in Sumerian.” “If Abraham were from the traditional Ur, he would have written in Sumerian.” Abraham is called a “wandering Aramean” Abraham is called a “wandering Aramean” Dt. 26:5 “And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

Exodus probably didn’t happen

PHILISTINES EXODUS 13:17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. EGYPTIAN FORTS

Jesus not born on Dec. 26 Jesus not born on Dec. 26 Not born in year 0 Not born in year 0 Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible Tacitius, c. A.D.116 Yet no human effort, no princely largess nor offerings to the gods could make that infamous rumor disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated.

Jesus not born on Dec. 25 Jesus not born on Dec. 25 Not born in year 0 Not born in year 0 Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible Tacitius, c. A.D.116 Yet no human effort, no princely largess nor offerings to the gods could make that infamous rumor disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated.

“Jesus not born on Dec. 25” “Jesus not born on Dec. 25” “Not born in year 0” “Not born in year 0” “Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible” “Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible” “Probably a Pharisee” “Jesus born in Nazareth” Showed photo of “church” where Jesus was baptized “James work was in Galilee”

Joshua’s point: facts and conjecture, can’t mix them up “Scholars,” wild conjectures, and the effect on the masses Dr. Rothman said that, as an archaeologist, he studies the evidence excluding the written account of the society he is studying. Clearly, he does that with the Bible. Would he take that skeptical approach with anything else?