Category: Historical

Over 29,000 biblical manuscripts have been discovered, confirming the Bible’s reliability and preservation over time. Jesus’ crucifixion by order of Pontius Pilate is universally accepted among scholars, along with several other historical facts about Jesus. These independent lines of evidence support the New Testament as a trustworthy record rooted in real historical events.

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  • The Muratorian Fragment: Early Evidence for the New Testament Canon

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    The Muratorian Fragment is the earliest known list of New Testament writings, providing insight into how early Christians recognized and circulated authoritative texts. Discovered in the 18th century in Milan and dating to approximately c. 170–200 CE, the fragment is written in Latin, though it preserves a translation from an original Greek source. 🧭 Introduction…

  • The Masoretic Text: The Standard Hebrew Bible

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    🧭 Introduction The Masoretic Text (MT) is the traditional Hebrew version of the Old Testament, carefully copied and standardized by Jewish scribes known as the Masoretes between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. While the Masoretic manuscripts themselves are relatively late, the text they preserve reflects Hebrew Scriptures written roughly between the 12th and 2nd…

  • The Septuagint (LXX): The Greek Translation of the Hebrew Bible

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    🧭 Introduction The Septuagint (LXX) is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, created in Alexandria, Egypt between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. It was originally produced so that Greek-speaking Jews — especially those living outside Israel — could read the Scriptures in their everyday language. It’s important to note that the Septuagint…

  • The Caiaphas Ossuary: Archaeological Evidence of the High Priest

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    🧭 Introduction The Caiaphas Ossuary is a remarkable archaeological discovery that provides significant evidence of Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest of the Sanhedrin during Jesus’ trial in the early 1st century CE. Disovered in Jerusalem in 1990, this limestone burial box (ossuary) bears the inscription “Joseph, son of Caiaphas,” directly linking it to the high…

  • The Pilate Stone: Archaeological Evidence of Pontius Pilate

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    The Pilate Stone 🏛️ Introduction The Pilate Stone is a landmark archaeological discovery that provides concrete evidence of Pontius Pilate and his role as the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea during the early 1st century CE. Discovered in 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, this limestone block bears a Latin inscription explicitly naming “Pontius Pilatus,” confirming historical…

  • Excavating Jerusalem’s Miraculous Pools: Bethesda & Siloam

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    Thanks to modern archaeology, two ancient pools in Jerusalem, Bethesda and Siloam, have been brought to life, exactly where the Gospel of John describes miraculous healings. Excavations have uncovered their structure and features with astonishing detail, confirming the biblical accounts. Pool of Bethesda The Pool of Siloam 💧Pool of Bethesda Biblical Significance:In John 5:2–9 (ESV),…

  • Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the Testimonium Flavianum

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    Few ancient texts have faced more scrutiny than Josephus’s famous reference to Jesus, the Testimonium Flavianum (TF). For generations, skeptics have claimed it was tampered with by overzealous Christian scribes, casting doubt on one of the strongest extra-biblical witnesses to Christ. But new research by historian Tom Schmidt has turned the debate on its head…

  • The Nazareth Decree

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    📝 Summary The Nazareth Decree is a marble inscription containing a Roman legal order against disturbing graves or moving bodies. Dated broadly to the late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD, the decree’s most striking feature is its prescription of capital punishment for such offenses—a rare penalty in Roman law. Some scholars believe…

  • Pliny the Younger

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    In 111–113 AD, Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia and Pontus, wrote to Emperor Trajan asking for guidance on how to handle trials of individuals accused of being Christians. The preserved correspondence provides valuable insight into the legal status of Christians, their worship practices, and the imperial policy toward them in the early 2nd century.…

  • Darkness at the Crucifixion

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    Matthew Frisbee
    in

    🌑 Ancient References to Darkness at the Crucifixion Multiple ancient sources — Christian and non-Christian — report an unusual period of darkness during the time of Jesus’s crucifixion, traditionally dated around 30–33 AD. While the Gospel accounts describe this darkness as a supernatural event, several external sources appear to reference or attempt to explain a…