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What is Biblical Archeology?

| 1 September 2015

The Archaeology in general can be considered a young science: perhaps only 150 years. In the early days it was nothing more than a treasure hunt to enrich the museums, and only later did he undertake to dig with a rigorous scientific method.

Because it can be important to deal with archeology in regards to the Bible? It is necessary to know that, at the end of the 18th century and in the first half of the 19th century, some critics had done their utmost with a zeal worthy of a very different cause to shake the trust of millions of Christians in the book sacred to them. But when this deleterious work seemed to be heading for sure success, from the millenary dust of the biblical lands, stones of all shapes and sizes began to emerge.

So the Bible, which critics had reduced to the petty proportions of a collection of legends, he also gained credibility among many scholars of the secular field. The deciphering of the archaeological finds played a decisive role in the understanding of the archaeological finds “missing writings” (Egyptian and Mesopotamian). It was thus possible to reconstruct entire periods of the history of biblical times. Many were unable to restrain their enthusiasm in the face of”evidence” of the discoveries, and some even wrote that Jesus' words to the Pharisees had come true: “The stones will speak!” (Read 19:40).

Here we need to make a clarification. The great stir aroused in the evangelical field (and also among the general public) from archaeological discoveries in biblical lands, led, especially in recent years, to the publication of several books on the subject, with openly apologetic purposes. That is, several authors have tried to prove, through archaeological discoveries, that “the Bible is true”, often renouncing prudence and scientific rigor. But it is not archeology that must prove that the Bible is true! In fact, many Christian archaeologists are keen to emphasize that the purpose of archeology with regard to the Bible is rather to shed light on the environment in which the biblical stories took place, leading to note that they are “reliable narratives”. (André Parrot, who directed the eastern section of the Louvre for years, he wrote: “Archaeological records should not be made to say what they do not say: for wanting to try everything and too much, one ends up proving nothing and discrediting a science, Archeology, whose discoveries are sufficiently suggestive to add insulting fringes”).

This prudential attitude is essentially to be adopted for the periods prior to the 1st millennium BC. But, for later periods, some archaeological discoveries are undoubtedly and directly confirmed in passages of Scripture and can strengthen the testimony, adding to it.

What we have said may appear somewhat limiting to some; but is not so, and we will try to explain why. Given that, as believers, we should first look in the Bible for spiritual teachings (this is crucial!), however, we must keep in mind that the Bible was written by Orientals, in languages ​​of the ancient world, and describes the events of the ancient east. Therefore the knowledge of history, of the culture and religions of the ancient oriental peoples will be of great value to us in reaching a more complete understanding of the Sacred Texts. And since the history and culture of the peoples of the biblical lands is revealed to us above all by archaeological discoveries, it will be opportune that these discoveries do not remain ignored.

We can therefore briefly summarize the advantages and purposes of Biblical Archeology:

  • illustrate and deepen the cultural context in which the events of which the Bible spoke took place;
  • verify and underline the evidence and parallels between biblical stories and archaeological discoveries;
  • linking biblical accounts to chronological references “safe” emerged from archeology.

In addition to this, Biblical Archeology gives the believer an opportunity and stimulus for a more accurate and complete reading of the Sacred Text; this in itself can sometimes lead to results of considerable weight also in the spiritual field.