In the previous chapters we showed how those who said the Bible-stories were just fancy-full stories with figures, places and battles which would never have existed, their negativeness could be countered. We saw how in recent years their denial could be invalidated by excavations and new historical findings.
One could say that archaeology‘s incremental confirmation of the Bible is shoring up the faith of those who already believe it to be the word of God. Yet, no archaeological confirmation is likely to ever deliver any kind of death blow to the side of disbelief.
For one thing, not every statement in the Bible is of the nature that it has left behind material evidence to survive thousands of years of time.
Allis writes on this subject,
[Archaeology] may confirm the setting and background of the life of Abraham. It has done so to a remarkable degree. But it is not likely that any personal records of his life beside those contained in the Bible will ever be discovered. {Allis, Oswald T., “The Old Testament: Its Claims and Its Critics”, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1972, pp. 175-176}
Though he does not think so we have much more reason to think otherwise. We understand his vision when he gives the reason why not so much shall be found out of the bible:
This is unlikely for several reasons. One is the fact that the Bible tells us so little about the life of Abraham and this little is told largely in terms of Abraham’s intimate, personal experience. The other is that Abraham’s contacts with the great world, even his victory over Chedorlaomer and his fellow kings (Gen. 14), were hardly likely to find a place in the historical records of his contemporaries. {Allis, Oswald T., “The Old Testament: Its Claims and Its Critics”, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1972, pp. 175-176}
We always should remember that next to the Hebrew Bible we have the Hebrew teaching material and studies as well as the secular historical writings. Also can we find writings from pagan people on the Hebrews or Jews. Those heathen people contrary to their Jewish contemporaries have created many sculptures and images of their gods and as such have left much more legacy. The religion of Israel contrary to their neighbouring peoples was focusing on an unseen God of Whom no pictures or graven images were to be made. Their religion was a spiritual one demanding to be faithful to only One God and not to worship idols or giving to much attention to worldly goods. Therefore we can also imagine they were not so interested in embellishing themselves or surrounding themselves with wealth.
Consequently, while images of the heathen gods – especially Astarte plaques – abound, there are no images of Israel’s God to be discovered and no temples except the one at Jerusalem. Material evidences of Israel’s worship (wood, stone, or metal) will therefore indicate not the true worship of her people but its perversion. {Allis, Oswald T., “The Old Testament: Its Claims and Its Critics”, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1972, pp. 175-176}
Because at times also Israel encountered difficulties to stay in line with God’s Word. Though they knew the many stories of How God had helped them on many occasions and on how God made it clear He should be the Only One God. To be remembered lots of stories where were cast in a simple form to remember and should never to be taken as an accurate historical point to point or day to day report.
The Bible stories never have the intention to bring an instant report from minute to minute, but they want to tell the events in such a way that they are easy to remember and to tell over and over again to others.
In the past as well in our days we can find that archaeology and historical research may help us to better understand what went on. The archaeological and historical findings also may well be a major pillar for belief in the Bible for those who will accept it. However, any kind of archaeological evidence that seems to support the Bible will always be dismissed by those who believe exists a superior avenue of discovering the truth. For many critics, that superior avenue is science.
In many ways, science is the religion of the irreligious; revering both the practitioners of science, as well as its methods and philosophies. {Does archaeology confirm or deny the claims of the Bible?}
+
Preceding
A Book to trust #1 Background book for debate
A Book to trust #2 Book of Truth
A Book to trust #3 Creation and Creator
A Book to trust #4 Cause of Being and Truth
A Book to trust #5 Words directed to create order
A Book to trust #6 True God and true words
A Book to trust #7 Heavenly Father not withholding knowledge
A Book to trust #8 Father of the universe wanting His creatures to know Him
A Book to trust #9 Consistency
A Book to trust #10 Archaeology confirming or denying claims of the Bible #1 Old Testament
A Book to trust #11 Archaeology confirming or denying claims of the Bible #2 New Testament
Next
A Book to trust #13 Books for education and adjustment
++
Additional reading
- Words in the world
- The business of this life
- Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations
- If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright
- Revealing books
- The Word of God in print
- Jewish writings and translations for our era
- Background of Faith
- Inspired Word
- Bible, Word of God, inspired and infallible
- Bible, helmet of health, salvation and sword of the spirit
- Pure Words and Testimonies full of Breath of the Most High
- Glory of only One God Who gives His Word
- Written down in God’s Name for righteousness
- See God’s wonderworks and hear His Voice
- Fearing the right person
- Getting to know the Truth
- Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers
- God’s Word is like the rain
- Esteeming the words of Gods mouth
- Gods word like a surgeons scalpel
- God’s word…is a comfort to the one who yields to God’s will
- The World framed by the Word of God
- Possibility to live
- We should use the Bible every day
- Feed Your Faith Daily
- Power in the life of certain
- The manager and Word of God
- Wishing to do the will of God
- A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
- A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
- Happy who’s delight is only in the law of Jehovah
- Thy Word is Truth
+++
Related
- Hetty Goldman: The Potentate of American Archaeology in Greece
- Can the Bible be used as a historical guide? One archaeologist thinks so
- The mystery of being held together
- Hebrew History
- Hebrew History 1: This is a short history of the Hebrew nation to supplement Thru the Bible.
- Hebrew History II: Period of Beginnings (Genesis 1-12)
- Hebrew History IIIa: Introduction to the Genesis 12-50 Period
- Hebrew History IV: The Fall to Abraham
- Essay Lesson 5 Abraham Unto Moses
- Faith and patience
- Faced With Difficulties, You Need to Understand God’s Will
- Seeing but not Perceiving!
- Stories of the Bible: Volume 3
- Books of the Bible – Give a new direction to life
- Review: 100 Bible Stories for Children
- Bible Stories, with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
- An Archive is not a Library
- The Embryonic Stage of a Nation
- Writing Tip — Researching Local History
- Archival research – where to start?
- Minutiae: The most time-consuming research
- Archival records weren’t created for future researchers
- How archival documents are organized
- A Revolutionary Apothecary in Salem
- The Role of Interpretation in Determining Continuity in Danza Azteca History
Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people 
23 thoughts on “A Book to trust #12 Archaeology confirming or denying claims of the Bible #3 Material evidence to survive”