What is Epic Archaeology?
“And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.”– 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT)
The ancient Greek myths of Homer, the Iliad & Odyssey have been read and loved by millions throughout history — they are known by Classical scholars as “Epic Poetry.”
The stories in the Bible are also truly EPIC in every sense of the word! Unlike the Greek myths, however, the Bible is different! It is an Epic Story that is also TRUE! Recorded on its pages is the story of God’s love and EPIC plan to redeem fallen humanity, through a family in the history and stories of the nation of Israel, in the person of Jesus Christ.
TRUE MYTH
In the last century, the medieval scholar and writer, C.S. Lewis correctly noted that the core of what Christians believe is grounded in historical reality.
“The great difficulty (today) is to get modern audiences to realize that you are preaching Christianity solely and simply because you happen to think it is true; they always suppose you are preaching it because you like it or think it good for society or something of that sort. Now a clearly maintained distinction between what the Faith actually says and what you would like it to have said or what you understand or what you personally find helpful or think probable, forces your audience to realize that you are tied to your data just as the scientist is tied by the results of the experiments; that you are not just saying what you like. This immediately helps them realize that what is being discussed is a question about objective fact not about ideals and points of view” – C. S. Lewis
Physical evidence (artifacts) of God’s epic story in the Bible can be found throughout the Near East, and Epic Archaeology is dedicated to bringing those things to light and making them known
Epic Archaeology is dedicated to bringing the latest archaeological discoveries as they relate and support the historical trustworthiness of the Bible and the Biblical world, in an accurate, relevant and engaging way.
Please consider becoming a partner with us, as we “..defend the faith once and for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3). Consider becoming a monthly supporter, and receive our exclusive Epic Archaeology coffee mug with the Epic Archaeology logo and Earl the vintage archaeologist from another era.
You can help support Epic Archaeology at Patreon!
OUR PURPOSE
To Demonstrate the Trustworthiness & Reliability of the Bible as a Historical Document
At Khirbet el-Maqatir (Biblical Ai) along the Late Bronze Age Canaanite wall (dates to circa 1400 B.C.)
If the Bible is a trustworthy and reliable ancient text, then this warrants serious consideration from every thinking person. If the contents are true, then the Bible warrants our belief and practice (2 Timothy 3:16). Epic Archaeology firmly believes and holds to the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, and seeks to reconcile faith, reason & science in a reasonable manner.
ARCHAEOLOGY & CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS
Archaeology cannot prove faith. However, as a one of the three primary sources of history, it can be used to either confirm or deny events written about in historical texts such as the Bible.
The Christian faith stands or falls on the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15). Archaeology can’t prove the resurrection (by itself). It is part of a larger body of apologetic evidence and reasoning that Christianity is true and corresponds to reality.
Faith is not blind, it has an object, and faith is only as good as its object.
In his book, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? New Testament historian F.F. Bruce says:
For the Christian gospel is not primarily a code of ethics or a metaphysical system; it is first and foremost good news, and as such it was proclaimed by its earliest preachers. True, they called Christianity ‘The Way’ and ‘The Life’; but Christianity as a way of life depends upon the acceptance of Christianity as good news. And this good news is intimately bound up with the historical order, for it tells how for the world’s redemption God entered into history, the eternal came into time, the kingdom of heaven invaded the realm of earth, the great events of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
Philosopher, William Lane Craig reinforces Bruce in his book, Reasonable Faith:
“Christianity is not a code for living or a philosophy of religion [although it contains that]; rather it is rooted in real events of history. To some this is scandalous because it means that the truth of Christianity is bound up with the truth of certain historical facts, such that if those facts should be disproved, so would Christianity. But at the same time, this makes Christianity unique because unlike most other world religions, we now have a means of verifying its truth with historical evidence.”