Ancient History: How Archaeology Enhances Our Study of Scripture

By Leslie Ann Jones

Archaeology has made the news a lot lately as talk about the ossuary of James and the discovery of the Gospel of Judas has brought it to the forefront of our attention. But archaeology is more than bone boxes and controversial ancient documents. . . . It can actually enhance our study of Scripture.

I’m probably not alone in associating archaeology with Indiana Jones, ancient cities, building remains, and potshards. However, studying archaeology can help us understand the culture and way of life for people in the Bible.

*What is archaeology anyway?

American Heritage Dictionary defines archaeology as “the systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery.” Biblical archaeology is simply archaeology that pertains to the Bible, and the goal is to reconstruct the lifestyle and culture of the Bible so that we can understand and relate to it.

*Why does it matter?

If we can’t understand or relate to the culture described in the Bible, then we run the risk of grossly misinterpreting Scripture and missing the point. A good bit of the Old Testament sounds bizarre to modern ears, but it wouldn’t have seemed extraordinary to the people who lived during those times.

For example, if I couldn’t get pregnant but I really wanted to have children, I probably wouldn’t hire someone to sleep with my husband so that their baby could be mine. Yet when Sarai told Abraham so father a child with her servant (Gen. 16), she was simply following the customs of her people, evidenced by the discovery of the Nuzi tablets in 1925.

First Corinthians 11:2–16 baffled me the first time I read it. Did Paul say that I need to wear a hat when I go to church? If so, why do I see women wear hats only on Easter? The passage makes a lot more sense when read through the eyes of Roman culture, which Paul’s readers would have easily understood. Apparently, some Corinthian Christian women had stopped covering their heads in worship, but Roman culture demanded that married women wear a head covering. An uncovered head signaled sexual availability, so their actions brought shame to their husbands and caused disunity among the Corinthian believers. Make more sense now?

Understanding the culture is vitally important because it’s the lens through which we read Scripture. Their world was not the same as ours, and it takes a bit of homework to really understand what’s going on in the passages that sound strange to us.

Not only does archaeology help us interpret the culture, but it also confirms the history recorded in the Bible. The Babylonians really did destroy Jerusalem in 587 b.c. (2 Chron. 36:17–21), and there really was a Cyrus the Great who allowed the exiled Israelites to return home (Isa. 45:1–13). Knowing that the history described in the Bible is also validated by archaeology can boost our confidence in the truth of Scripture.

*Practically Speaking

Digging into the resources offered by archaeology can only enhance and improve your study of Scripture. You don’t have to go to seminary or enroll in special classes to reap the benefits of archaeology. In fact, you probably have some of the following resources currently at your fingertips.

* Maps: Flip to the back of your Bible and actually look at the maps provided. They make a really helpful visual aid. If I told you that I live in northeast Mississippi, went to seminary in Birmingham, Alabama, and call Nashville, Tennessee, home, you wouldn’t need a map to understand what I’m telling you. But many of us are unfamiliar with the places described in the Bible, and placing them helps us follow the story.

* Study Bible: If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and articles that give you more information. Many study Bibles, such as the Archaeological Study Bible (Zondervan, 2005), have helpful charts and timelines that help contextualize what you’re reading. Furthermore, they help explain the significance of places such as the Areopagus in Acts 17.

Also, LifeWay's online Bible library is great, and it's available online for free at http://bible.lifeway.com/crossmain.asp. Of particular interest is the Holman Bible Dictionary listed in the left hand column, which provides a wealth of background information on places and customs, incorporating archeological finds into the articles.

* Encyclopedia: If you want to know what a city was like, look it up in the encyclopedia. If you looked up Corinth, you would find that it was a chief seaport and center of trade like London, New York, or Los Angeles. It was kind of a major place, but you would have no way of knowing that just by reading the Bible.

* Internet: Finally, don’t be afraid to go online. Look for images of the place you’re reading about or read blogs by people who have gone there. Dr. Allen Ross, professor at Beeson Divinity School, has even posted class notes from a course he teaches on Biblical Archaeology at http://www.christianleadershipcenter.org/bibarch.htm. His site is a rich resource of research and study.

Applying what you learn is the fun part of digging into archaeology. It will deepen your understanding of Scripture and open your eyes to the world that lies behind it. In the second part of this series, we’ll examine Paul’s sermon in Acts 17 in light of what we can learn from archaeology.

Leslie Ann is a graduate of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and lives in Iuka, Mississippi, with her husband, Dennis. She’s looking forward to the arrival of a baby girl in September and blogs at leslieannjones.com.