Archaeology, the Bible and Modern Faith

Abstract

Modern archaeology is concerned with the scientific recovery and study of the whole of material culture from the past. This includes visual works of art (mosaics, painted vases, and pieces of sculpture) and monumental architecture (public buildings and temples) and materials on which various kinds of texts appear (inscriptions, coins, and papyri). Although there are many archaeological discoveries relevant to the study of the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) are usually regarded as the most important, especially for understanding early Judaism and emerging Christianity. They were discovered from 1947 to 1956 in caves on the northwest side of the Dead Sea. There are four major areas in which the DSS have influenced contemporary understanding of the Bible, its interpretation and the religious views and practices of the Jews and Christians who lived during the later Second Temple period of Jewish history. First, because many are copies or partial copies of biblical books, their discovery has had a revolutionary impact on studies of the text and canon of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Second, they are indispensable for understanding early Jewish biblical interpretation. Third, they have enhanced our understanding of early Judaism during the Maccabean and early Roman periods. Fourth, the DSS are important for understanding various aspects of the New Testament and early Christianity. Archaeology has an indisputable impact on the understanding of the Bible. Also there are many serious challenges confronting modern archaeology; I consider four: the unscientific removal of artifacts from a site, the unauthorized transfer of artifacts from the country where they were discovered, unprovenanced artifacts, and forgeries.