Is the Bible a message from a God I can’t see? Archaeology

Exciting Discoveries Critics claimed Bible was myth and legend Bible names have been found Walls, stones and coins discovered referring to Biblical names and events Archaeological discoveries prove that the Bible is accurate and reliable

Background history Bible mainly concerned with Israel and its neighbours Discoveries mainly relate to superpowers that dominated Israel: –Assyria –Babylon –Persia –Greece –Rome Each superpower conquered previous one Israel usually suffered as a result

The Tel Dan Inscription Tel Dan in Northern Israel

The Tel Dan Inscription Critics doubted king David ever existed Tel Dan fragment made them think again

The Tel Dan Inscription Inscription text: “Hadad” made the writer king The writer boasting of achievements in war with Israel “House of David” is referred to

The Tel Dan Inscription Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together… And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it 1 Kings 20 v 1 Inscription confirms Bible record: Hostility between Syria and Israel “Ben (son of) Hadad” title of Syrian kings involved in hostility

The Tel Dan Inscription And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David …” 1 Kings 12 v 26 Inscription confirms Bible record: Royal line from king David was known as “house of David”

Kurkh Stela of Shalmaneser Kurkh in Southern Turkey

Kurkh Stela of Shalmaneser “Stela” - round topped vertical stone Shows Assyrian king Shalmaneser III facing symbols of four gods Records of six military campaigns Record includes defeats of Ahab, king of Israel and Ben- Hadad, king of Syria

Kurkh Stela of Shalmaneser So Ben-Hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this treaty." So he made a treaty with him and sent him away. 1 Kings 20 v 34

Kurkh Stela of Shalmaneser Other Assyrian records name several kings mentioned in the Bible: Hezekiah Shallum Menahem Pekah Hoshea Uzziah Ahaz Hazael Kurkh Stela and other findings support the Bible

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III Found at Calah

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III Black stone found in pit Panels of carved pictures on each side Inscription on each panel One panel shows Jewish king Jehu

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III Obelisk confirms Bible record: Israel had king named Jehu Jehu reigned when Assyria was superpower Assyrians had kings called Shalmaneser Assyrians made subject nations pay tribute Jehu paying tribute to Shamaneser

Six-sided Sennacherib Cylinder Found at Nineveh

Six-sided Sennacherib Cylinder Record of Sennacherib king of Assyria Details eight military campaigns Includes Sennacherib’s attack on Israel

Six-sided Sennacherib Cylinder “I then besieged Hezekiah of Judah who had not submitted to any yoke and I captured forty-six of his strong cities and fortresses, innumerable small cities … I brought out therefrom 200,150 people … (Hezekiah) himself like a caged bird, I shut up within Jerusalem, his royal city. I threw up mounds against him, and I took vengeance upon any man who came forth from his city.! No record of Jerusalem being conquered!

Six-sided Sennacherib Cylinder Sennacherib taking cities of Judah: In the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 2 Kings 18 v 13 Sennacherib coming against Jerusalem: The King of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18 v 17

Six-sided Sennacherib Cylinder Once again Bible supported by archaeological finds That night the angel of the LORD went out a put to death one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning - there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. 2 Kings 19 v 35 and 36 Embarrassing defeat not likely to be mentioned by Sennacherib

The Cyrus Cylinder Found at Babylon

The Cyrus Cylinder Written by Cyrus, king of Persia Account of Persian conquest of city of Babylon by Cyrus

The Cyrus Cylinder Persian policy toward captives and sacred objects I returned to (these) sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been in ruins for a long time, the images which (used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I (also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them) their habitations.

The Cyrus Cylinder Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, … he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, … Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel … which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1 v 1 and 3 Cyrus cylinder supports Bible record Cyrus encouraged captives to return home Encouraged them to practice own religion

The Pilate Inscription Found at Caesarea

The Pilate Inscription Pontius Pilate – fact or fiction In 1961 inscription discovered: “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea” Inscription part of dedication to Tiberius Caesar

The Pilate Inscription Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Luke 3 v 1 Critics have once again been silenced!

The Politarch Inscription Found at Thessalonika

The Politarch Inscription How accurate is the book of Acts? Uses terms like “politarch” for city rulers Terms not known anywhere else Luke must be wrong! Recent discoveries show Luke was right

The Politarch Inscription Lists town officials in second century Six “politarchs” are listed The same term found on other inscriptions from Thessalonika

The Politarch Inscription...they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers [politarchs] of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” … And they troubled the crowd and the rulers [politarchs] of the city when they heard these things Acts 17 v 6 and 8

The Politarch Inscription Other examples : –“praetors” – rulers of Phillippi –“proconsul” – ruler of Corinth –“leading man of the island” – ruler of Malta Yet again Archaeology supports the Bible

Tel Dan inscription Archaeology supports Bible record:

Kurkh Stela Archaeology supports Bible record:

Black obelisk of Shalmeneser III Archaeology supports Bible record:

Sennacherib cylinder Archaeology supports Bible record:

Cyrus cylinder Archaeology supports Bible record:

Pilate Inscription Archaeology supports Bible record:

Politarch inscription Archaeology supports Bible record:

Tip of the Iceberg Only tiny fraction of total evidence presented 100s of archaeological digs all providing evidence Nowadays many archaeologists use the Bible –Reference guide –Help search out ancient sites We can trust the Bible account!

Food for Thought Writers of inscriptions we have looked at are dead They offer no hope of life after death Bible writings are different …hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began Titus 1 v 2 The Bible is reliable and gives hope for the future

The Challenge Evidence shows –Bible is reliable –Critics proved wrong You can trust the Bible when it gives advice about your life and offers hope for the future

Summary Archaeology supports Bible record: