Premise 1: The Bible is a reliable source for Near East history
Modern archaeology has helped us realize that the Bible is historically accurate even in the smallest of details. There have been thousands of archaeological discoveries in the past century that support every book of the Bible. Here are just a few examples:
Critics used to believe … the Bible was wrong because they felt that King David was a legendary, mythical character. They pointed to the fact that there was no archaeological evidence that King David was an actual historical figure.
But then in 1994, archaeologists discovered an ancient stone slab in northern Galilee that was inscribed with the references to King David and the “House of David.”
Critics used to believe … the Bible was wrong because there was no evidence (outside of the Bible) that a group of people called the Hittites ever existed. The Hittite civilization is mentioned approximately 40 times in the Old Testament, thus skeptics were convinced that this proved the Bible is a mythical creation of ancient Hebrew writers.
But then … in 1906, a German archaeologist named Hugo Winckler was excavating in Boghaz-Koi, Turkey, and discovered the capital city of the ancient Hittite empire, the entire Hittite library and 10,000 clay tablets documenting the Hittite history. Scholars translated these writings and discovered that everything the Bible said about the Hittite empire was true.
Critics used to believe … that a king named Belshazzar never really existed, thus calling into question the historicity of the book of Daniel, which mentions this Babylonian king.
But then … in 1854, Henry Rawlinson discovered an inscription in Iraq that named Belshazzar as the oldest son and co-regent of King Nebonidus, who would often leave Belshazzar in charge of Babylon while he traveled. This discovery also helped to clarify Daniel 5:29, which states that Daniel was elevated to the “third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
Critics used to believe … the book of Acts was not historically accurate. A man named Sir William Ramsay, who is well known to be one of the greatest historical scholars and archaeologists in history, decided to try to disprove the Bible as the inspired Word of God by showing that the book of Acts was not historically accurate.
But then after 30 years of archaeological research in the Middle East, Ramsay came to the conclusion that:
Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy. This author should be placed along with the very greatest historians
Sir William Ramsay, Scottish Author and Historian, considered foremost authority of his day on history of Asia Minor
He later wrote a book on the trustworthiness of the Bible based on his discoveries and converted to Christianity. Sir Ramsay found no historical or geographical mistakes in the book of Acts. This is amazing when we realize that in the book of Acts, Luke mentions 32 countries, 54 cities, nine Mediterranean islands and 95 people and he did not get one wrong. Compare that with the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The first year the Encyclopedia Britannica was published it contained so many mistakes regarding places in the United States that it had to be recalled
Critics used to believe … the Old Testament simply could not be reliable because they felt that over a long period of time the Old Testament writings would have been changed, altered, edited or corrupted.
But then … in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. These scrolls contained, among other writings, every book in the Old Testament (except Esther). Until the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, the earliest copy of the complete Old Testament was from A.D. 900. Scholars compared this copy with the Dead Sea Scrolls (produced around 1,000 years earlier) and found that the Old Testament had 95-98% accuracy and had been faithfully transcribed.
The historical books of the Old Testament are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archaeological work
Smithsonian Institute Department of Anthropology
The Bible mentions around 300 cities and towns by name in the Old Testament. Many of these ancient towns which do not exist today have been found by archeologist in the places the Bible describes them as being and with verifiable evidence of the cities names as described in the Bible. The only reason they have been found is because the Bible said they were there and archaeologists looked where the Bible said they were buried. In other words, not only does archaeology confirm that the Bible is historically accurate, but professional archaeologists actually use the Bible as a guide in their work.
