Biblical archaeology is something I have long been interested in. As a teen it had a profound impact on my faith and something I longed to know more about. For many years I kept telling myself that one day I would find the time to learn more on the subject.
A few years back I started teaching at church. Determined to tackle the hard questions in our youth group and forgo the awkward icebreaker games of my youth, I soon found myself drawn back to biblical archaeology. Thankfully, one of the benefits of today’s technology is information being more accessible than ever before. We had no shortage of resources. Much like my own experience, I watched their faith grow as the the Bible came to life.
OVERVIEW
Unearthing the Bible by Dr. Titus Kennedy isn’t quite what I expected when I got it in the mail. I was expecting something closer in format to Where God Came Down by Joel Kramer. I flipped through the book and set it on my nightstand where it gathered dust for the next few months. Eventually I picked it back up again. More in an effort to clear my nightstand, than a desire to read it. At first glance I was a bit disappointed in the archaeological finds. They seemed vague and unimportant. But soon I started to see the bigger picture. Piece, by little piece.
The format of the book is straightforward. There isn’t any fluff. It gives a short overview of what was found, and its significance in relation to the Bible. Items featured come from a variety of sources, museums, private collections, and archaeological sites.
WHO IS THE BOOK BEST SUITED FOR?
If don’t like history, or are unfamiliar with ancient history, this book isn’t the place to start in your quest to learn more. I would recommend watching Expedition Bible with Joel Kramer, available Amazon prime and YouTube. Or reading Where God Came Down.
If you love history and have an understanding of ancient civilizations you will likely enjoy this book. This book doesn’t cover larger discoveries, but rather focuses on lesser known artifacts, building a foundation of understanding that evidence isn’t restricted to Israel, but other civilizations as well.
CONCLUSION
While it might not be for everyone, I regret this book sat gathering dust for so long. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case I judged it by its format. Different from what I expected, I didn’t give it the chance it deserved. I didn’t see the significance of things so small. Now I see how these discoveries are just as important in building supporting evidence.
In a world that is so far removed from our ancient past, it is far too easy to assume faith must only be built on belief. The Bible tells us in Mark 12:30 ‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (ESV) Part of building faith and love in God is using our mind. Too often this is neglected. Apologetics, biblical archaeology, asking tough questions and seeking out answers from solid Christian believers are all ways we can grow our faith and love for God.
I encourage you to start deepening your faith today. With so my resources right at our fingertips, there is much to explore. Mike Winger, Frank Turek, Melissa Dougherty, and Alissa Childers along with Expedition Bible, by no means an exhaustive list, are a great place to start.
As always, if you have any recommendations for books you think I should review, comment below. Thank you for stopping by.
This Old Nest 