Unearthing History's Secrets...
Archaeology is an extremely fascinating subject. To the uninformed though, this mysterious science is enshrouded in a romantic aura, within which intrepid individuals endure the discomforts of a primeval jungle, or scorched desert, in search of some ancient artifact supposedly of great value and/or historical significance. And so to many, the archaeologist is a treasure hunter digging for that 'find' of great price; that ancient story engraved in stone, or delicately written on fragile potsherd or flimsy papyrus. This opinion is due to the obscurity in which the archaeologist works, and to the sudden but short lived media attention given to any significant discovery.
To all too many then, the real 'behind the scenes' substance of this thing called archaeology is buried in the unknown. It's a case of glitter and glamour obscuring grime and grit - literally.
But what is the real purpose of digging into the dust of ancient civilizations, delving into the manners and customs of antiquity? What is so important about Unearthing History's Secrets? To the uncertain Bible believer, archaeology is often a shaky support for a faltering faith. However, to the true believer in divine inspiration, each 'find' made in the field of biblical archaeology, is a link in the long chain of historical events that unite God's people of all ages. From the patriarchal period, through Israel's prophets, and on to the present, the story has always been about God's purpose to redeem a fallen race. Now, any scientific endeavor pursued apart from this premise, inevitably leads the scientist into devious paths away from the truth.
Some say that the Bible deals with theology while archaeology is more sociological in orientation. To a certain degree this may be true. The message of the Bible writers is concerned with God/mankind relationships, while archaeology has more to do with the day to day, mundane issues of life. But the two, though differing in scope, are complimentary, not contradictory. The fact is, they are both parallel records of history. And yes, this writer declares his unwavering faith in the validity of the Scriptures as an accurate chronicle of history - that is, from Genesis 1 right through to Revelation 22. By some, such faith is looked upon as naive, especially when archaeology turns up some 'fact' which seems to contradict the biblical narrative.
Now there was a time when such instances caused this writer to rise up in indignation at the slightest suggestion that anything could disprove Bible inerrancy. However, over the years I have observed that given time, these apparent anomalies are discounted when archaeology turns up some new evidence that flatly contradicts that which initially appeared to cast a doubt upon the validity of God's indomitable word. Unfortunately, 'scholars' have a tendency to rely upon what they call a 'scholarly opinion,' which in reality is nothing more than a guess based upon an interpretation of the evidence. Quite naturally, this often causes sharp differences of opinion, a fact which in itself puts their integrity in question; their arguments proving to be just that, arguments and nothing more.
And so we may ask ourselves the question: Of what benefit is the artifact unearthed from the past? Is there any value in the inscription carved upon a stone tablet, or written with primitive ink upon a fragment of parchment? The answer is: These solid objects add the third dimension to an otherwise two dimensional picture. Archaeology is the 3D spectacles through which we see the two dimensional picture of biblical history transformed into the sometimes breathtaking three dimensional picture in which people and places, events and customs, can be touched, felt, and experienced.
Making History Live...[FrontPage Image Map Component]
To make history come alive, one need only hold between two fingers a widow's mite (lepton). Made of copper, this was the smallest of biblical coins - a little smaller than a dime. First minted during the time of the Maccabees (175 - 140 BC), it remained in circulation into the Christian era. Holding two of them dug up from the sand in Palestine, one can relive the words: "Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites..." (vide Mark 12:42) This... was all she had?
Then there is the silver danarius of Caesar Augustus. About the size of an American dime, it was a day's wage for the working man. This was also the tribute money of biblical times. It bore the image of Caesar, whose raised features can be seen and felt upon one retrieved from the dust of history. Hold one and contemplate the words: "'Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'" Pause and reflect upon the features of the Roman emperor, while pondering the question: "'Whose image and inscription is this?'" Then hear infinite wisdom declare: "'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" (vide Matthew 22:15 - 22)
Now hold in your hand a two thousand year old terracotta lamp found in the ruins of a Bible town. Pour in the olive oil and light the saturated wick. Place the lamp in the center of your living room and turn off the electric light - so artificial - then bathing in the pure light of history, understand the meaning of the words: "'Let your light so shine before men...'" (Matthew 5:16) Without the oil, the lamp cannot shine. Remember the lamps of the "foolish virgins" without the necessary oil? Those foolish ones were plunged into darkness. Even so, the Christian without the Holy Spirit, the divine illumination, also walks in darkness.
These simple exercises demonstrate that to actually see the artifact, to touch and feel it, to thus vicariously experience the reality of the parable, the miracle, or the event, can mean more than a thousand tellings of it. To the one earnestly seeking a deep involvement in the holy Scriptures, and the events and places found described therein, biblical archaeology offers that extra dimension. It adds a depth of meaning and a clarity of spiritual vision somewhat diminished without it.
But someone may protest: We cannot all have access to biblical coins and other artifacts. It may be surprising to know, that examples of many common everyday things spoken of in the Bible, are available through antiquity dealers at relatively little expense. However, even the knowledge of their existence, through a photograph or accurate illustration, can put one closer to the time and place about which one may be reading. It's the third dimension.
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