The great Jewish archaeologist Nelson Glueck, who is known to be one of the top three archaeologists in history, has stated the following:
No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a single, properly understood Biblical statement
Russ Whitten: Excerpt from Have You Ever Wondered, thedestinlog.com
The following list are just some examples of cities where prominent events mentioned in the Bible took place that have been found by archaeologist. Remember this is only a partial list. There are hundreds of biblical cities that have been verified in archaeological digs.
| City | Sample Passage with City | Discovery |
| Arad | When the Canaanite, the king of Arad…fought against Israel (Numbers 21:1) | 30 km NE of Beersheba excavated from 1962-1974 |
| Bethel | Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar—he called that place Bethel (Genesis 28:18-19) | W. F. Albright made a trial excavation at Bethel in 1927. Full excavation in 1934. Continued the excavation in 1954, 1957, and 1960 |
| Capernaum | And when they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax … (Matthew 17:24) | Identified since 1856 byTell Hum and sporadically excavated for the past 130 years. |
| Chorazin | “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! … (Matthew 11:21) | Excavations 1962-2004 |
| Dan | And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel; however, the name of the city formerly was Laish (Judges 18:29) | Excavation began 1966 |
| Ephesus | Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1) | The 24,000-seat theater and the commercial agora, as well as many other public buildings and streets of the first and second centuries a.d. excavated |
| Gaza | But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26) | Gaza excavated in 1922 |
| Gezer | But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer…(Joshua 16:10) | Excavated 1902-1909 |
| Hazor | Then it came about, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph. (Joshua 11:1) | Excavations 1955-1958, 1968-1970 |
| Hesbon | Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon . . . (Joshua 12:2) | Excavations were undertaken by Andrews University from 1968 to 1976 |
| Jericho | Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho (Numbers 22:1) | Oldest inhabited and fortified city ever excavated. (1867,1907, 1930-36, 1952-58, 1985 |
| Joppa | And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him (Acts 9:38) | During excavations of the site of ancient Joppa a thirteenth-century b.c. citadel gate was uncovered |
| Nineveh | So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh (2 Kings 19:36) | Excavated from 1845-1857 |
| Shechem | And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land (Genesis 12:6) | Excavated 1913-14, 1926-34, 1956-72 |
With the advances in technology such as sonograms, laser etc. there are new archaelogical discoveries that verify the people, places, and events in the Bible all the time. The Bible Archaeology Report publishes an annual list of the Top 10 Biblical Archaeology Discoveries for that calendar year. Every year Tablets, coins, synagogues, cities, walls, monuments, tombs and other evidence is found that verifies the places, people and events in the Bible.
Challenge Question: Does the fact that secular archaeology institutions such as the Smithsonian Institute affirms the Bible as historically accurate help you to have confidence in the Bible?
Premise 2: Many people mentioned in the Bible have been historically confirmed
There are at least 53 people in the Bible that have been archaeologically verified as having truly existed. Here is a sample list from wikipedia of some Old Testament figures:
- Ahaziah/Amaziah, King of Judah. The Tel Dan Stele contains, according to many scholars, an account by a Syrian king (probably Hazael), claiming to have slain “[Ahaz]iahu, son of [… kin]g of the house of David”, who reigned c. 850 – 849 BCE.[165][166] However, an alternative view, which dates the inscription half a century later, is that the name should be reconstructed as ‘[Amaz]iahu’, who reigned c. 796–767 BCE.[167]
- Asaiah, servant of king Josiah (2 Kings 22:12). A seal with the text Asayahu servant of the king probably belonged to him.[168]
- Azaliah son of Meshullam, scribe in the Temple in Jerusalem: Mentioned in 2 Kings 22:3 and 2 Chronicles 34:8. A bulla reading “belonging to Azaliahu son of Meshullam.” is likely to be his, according to archaeologist Nahman Avigad.[169]
- Azariah son of Hilkiah and grandfather of Ezra: Mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:13,14; 9:11 and Ezra 7:1. A bulla reading Azariah son of Hilkiah is likely to be his, according to Tsvi Schneider.[170]
- Baalis king of Ammon is mentioned in Jeremiah 40:14. In 1984 an Ammonite seal, dated to c. 600 BCE, was excavated in Tell El-`Umeiri, Jordan that reads “belonging to Milkomor, the servant of Baalisha“. Identification of ‘Baalisha’ with the biblical Baalis is likely,[171] but it is not currently known if there was only one Ammonite king of that name.[172]
- David, or more accurately his eponymous royal house, is mentioned in the Tel Dan Stele, see above entry for Ahaziah.
- Darius II of Persia, is mentioned by the contemporary historian Xenophon of Athens,[173] in the Elephantine Papyri,[38] and other sources. ‘Darius the Persian’, mentioned in Nehemiah 12:22, is probably Darius II, although some scholars identify him with Darius I or Darius III.[174][175]
- Gedaliah son of Ahikam, governor of Judah. A seal impression with the name ‘Gedaliah who is over the house’ is commonly identified with Gedaliah, son of Ahikam.[176]
- Gedaliah son of Pashhur, an opponent of Jeremiah. A bulla bearing his name was found in the City of David[177]
- Gemariah, son of Shaphan the scribe. A bulla was found with the text “To Gemaryahu ben Shaphan”. This may have been the same person as “Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe” mentioned in Jeremiah 36:10,12.[178]
- Geshem (Gusham) the Arab, mentioned in Nehemia 6:1,6 is likely the same person as Gusham, king of Kedar, found in two inscriptions in Dedan and Tell el-Mashkutah (near the Suez Canal)[179]
- Hilkiah, high priest in the Temple in Jerusalem: Mentioned throughout 2 Kings 22:8–23:24 and 2 Chronicles 34:9–35:8 as well as in 1 Chronicles 6:13; 9:11 and Ezra 7:1. Hilkiah in extra-biblical sources is attested by the clay bulla naming a Hilkiah as the father of an Azariah,[170] and by the seal reading Hanan son of Hilkiah the priest.[180]
- Isaiah, In February 2018 archaeologist Eilat Mazar announced that she and her team had discovered a small seal impression which reads “[belonging] to Isaiah nvy” (could be reconstructed and read as “[belonging] to Isaiah the prophet”) during the Ophel excavations, just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.[181] The tiny bulla was found “only 10 feet away” from where an intact bulla bearing the inscription “[belonging] to King Hezekiah of Judah” was discovered in 2015 by the same team.[182] Although the name “Isaiah” in Paleo-Hebrew alphabet is unmistakable, the damage on the bottom left part of the seal causes difficulties in confirming the word “prophet” or a common Hebrew name “Navi”, casting some doubts whether this seal really belongs to the prophet Isaiah.[183]
- Jehoram, King of Israel (c. 852 – 841 BCE) is probably mentioned in the Tel Dan inscription. According to the usual interpretation, the author of the text, probably Hazael, king of Syria,[184] claims to have slain both Ahaziah of Judah and “[Jeho]ram”.[165][166] However, some scholars, reconstructing the pieces of the stela differently, do not see “[..]ram” as the name of an Israelite king.[185]
- Jehucal son of Shelemiah, an opponent of Jeremiah. Archaeologists excavated a bulla with his name,[186] but some scholars question the dating of the seal to the time of Jeremiah. According to Robert Deutsch the bulla is from the late 8th to early 7th century BCE, before the time of Jeremiah.[citation needed]
- Jerahmeel, prince of Judah. A bulla bearing his name was found.[187]
- Jeroboam (II), king of Israel. A seal belonging to ‘Shema, servant of Jeroboam’, probably refers to king Jeroboam II,[188] although some scholars think it was Jeroboam I.[172]
- Jezebel, wife of king Ahab of Israel. A seal was found that may bear her name, but the dating and identification with the biblical Jezebel is a subject of debate among scholars.[189]
- Josiah, king of Judah. Three seals were found that may have belonged to his son Eliashib.[190]
- Nathan-melech, one of Josiah’s officials in 2 Kings 23:11. A clay bulla dated to the middle of the seventh or beginning of the sixth century B.C was found in March 2019 during the Givati Parking Lot dig excavation in the City of the David area of Jerusalem bearing the inscription, “(belonging) to Nathan-melech, servant of the king.”[191][192]
- Nergal-sharezer, king of Babylon is probably identical to an official of Nebuchadnezzar II mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3, 13.[128] A record of his war with Syria was found on a tablet from the ‘Neo-Babylonian Chronicle texts’.[193]
- Seraiah son of Neriah. He was the brother of Baruch. Nahman Avigad identified him as the owner of a seal with the name ” to Seriahu/Neriyahu”.[17
- Shebna (or Shebaniah), royal steward of Hezekiah: only the last two letters of a name (hw) survive on the so-called Shebna lintel, but the title of his position (“over the house” of the king) and the date indicated by the script style, have inclined many scholars to identify the person it refers to with Shebna.[194]
- Sheshonq I, Pharaoh of Egypt, is normally identified with king Shishaq in the Hebrew Bible. The account of Shishaq’s invasion in the 5th year of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25–28) is thought to correspond to an inscription found at Karnak of Shoshenq’s campaign into Palestine.[195] However, a minority of scholars reject this identification.[196]
- Tou/Toi, king of Hamath. Several scholars have argued that Tou/Toi, mentioned in 2 Samuel 8:9 and 1 Chronicles 18:9, is identical with a certain ‘Taita’, king of ‘Palistin’, known from inscriptions found in northern Syria.[197][198] However, others have challenged this identification based on linguistic analysis and the uncertain dating of king Taita.[199]
- Uzziah, king of Judah. The writings of Tiglath-Pileser III may refer to him, but this identification is disputed.[200] There is also an inscription that refers to his bones, but it dates from the 1st century CE.
