Tag: Artifact
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The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone)
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in HistoricalFew archaeological discoveries have illuminated the biblical world quite like the Mesha Stele, also known as the Moabite Stone. The stele stands as a vivid first-person account from King Mesha of Moab, a nation often at odds with ancient Israel. Written in Moabite, a dialect closely related to biblical Hebrew, the 34-line inscription dates to…
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The Tel Dan Stele: From Myth to History
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in HistoricalFor much of the 20th century, critics of the Bible argued that King David was little more than a literary invention. He was often portrayed as a mythic ruler created by later Hebrew writers to provide Israelβs monarchy with a noble origin. In the absence of corroborating evidence outside Scripture, David was frequently compared to…
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The Ketef Hinnom Silver Scrolls: Earliest Biblical Text
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in HistoricalOne of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries is the Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls. These tiny scrolls, dating to the 7th century BC, contain the Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6:24β26, making them the oldest surviving texts directly quoting the Hebrew Bible. Their discovery shows that Israelite religious practices and sacred texts were already established centuries before…
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Earliest Papyrus Fragments (P52, P66, P75, P46): Evidence for the Gospels
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in Historicalπ§ Introduction The earliest physical evidence for the New Testament comes from papyrus fragments that preserve portions of the Gospels and other New Testament writings. These ancient manuscripts such as Papyrus 52 (P52), Papyrus 66 (P66), Papyrus 75 (P75), and Papyrus 46 (P46 ) offer a window into the transmission of Christian Scripture in the…
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The Muratorian Fragment: Early Evidence for the New Testament Canon
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in HistoricalThe 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. 170β200 AD, the fragment is written in Latin, though it preserves a translation from an original Greek source. π§ Introduction…
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The Masoretic Text: The Standard Hebrew Bible
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in Historicalπ§ 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 AD. While the Masoretic manuscripts themselves are relatively late, the text they preserve reflects Hebrew Scriptures written roughly between the 12th and 2nd…
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The Caiaphas Ossuary: Archaeological Evidence of the High Priest
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in Historicalπ§ Introduction The Caiaphas Ossuary is a remarkable archaeological discovery that provides significant evidence of Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest of the Sanhedrin during Jesusβ trial in the early 1st century AD. Disovered in Jerusalem in 1990, this limestone burial box (ossuary) bears the inscription βJoseph, son of Caiaphas,β directly linking it to the high…
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The Pilate Stone: Archaeological Evidence of Pontius Pilate
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in HistoricalThe Pilate Stone ποΈ 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 AD. Discovered in 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, this limestone block bears a Latin inscription explicitly naming βPontius Pilatus,β confirming historical…
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Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the Testimonium Flavianum
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in HistoricalFew ancient texts have faced more scrutiny than Josephusβs 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…
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The Nazareth Decree
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in HistoricalThe Nazareth Decree is a Greek inscription carved on a marble slab that outlines a Roman imperial order against disturbing graves. While its origin is debated, its unique call for capital punishment for tomb-breaking has made it a central piece of evidence surrounding the historical context of early Christianity and the resurrection. π§ Introduction The…
