The Patriarchs

Why is Archaeological Evidence Important?

 

Archaeological evidence is important in a very similar way as Non-Biblical Sources are important. They are both looking at ancient historical items that help us corroborate what the bible says. Although they could be categorized in the same topic, we felt they deserved seperate categories since when people think of archaelology they tend to think of digging for precious clay or rock inscriptions or large physical items; that attest to past events we've passed down over generations. Usually people aren't thinking of documents outside of the bible that attest to Jesus, his followers, and the Bible. 

 

We should find archaelogical evidence important because it can show us how different historical people in the bible, did in fact exist, among other things. It attests to the historical reliabilty of everything that is in the bible. This is especially useful for people when people deny the events in the bible as real historical events. 

 

Who Were the Patriarchs?

 

The biblical patriarchs are the line of men God used to establish the nation of Israel. These men were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all of Jacob's sons are considered to be the biblical patriarchs. 

 

The Patriarchs

 

The Bible has often been accused by some scholars in biblical studies throughout time as being innacurate and unreliable. However, time and time again, we have seen more evidence come over time proving that the Bible is in fact trustworthy. This is why we think it is an important practice in biblical studies to not adhere to ungodly views of the bible or christianity, and instead wait and see, and have faith that God will eventually reveal the evidence we were needing to find in a certain area that caused us doubts. 

 

Why the patrirarchs did exist:

 

According to scripture the Patriarchs existed as real persons.

 

The Scholar Albright says that “it is beyond a reasonable doubt that the Hebrew tradition was correct in tracing the patriarchs directly to the Balihk Valley in Northwestern Mespotamia”.

 

The evidence of the ancestry of Israel from mespotamia is based on the biblical and archaeological findings tracing the movement of these people from mespotamia.

 

The name Abraham appears in Babylonia as a personal name in the very period to which Abraham belongs.

 

The social customs of the stories fit period and region of the patriarchs.

 

Much of the evidence of the Patriarchs come from the excavations at Nuzu and Mari. Hebrew poetry and language was found from work at Ugarit, Mosaic legislation was seen in Hittite, Assyrian, Sumerian and Eshunna codes.

 

Source: Josh McDowell