- Zedekiah, son of Hananiah (Jeremiah 36:12). A seal was found of “Zedekiah son of Hanani”, identification is likely, but uncertain.[201]
Here are some other disciples, authors and icons who have been historically verified archaeologically
| Person | Description | How Verified |
| Isaiah | Prophet, Author of Isaiah | Ophel Bulla |
| Jeremiah | Prophet, Author of Jeremiah, Lamentations | Ishtar Gate Inscription |
| Daniel | Prophet, Author of Daniel | Cylinder of Nabonidus |
| David | King of Israel, Psalms | Mesha Stele, Moabite Stone |
| King Saul | First King of Israel | City of Beth Shan |
| Jacob | Patriarch of 12 Tribes of Israel | The Merneptah Stele |
| James | Brother of Jesus | Ossuary Inscription |
| Herod The Great | Ruler of Judea at Jesus Birth | The Herodium now a National Park |
| Pontius Pilate | Governor of Judea presided over trial of Jesus | The Pilate Stone Inscription |
| John The Baptist | Cousin of Jesus, Preacher | Alabaster Relic Box |
| Philip | Apostle, Disciple of Jesus | St. Philip’s Tomb |
| Caiphas | High Priest of Israel | Caiphas Ossuary |
Some of histories most powerful Pharoahs, Kings, and Emperors are mentioned prominently in the Bible. Pharoah’s Ramses, and Necho of Egypt. Cyrus, and Darius kings of Persia. Sargon, Sennacherib, and Shalmaneser V Kings of Assyria. Roman kings and emperors such as; Herod The Great, Tiberius Caesar, Claudius Caesar, and even Nero play significant roles in Bible history. The Bible has been a primary and reliable geo-political resource for Near East Ancient History. (To see other people mentioned in the Bible click here.)
The names of over 40 different kings of various countries mentioned in the Bible have all been found in contemporary documents and inscriptions outside of the Old Testament, and are always consistent with the times and places associated with them in the Bible. Nothing exists in ancient literature that has been even remotely as well-confirmed in accuracy as has the Bible.
Institute for Creation Research—Biblical Data Is Historically Testable
I referred your inquiries to our staff archeologist, Dr. George Stuart. He said that archaeologists do indeed find the Bible a valuable reference tool, and use it many times for geographical relationships, old names and relative chronologies. On the enclosed list, you will find many articles concerning discoveries verifying events discussed in the Bible
Letter to National Geographic Society
The Bible is a significant source book for secular archaeologist. Two of the greatest 20th century archaeologists, William F. Albright and Nelson Glueck who were both non-Christians lauded the Bible as being the single most accurate source document from history. Over and over again, the Bible has been found to be accurate in its places, dates, and records of events. No other “religious” document comes even close.
Challenge Question : Does the fact renowned non-Christian archaeologist affirm the historical accuracy of the Bible help you to trust its depictions of events, places, and people?
