Top Ten New Testament Archaeological Finds of the Past 150 Years

Christianity Today ^ | 09/23/2003 | By Ben Witherington III

[restornu]

For my Christian friends!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping, restornu!

[EternalHope]

Very interesting!

Thanks for posting.

[bayourod]

" What we do have is copies of copies of copies. It can be said, however, that today, as a result of careful critical textual study and lots of hard work, we are closer to the original .."

Yes, in fact it was recently discovered that an early monk left out the "R" in the word "celebrate" in a text describing the qualifications of priests, much to the chargrin of thousands of priests.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[kosta50]

Childish. Yeshua is a very common name of the biblical Jews. "Yeshua lies here" means nothing.

[restornu]

Your welcome!

[restornu]

Thank you bayourod for bring this to my attention!

****

The earliest piece of the New Testament we have is a small portion of John 18 copied on a piece of papyrus and dating to about A.D. 125.

Of course we know that the New Testament books were written in the first century A.D.

But we don't have any of the original manuscripts.

What we do have is copies of copies of copies.

It can be said, however, that today, as a result of careful critical textual study and lots of hard work, we are closer to the original form of the Greek text of the New Testament than at any time since at least the third or fourth century A.D.

[restornu]

Top Ten New Testament Archaeological Finds of the Past 150 Years

1- Shroud of Turin
2-a small portion of John 18
3-House of Peter
4-Qumran scrolls
5-Pontus Pilate inscription
6-Herodian sites
7-Scythopolis
8-"Jesus boat" (?)
9-burial box of the high priest Caiaphas
10-James ossuary"

[Varda]

Interesting! I would place the two ossuaries as the top two NT finds. The author thinks the James ossuary refers to a biological brother of Jesus. I think it's more likely that this James was a disciple of Jesus.

[restornu]

I wish they would have given more details to the various finds or how to learn more!

[restornu]

Inscription by Pontius Pilate

It wasn't long ago when many scholars were questioning the actual existence of a Roman Governor with the name Pontius Pilate, the procurator who ordered Jesus' crucifixion. In June 1961 Italian archaeologists led by Dr. Frova were excavating an ancient Roman amphitheatre near Caesarea-on-the-Sea (Maritima) and uncovered this interesting limestone block. On the face is a monumental inscription which is part of a larger dedication to Tiberius Caesar which clearly says that it was from "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea."

It reads:
http://www.bible-history.com/empires/pilate.html

[Varda]

I'm a subscriber to Biblical Archaeology Review. The story of the James Ossuary seems like something out of fiction. I love archaeology but unfortunately it sometimes has political consequences.

The following links to Biblical Archaeology Review's list of ossuary articles.
http://www.bib-arch.org/bswbOOossuary.html

[Varda]

I should mention that BAR has had articles about most of the other items on the list.

[restornu]

I agree about politcal for somethings will never see the light of day!

I wonder if Archaeology has closed ranks just the like the FDA and Medical Assoc.

I can't believe more hasn't come to light and I felt that way in the 60's.

Those who fund these things have a lot of control, look how long it for the DSS and we still haven't got all of that story yet!

[Jubal]

Thank you for the post, it is curious.

However, why it would help anyones faith is beyond me as:

Heb 11:1* Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

...your premise seems to contradict the scriptural definition of faith.

2nd, once again, what does a relict have to do with faith? Especially when the scripture clearly testifies that the shroud is a farce:

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7* And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

I thank you because it was interesting, but:

Ro 1:17* For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Ga 3:11* But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Heb 10:38* Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Be well.

[restornu]

This not my take it is the take of some of the mainline faiths!

I was just being neighborly!

But I am concern that much of history has not been openly share with the rest of us!

Even space knowledge NASA which our Tax dollars pay for and as citizens we were suppose to get feed back!

[tjwmason]

The claimed ossuary of S. James has been exposed as a haox. The owner's house was raided by police who discovered a number of part-made 'ancient artifacts'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/solomon_prog_summary.shtml

[Tantumergo]

Ping to the link at #19.

Seems fairly conclusive that the ossuary is a fake and that there is a veritable industry in producing fake antiquities.

I know that in Iran women have been abducted and killed in order to turn them into "ancient" mummies for the antiquity market. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a similar crowd involved here.