The lessons of history are constantly repeated, since people have a great ability to ignore what happened even one generation earlier. Even significant people and events fade rapidly from the collective consciousness. One of the most important times in history - the life of Jesus - has left a wealth of references in holy writ and secular records of the period. However, people of every succeeding generation have asked; 'Is the Bible true?'
Even in modern times - or maybe especially in modern times - archaeologists and anthropologists use the Bible as their most reliable source material. For example, it wasn't until 1993 that a secular historic reference was found to validate the existence of David, Israel's most famous King. Words carved on a basalt rock were discovered that year that spoke of his reign. In 2005, an archaeologist discovered the ruins of David's palace, just where the Old Testament accounts said it would be.
Many scientific discoveries also support passages in the scriptures. Even though the Book of Isaiah was written perhaps seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, it tells us that the earth is round and suspended in space. The 'flat earth' belief was accepted until the 1400s, however.
The Book of Job is considered by many to be poetic in nature rather than historical, as much of the Bible is. However, there are many scientific facts in this account of a man tried beyond normal human endurance. The book tells us that fresh-water springs exist on the ocean floor, that light is made up of many colors and can be separated (as we know from the spectrum), and that plants make food from sunshine, a process we now call photosynthesis.
Today it's almost automatic to say that those who believe in the truth of scripture ignore the evidence of science. However, the reverse is actually true. Those who cling to 'random chance' theories and macro-evolution are ignoring things like the discovery of DNA. Scientists often begin to wonder about things they read in the scriptures. One example is Matthew Maury, who became intrigued by the 'paths of the sea' in Psalm 8. A sailor familiar with the world's oceans, he began to look for these and found the Gulf Stream (not a new discovery but new for him).
As for archaeology, the Old Testament has long been used as the most accurate historical guide to ancient civilizations. Even the prestigious Smithsonian Institute declares those Hebrew texts to be more accurate than Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek records. Recent discoveries continue to validate the scriptures.
Ancient monuments have shown that the Jewish people have been a nation for over 3,000 years. They have had an enduring, cohesive social structure in spite of conquest, captivity, dispersal, and persecution. A timeline of world history shows that many events predicted in the scriptures - the prophecies - have come to pass exactly as foretold. This historical accuracy lends credence to the spiritual truths in this, the Word of God.
Apologetics, or the proving of biblical accounts, is a fascinating study for both Christians and non-believers. Most scholarly doubts about the reliability of scripture were set to rest when the Dead Sea Scrolls, which validated later copies and translations, were discovered in a desert cave by a shepherd boy.
Even in modern times - or maybe especially in modern times - archaeologists and anthropologists use the Bible as their most reliable source material. For example, it wasn't until 1993 that a secular historic reference was found to validate the existence of David, Israel's most famous King. Words carved on a basalt rock were discovered that year that spoke of his reign. In 2005, an archaeologist discovered the ruins of David's palace, just where the Old Testament accounts said it would be.
Many scientific discoveries also support passages in the scriptures. Even though the Book of Isaiah was written perhaps seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, it tells us that the earth is round and suspended in space. The 'flat earth' belief was accepted until the 1400s, however.
The Book of Job is considered by many to be poetic in nature rather than historical, as much of the Bible is. However, there are many scientific facts in this account of a man tried beyond normal human endurance. The book tells us that fresh-water springs exist on the ocean floor, that light is made up of many colors and can be separated (as we know from the spectrum), and that plants make food from sunshine, a process we now call photosynthesis.
Today it's almost automatic to say that those who believe in the truth of scripture ignore the evidence of science. However, the reverse is actually true. Those who cling to 'random chance' theories and macro-evolution are ignoring things like the discovery of DNA. Scientists often begin to wonder about things they read in the scriptures. One example is Matthew Maury, who became intrigued by the 'paths of the sea' in Psalm 8. A sailor familiar with the world's oceans, he began to look for these and found the Gulf Stream (not a new discovery but new for him).
As for archaeology, the Old Testament has long been used as the most accurate historical guide to ancient civilizations. Even the prestigious Smithsonian Institute declares those Hebrew texts to be more accurate than Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek records. Recent discoveries continue to validate the scriptures.
Ancient monuments have shown that the Jewish people have been a nation for over 3,000 years. They have had an enduring, cohesive social structure in spite of conquest, captivity, dispersal, and persecution. A timeline of world history shows that many events predicted in the scriptures - the prophecies - have come to pass exactly as foretold. This historical accuracy lends credence to the spiritual truths in this, the Word of God.
Apologetics, or the proving of biblical accounts, is a fascinating study for both Christians and non-believers. Most scholarly doubts about the reliability of scripture were set to rest when the Dead Sea Scrolls, which validated later copies and translations, were discovered in a desert cave by a shepherd boy.
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