Old Testament: History or Hoax? Kristen Davis PhD Student at Southern Evangelical Seminary Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University Founder of DoubtLess Faith Ministries
Why Does It Matter? • Without a solid historical foundation, Christianity is no more solid than any other world religion. • Its spiritual truth claims hang upon the historicity of the events within the pages of the Bible. • Biblical Archaeology gives the Christian Apologist the evidence necessary to solidly proclaim the truth claims of the Bible.
Questions • Are the events of the Old Testament false? • Do we have to reject the history of the Old Testament?
You can believe the Old Testament is History because it is . . . • Historically Informative • Historically Consistent • Historically Corroborates
“Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence” Destroyed in antiquity (90%) Preserved in tells (10%) Recovered by archaeology (1%) Just because something hasn’t been found to support the Biblical narrative, doesn’t mean that the Biblical narrative is inaccurate. It just has not been found yet!
Hittites…fact or fable? • A little over “a century ago the Hittites were unknown in any documents outside the Bible and did not exist in the archaeological record.” • Yet in 1906 when “Hugo Winckler and Theodor Makridi begin excavating on Büyükkale…2500 fragments of cuneiform tablets [were] recovered …identify[ing] the city as the Hittite capital Hattusha.”
Hittites…fact or fable?
Historically Informative The Bible had information about historical people, nations, and events before secular historians.
Early Genesis
Early Genesis
Early Genesis
Early Genesis
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C.
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. Ziggurat at Ur Homes at Haran Abram’s father Terah moves them from Ur to Haran rather than onto Canaan (Gen 11:31)
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. Famine in Canaan so move to Egypt (Gen. 12:10)
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. Abram Rescues Lot (Gen. 14:14) Mud Brick Triple Arched Gate at Laish/Dan
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. Gen 12:6 & Gen 33:18
Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. ANE SLAVE PRICES 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2371-2191 2113-2006 Joseph 1600 1500 Moses 1300 800 King 700 500 400 (1898) (1446) Menahem (752-742) ANE Bible
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. Pharaoh of Moses’ Exodus: Mother: Queen A Hatshepsut M E N H O T E P II
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. the walls fell, shaken apparently by earthquake, and the city was destroyed by fire, about 1400 B.C. ~ John Garstang
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C.
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C.
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C K H I O N U G of I S S E of D R A A V E I l D
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C Khirbet Qeiyafa
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C Inscription from 9 th century BC containing the phrase “King of Israel” & “House of David.” Khirbet Qeiyafa
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Prophets Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C 928-430 B.C. Jeroboam’s Golden Calf at Dan (1 Kings 12: 26-32)
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Prophets Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C 928-430 B.C. Tools from Altar Kit Mizr q Incense Shovels (found near altar) Small Horned Altar
Historically Consistent The events of the Bible parallel what we see in other cultures. They harmonize with or illuminate historical data. – Creation (parallel) – Flood (parallel) – Jericho (harmonize and illuminate) – Dan – Conquest, Golden calf (parallel) – King David (parallel) – Exodus (harmonize and illuminate)
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Prophets Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C 928-430 B.C. Seige of Lachish (II Kings 18; II Chronicles 32) Freeze at Sennacherib’s Palace in Nineveh
Egyptian Sojourn Early Patriarchal Period Conquest Period United Kingdom Prophets Genesis 1875-1660 B.C. 1753-1446 B.C. 1446-1050 B.C. 1050-928 B.C 928-430 B.C. Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:3-4)
Historically Corroborates Events in scripture are mirrored in archaeology – Assyrian Conquest – Nineveh Freeze and Hezekiah's tunnel
You can believe the Old Testament is History because it is . . . • Historically Informative: The Bible had information about historical people, nations, and events before secular historians. • Historically Consistent: The events of the Bible parallel what we see in other cultures. They harmonize with or illuminate historical data. • Historically Corroborates: Events in scripture are mirrored in archaeology
ALWAYS REMEMBER God has left enough evidence to convince those that would believe. However, because love is a choice, God will not force someone to see what they wish not to see.
WWW.DOUBTLESSFAITH.COM
Summary • Do we have to reject the history of the Old Testament? – No! • Are there good reasons to believe the Old Testament is history? – Yes! Edifying: Hittites Illuminating: Assyrians Corroborated: Slave prices, Exodus, Jericho, Davidic Dynasty, etc.
Always Remember… • When discussing God, archaeology or the Bible with a non-believer, do it with respect for their beliefs and humility. • Biblical Archaeology and Christian Apologetics can only play a supporting role, because the Holy Spirit is ultimately the one who can convict and transform the heart of an unrepentant sinner.
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