Posted on 12/22/2015 11:32:34 AM PST by amorphous
The entrance to the Mary of Nazareth International Center in central Nazareth doesn't look like much. It's just a simple doorway off narrow Casa Nova Street, a few hundred yards from the Basilica of the Annunciation.
Yet inside this recently built Catholic evangelism center lies an amazing discovery that has sent shockwaves through the world of Biblical archaeology: the remains of a first-century stone house reliably dated to the early Roman period in Palestine.
The Nazareth excavations are the first concrete archaeological proof that Nazareth was settled in the time of Jesus - and, judging from the limestone cups found at the site, almost certainly by observant Jews.
This shoots down one of the central arguments used by those who claim that Jesus never existed and that the Gospels are entirely fiction: that we know Jesus of Nazareth never existed because there never was a village called Nazareth.
Incredibly, the archaeological excavations at Nazareth are merely one among dozens of startling recent discoveries that are forcing many secular, Jewish and agnostic scholars, at top universities all over the world, to re-think old skeptical ideas about who Jesus was and what he was trying to achieve.
Many people in the pews, however, haven't heard about these amazing, very recent discoveries.
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
What churches are they in which the leaders and people in the pews need to be convinced that Nazareth and its Jesus ever existed?
They’re not in church at all, unless you consider secularism a church.
Re: “What churches are they in which the leaders and people in the pews need to be convinced that Nazareth and its Jesus ever existed?”
That’s not the issue - it’s just giving Christians information to defuse the atheists claim that Jesus never existed or that Nazareth didn’t exist in the 1st century
Other evidence for academic Bible skeptics to consider:
I have seen these type programs on TV lately... omitted books of the Bible and whatnot. You can tell within five minutes whether the creators of the show have an agenda or not. I flip em.
Faith is what separates Christians and atheists.
Atheists don’t rely on faith.
Believers don’t need proof.
The fact that atheists need proof is the reason they are atheists to start with.
Atheists don’t believe in facts, either. Whenever I have ever tried to discuss facts, not faith, with an atheist, their minds remain closed, without exception. They’ve already made up their minds, they don’t want to be confused with truth.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
bfl
Good article and all, but I was hoping for some pics of the center showing a 1st century dwelling.
Thank you, a fascinating article.
Go to the link and read this entire section:
Discovery No. 5: The Gospel of Mark, widely considered to be the first gospel written, may have been penned only five or 10 years after the crucifixion, not 40 years later as scholars have thought for over a century. (continued at link above)
Why should these “discoveries” be “shocking”?
Thanks. I went to the link and read Discovery No. 5. I agree that Mark started writing his Gospel very early, but I think he added to it from time to time and never finished it.
Re: “Faith is what separates Christians and atheists. Atheists don’t rely on faith. Believers don’t need proof.”
Are you saying there is no tangible, historical evidence that supports the New Testament Scriptures?
Yes, of course Christians have faith, and non-believers don’t, but when there is clear historical evidence to support the reliability of the Bible, why not be aware of it and be ready to do as the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”?
You’re not going to disregard Peter’s exhortation are you? Or, is Peter exhibiting a “lack of faith” when he tells us to be able to give an answer and a reason for our hope in Christ?
Re: “Other evidence for academic Bible skeptics to consider: Patterns of Evidence: Exodus”
Yes, I’ve viewed this too and it brings up excellent points and recent archeological discoveries that support the Exodus account in the Bible. I highly recommend it as well.
Re: “Why should these “discoveries†be “shockingâ€?”
Only shocking to the revisionists and atheists who have been making a big deal recently about there supposedly “not being any evidence to prove that Nazareth existed in the 1st Century.” This shoots that accusation out of the water.
This kind of thing has happened before. A hundred years ago historians were saying the Bible was clearly fiction because there had never been archeological evidence for Nebuchadnezzar or Babylon or Nineveh as having existed - then, whoops, somebody discovered Nineveh. It got strangely quiet for awhile.
What a busy site the blaze is - could hardly read for all the junk jumping around. Seem to have heard about most of that some time back - but it was piece by piece.
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