Dead Sea Scrolls: Discovered in the mid-20th century, these thousands of ancient manuscripts contain fragments of nearly every book of the Old Testament. The scrolls date back as far as the 3rd century BCE, over 1,000 years earlier than previously known manuscripts. Their remarkable consistency with modern Bibles shows the accuracy of ancient scribal traditions.
Ketef Hinnom Scrolls: Found in a burial cave near Jerusalem, these two tiny silver scrolls date to the 7th century BCE, predating the Dead Sea Scrolls. Inscribed on the scrolls is the Priestly Benediction from the book of Numbers. They represent the oldest fragments of biblical text ever discovered.
Tel Dan Stele: This inscribed stone slab, dating to the 9th century BCE, contains the earliest extra-biblical reference to the "House of David." It confirms the existence of King David's dynasty, something that skeptics had previously questioned.
Merneptah Stele: This Egyptian monument from the 13th century BCE contains the earliest extra-biblical reference to the name "Israel" as a people group.
Hezekiah's Tunnel: An aqueduct in Jerusalem built during the reign of King Hezekiah in the 8th century BCE is described in the book of 2 Kings. In 1880, the Siloam Inscription was found inside, describing how the tunnel was dug by two teams working from opposite ends until they met in the middle.
Moabite Stone (Mesha Stele): This 9th-century BCE stone records the victories of King Mesha of Moab over the Israelites. The inscription confirms events also described in 2 Kings 3, though from the Moabite perspective. It also contains one of the earliest references to the Hebrew God, Yahweh.
Cyrus Cylinder: This clay cylinder details the conquest of Babylon by King Cyrus the Great. It describes his policy of allowing exiled peoples to return to their homelands, confirming the biblical account in Ezra of the Hebrews' return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Pontius Pilate Stone: Discovered in 1961 in Caesarea Maritima, this limestone block is inscribed with the name of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who oversaw Jesus's trial. It is the only confirmed archaeological evidence of Pilate's existence.
Caiaphas Ossuary: In 1990, an ornate bone box (ossuary) inscribed with the name "Joseph son of Caiaphas" was discovered in a tomb near Jerusalem. Many scholars believe this is the tomb of Caiaphas, the high priest mentioned in the Gospels who presided over Jesus's trial.
Pool of Siloam: Mentioned in the Gospel of John as the place where Jesus healed a blind man, the original pool from the time of Jesus was rediscovered in 2004 during sewer repairs in Jerusalem.
Heel Bone of a Crucified Man: The remains of a man named Jehohanan, who was crucified in the 1st century, were discovered in a Jerusalem tomb in 1968. A nail was found driven through his heel bone, offering the first physical evidence of a Roman crucifixion victim and confirming the crucifixion method described in the New Testament.
The Galilee Boat: Discovered in the mud of the Sea of Galilee in 1986, this 1st-century fishing boat provides an example of the kind of vessel Jesus and his disciples would have used.
Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger
Bart Eherman Atheist- “Despite the enormous range of opinion, there are several points on which virtually all scholars of antiquity agree. Jesus was a Jewish man, known to be a preacher and teacher, who was crucified (a Roman form of execution) in Jerusalem during the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea”
1 Timothy 6:11-16
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[d] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Luke 1:1-4
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Acts 1:1-3
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
2 Peter 1:16
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
John 19:35
35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.
John 20:30-31
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 21:24-25
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
-
Do you have any questions or thoughts from this lesson?
What stood out to you most?
Which piece of historical/archaeological evidence stands out to you most? Why?
Luke says he wrote his Gospel “so that you may have certainty” (Luke 1:4). What does certainty in your faith look like for you?
In your own words, what’s the difference between believing the Bible is “historically true” and actually trusting Jesus personally?
How do you answer the objection that “I cannot be a Chrstian because the Bible is not historically accurate”
-
How was your emotional and physical health this week?
What is a serious stressor in your life?
How has your personal time with God been this week?
Would you like to share your personal temptations and how can we help you overcome them?
Is there anything that we need to discuss that we have not already?
How can we pray for each other this week?
Pray for one another, invite each person to pray even if it is just a few sentences.