Archaeology

Biblical Archaeology and the Christian Worldview

Archaeology provides an important window into the ancient world described in the Bible. Excavations, inscriptions, artifacts, architecture, ancient documents, and other archaeological discoveries can help us understand the historical, cultural, political, and geographical setting of Scripture.

Archaeology does not prove every theological claim of Christianity, nor can archaeology independently establish everything recorded in Scripture. However, archaeological discoveries can provide important historical and cultural evidence concerning people, places, customs, languages, rulers, cities, and events mentioned in the Bible.

The resources below provide information about biblical archaeology, archaeological discoveries, the ancient Near East, the historical reliability of Scripture, archaeological methods, and the relationship between archaeology and the Bible.

Biblical Archaeology Organizations & Research

Associates for Biblical Research

Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) is a Christian organization dedicated to archaeological and historical research related to the Bible. ABR conducts archaeological excavations, publishes research through Bible and Spade, and is involved in ongoing excavation and research at Ancient Shiloh.

Associates for Biblical Research

Bible and Spade

Archaeological Studies Institute

The Archaeological Studies Institute (ASI) operates through The Bible Seminary and supervises archaeological excavations, research, study tours, and educational opportunities. Dr. Scott Stripling serves as director and has directed archaeological excavations at Ancient Shiloh.

Archaeological Studies Institute

BASE Institute

The Bible Archaeology, Search & Exploration (BASE) Institute conducts archaeological research, exploration, and public education related to biblical sites and history. Founded by Bob Cornuke, BASE focuses particularly on archaeological exploration and investigation of locations described in the Bible.

BASE Institute

Near East Archaeological Society

The Near East Archaeological Society promotes the study of archaeology and the ancient Near East, particularly as it relates to the Bible and biblical history. The organization brings together scholars, students, and others interested in archaeological research concerning the biblical world.

Near East Archaeological Society

Christian Archaeology Resources

All About Archaeology

All About Archaeology provides articles, videos, photographs, and other resources concerning archaeological sites, artifacts, ancient civilizations, and the Bible. Its material covers subjects ranging from the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient Jerusalem to the Exodus, Jericho, and other biblical locations.

All About Archaeology

Answers in Genesis

Answers in Genesis provides extensive material concerning archaeology, ancient history, the Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical sites, and archaeological evidence related to the Bible. Its archaeology resources are presented within a biblical creationist framework.

Answers in Genesis – Archaeology

Archaeology and the Bible – ChristianAnswers.net

ChristianAnswers.net provides an extensive collection of articles, questions and answers, videos, and other resources concerning archaeology and the Bible. Topics include Jericho, David, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Moses, the Exodus, Jesus, Paul, and numerous other biblical subjects.

Archaeology and the Bible – ChristianAnswers.net

Christian Research Institute

The Christian Research Institute provides apologetics and biblical research resources, including material addressing archaeology and the historical reliability of Scripture.

Biblical Archaeology – Christian Research Institute

Dig the Bible

Dig the Bible is a long-running resource created by Doyle Lynch, known as “Digger Doyle.” The site provides articles, photographs, archaeological tours, explanations of archaeological methods, and links concerning biblical archaeology.

Although much of the site’s material is older, it remains a useful archival resource for introductory study.

Dig the Bible

Archaeology Curriculum

Master Books

Master Books publishes Christian homeschool curriculum, including Biblical Archaeology, which introduces students to archaeological sites, artifacts, ancient civilizations, Egyptian history, and the archaeology of Israel and the biblical world.

Master Books – Biblical Archaeology Curriculum

Nonsectarian Biblical Archaeology Resources

The following resources are not Protestant Christian ministries and should not be understood as representing a biblical worldview. They are included because they provide substantial archaeological research, historical information, scholarly articles, and primary archaeological resources that can help Christians investigate the world of the Bible.

Biblical Archaeology Review

Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) is a long-running archaeology magazine published by the Biblical Archaeology Society. Since 1975, BAR has sought to make archaeological scholarship concerning the lands and peoples of the Bible accessible to a broad audience. Its current resources include the magazine, Bible History Daily, archaeological articles, videos, books, and an extensive digital archive.

BAR describes itself as a nonsectarian forum for biblical archaeology. Christians should therefore use its material as archaeological and historical research rather than as a specifically Christian or theological authority.

Biblical Archaeology Review

Biblical Archaeology Review – Current Issues

BAS Library – Biblical Archaeology Review Archive

Biblical Archaeology and the Reliability of Scripture

Archaeology can provide valuable evidence concerning the historical and cultural setting of the Bible. It can corroborate the existence of people, places, customs, languages, political entities, and other features described in Scripture. At the same time, Christians should avoid claiming that archaeology has independently “proved” every statement in the Bible. Archaeological evidence must itself be interpreted, and archaeological discoveries are necessarily limited by what has survived and what has been excavated.

The Christian’s confidence in Scripture ultimately rests upon God’s revelation rather than upon archaeology. Archaeology is valuable because it can illuminate the historical world of the Bible and provide evidence that can challenge claims that Scripture is historically unreliable.

Studying Archaeology from a Christian Worldview

Archaeology involves both evidence and interpretation. Archaeologists examine physical remains of the past, but conclusions about those remains necessarily involve assumptions about chronology, human origins, culture, migration, and historical reconstruction.

Christians should therefore distinguish between an archaeological discovery and the interpretation placed upon that discovery.

A Christian worldview recognizes that the ancient world described in Scripture was real history and that God has acted in history. Archaeology can help us understand that historical setting, but Christians should neither dismiss archaeological evidence nor treat archaeological interpretation as infallible.

The proper approach is to examine the evidence carefully, understand competing interpretations, recognize the assumptions behind those interpretations, and compare conclusions with the historical claims of Scripture.