Premise 3: Many places and events mentioned in the Bible have been historically confirmed
Because the Scriptures continually refer to historical events, they are verifiable; their accuracy can be checked by external evidence.
The Old and New Testaments make abundant references to nations, kings, battles, cities, mountains, rivers, buildings, treaties, customs, economics, politics, dates, and the like. Because the historical narratives of the Bible are so specific many of its details are open to archaeological investigation.
The advancement of archaeology has indeed confirmed geographic locations of events, cities, and structures mentioned in the Bible. Every year more and more discoveries confirm the geographical, political, and cultural details mentioned in the Bible.
Places and events in the Old Testament such as; the fall of the walls of Jericho, or the siege at Lachish, King Solomon’s Wall, and many others have been confirmed achaeologically. For more places and events click here
Places and events in the New Testament such as the city of Decapolis, the Apostle Peter’s house, Pool of Bethsaida, the Areopagus, and many others have been confirmed archaeologically. For more places and events click here.
Archaeology is constantly confirming the historical accuracy of the Bible. It has verified many ancient sites, civilizations, and biblical characters whose existence was questioned by the academic world and often dismissed as myths. Biblical archaeology has silenced many of these critics as new discoveries support the facts of the Bible.
On the whole, however, archaeological work has unquestionably strengthened confidence in the reliability of the Scriptural record. More than one archaeologist has found his respect for the Bible increased by the experience of excavation in Palestine.
Millar Burrows, Leading Authority on the Dead Sea scrolls, Professor emeritus Yale Divinity School
Every year more and more people, places and events in the Bible are confirmed archaeologically. With each new discoveries momentum has increased for further investment and strategic exploration. Archeology is exploding in the middle east. Here are just the top 10 discoveries of 2022.
| 1. Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet | Text older than any other known Hebrew inscription from ancient Israel about Yahweh. |
| 2. Shiloh Tabernacle Architecture | Norther gate entrance of Shilo where the tabernacle sat during the period of Judges in the Bible |
| 3. Lachish Comb Inscription | Earliest known alphabetic text ever found in Israel which demonstrates that there was an active alphabetic Semitic language in place prior to when Torah was written |
| 4. Hezekiah’s Monument Inscription | Translated “Hezekiah’s Pool” is inscribed in stone which is the same mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20 “Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city” |
| 5. City of David Ivories | 1,500 fragments of finely decorated ivory dated to the First Temple Period in the City of David show signs of having been crushed and burned in the Babylonian destruction of 586 B.C. mentioned in 2 Kings 25:1-8 |
| 6. Vanilla-Laced Vessels from time of Jeremiah | Vessels date to the years before Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem which revealed wine enriched with vanilla which was not known to have existed before the arrival of Columbus, but showed that the “spiced wine” the Bible mentioned was an accurate description |
| 7.Hezekiah’s Sluice Gate | For decade, scientist have puzzled over how Hezekiah’s Tunnel mentioned in the Old Testament could have redirected water to the Pool of Siloam mentioned in Isaiah 8:6 and John 9:7. The discovery of this sluice gate shows how. |
| 8. The Ishmael Papyrus | Dead Sea Scroll Fragment rediscovered Mentioning Ismael the son of the first governor of Babylon mentioned in Jeremiah 40 |
| 9. Judges-Era Lead Trade | Isotope analysis of Lead found in shipwreck correlated with a previous shipwreck found off coast of Israel that verified the seaports and trade mentioned in Judges 5:17 |
| 10. Rameside-Era Tomb | Tomb found that dates to period of Ramesses II |
This is just 2022’s top ten discoveries which is a mall indicator of the vast number of discoveries that are able to be made in a short time because of 21st century advances and increased funding and interest.
Discussion Question 3: Does knowing that experts who for decades have denied the existence of certain people, events and places mentioned in the Bible have been proven wrong through archaeological discovery help relieve your own doubts?
ThinkCubed Truth Veracity Grid:
- Have I considered the issue carefully and honestly with an open mind?
- Does what I think conform to the rules of logic and avoid contradiction?
- Are my conclusions free from bias and presuppositions?
