Why Believe The Bible – It Is Supported By Evidence
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How Can You Know the Bible Is the Word of God?
It Is Supported By Historical and Archaeological Evidence From Extra-Biblical Sources
The Bible is unique among ancient texts: it makes specific, testable claims about real people, places, events, and cultures. Remarkably, thousands of years after it was written, archaeology and extra-biblical historical sources have repeatedly confirmed these claims.
These discoveries are powerful evidence that the Bible is not myth or legend, but a record of divine truth written in real time and space.
Summary: Biblical Elements & External Confirmation
| Element Type | In the Bible (Est.) | Verified by Archaeology Alone | Verified by Archaeology or Other Historical Sources |
| People | ~3,000 named | 50+ | 100+ (e.g., Josephus, inscriptions) |
| Places | 1,000+ named | 100+ | 200+ |
|
Events |
Hundreds | 40+ | 80+ (e.g., battle records, historical writings) |
| Cultural Aspects | Numerous (laws, customs) | 30+ | 50+ (confirmed by ancient texts & archaeology) |
Table 1: People in the Bible Supported by External Evidence
| Person | Bible Ref | Verse | Supporting Evidence | When/Where Discovered |
| King David | 2 Sam 5:4 | “David was thirty…” | Tel Dan Inscription | 1993, Israel |
| Pontius Pilate | Matt 27:2 | “…Pilate the governor…” | Pilate Stone | 1961, Caesarea |
| Nebuchadnezzar II | Dan 1:1 | “…king of Babylon…” | Babylonian Chronicles | 6th c. BC |
| Caiaphas | Matt 26:3 | “…Caiaphas the high priest…” | Ossuary | 1990, Jerusalem |
| Herod the Great | Matt 2:1 | “…Herod the king…” | Josephus, Herodium ruins | 1st c. AD & modern finds |
| Sennacherib | 2 Kings 18 | “…Sennacherib king of Assyria…” | Prism, reliefs | 1830s, Nineveh |
| Balaam | Num 22 | “…Balaam son of Beor…” | Deir Alla inscription | 1967, Jordan |
| Jehu (King of Israel) | 2 Kings 9 | “…Jehu the son of Nimshi…” | Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III | 1846 |
| Hezekiah | 2 Kings 18:1 | “…Hezekiah… king of Judah…” | Bulla (clay seal), tunnel | 2015 & 1880 |
| Baruch (Jeremiah’s scribe) | Jer 36:4 | “…Baruch wrote…” | Seal inscription: “Baruch son of Neriah” | 1970s |
Table 2: Places in the Bible Confirmed by External Sources
| Place | Bible Ref | Verse | Supporting Evidence | When/Where Discovered |
| Sodom | Genesis 19:24 | “…the Lord rained fire and brimstone…” | Tall el-Hammam: fiery destruction, high salt content | 2005–present, Jordan |
| Bethel | Genesis 28:19 | “…he called the name of that place Bethel…” | Identified with Beitin; altars, pottery, Iron Age remains | Since 19th century |
| Ai | Joshua 7–8 | “…the men of Ai struck down…” | Et-Tell excavated; Khirbet el-Maqatir a better fit for biblical Ai | 20th–21st century debates |
| Shechem | Genesis 12:6 | “…came to Shechem…” | City ruins, altar, fortifications | 1910s–1930s excavations |
| Jacob’s Well |
John 4:6, Genesis 33:19 |
“…Jacob’s well was there…” | Still visible today; long-standing tradition; early Christian documentation | 4th century church above it |
| Ur |
Genesis 11:31 |
“…from Ur of the Chaldeans…” | Royal tombs, ziggurat, cuneiform inscriptions | 1920s, Iraq |
| Gibeon | Joshua 9:3 | “…inhabitants of Gibeon…” | Jar handles with “Gibeon” inscription | 1950s |
|
Jericho |
Joshua 6 |
“…the wall fell down flat…” | Collapsed walls, burn layer dated to Late Bronze Age | 1930s–50s excavations |
| Hazor | Joshua 11:10 | “…Hazor… head of those kingdoms…” | Burned ruins, palatial structures | 1950s–70s |
| Shiloh | Judges 21:19 | “…go to Shiloh…” | Sacrificial altar, religious artifacts possibly linked to tabernacle use | 1920s–present |
| Jerusalem | 2 Samuel 5:6–7 | “David took the stronghold of Zion…” | Fortifications, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam, city layers | Ongoing since 1800s |
| Lachish | 2 Kings 18:14 | “…Lachish…” | Assyrian siege ramp, reliefs, Lachish letters | 1840s and later |
| Babylon | Daniel 1:1 | “…Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…” | Gates, tablets, ziggurat, extensive excavation | 1899+, Iraq |
| Nineveh | Jonah 1:2 | “…go to Nineveh…” | Palaces, inscriptions, library, reliefs | 1847, Iraq |
| Bethlehem | Micah 5:2, Luke 2:4 | “…from Bethlehem…” | Clay bulla from 7th c. BC mentioning Bethlehem | 2012, City of David |
| Capernaum | Matthew 4:13 | “…dwelt in Capernaum…” | Synagogue ruins, Peter’s house, coins | 1800s–present |
| Sea of Galilee | Matthew 4:18 | “…Sea of Galilee…” | Ancient harbors (Magdala, Capernaum), 1st-century fishing boat | 1986 (Jesus Boat) |
| Pool of Bethesda | John 5:2 | “…by the Sheep Gate a pool…” | Excavated with five porticoes exactly as described | 1888, Jerusalem |
| Garden of Gethsemane | Matthew 26:36 | “…went to Gethsemane…” | Long-standing traditional location, supported by topography and early writings | Identified since 4th century |
| Golgotha (Calvary) | John 19:17 | “…the Place of a Skull…” | Rock outcrop outside ancient city walls; traditional site fits Roman practices | Church of the Holy Sepulchre (4th c.) |
| Jesus’ Tomb | Matthew 27:60 | “…laid it in his own new tomb…” | Rock-cut tomb under Church of the Holy Sepulchre; aligns with 1st-century tombs | Site venerated since at least 4th |
Table 3: Events in the Bible Confirmed by External Sources
| Event | Bible Ref | Verse | Supporting Evidence | When/Where Discovered |
| Destruction of Jericho | Josh 6:20 | “…walls fell…” | Collapsed walls, burned city | 1930s–50s |
| Hezekiah’s Tunnel | 2 Chr 32:30 | “…brought water by tunnel…” | Siloam Tunnel + inscription | 1880 |
| Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem | 2 Kings 19 | “…185,000 died…” | Sennacherib’s Prism confirms siege but no capture | 1830s |
| Babylonian Exile | 2 Kings 25 |
“…carried away…” |
Babylonian Chronicles, Lachish Letters | 6th c. BC |
| Crucifixion of Jesus | Matt 27 | “…they crucified Him…” | Tacitus, Josephus, bone of crucified man | AD 64–95 & 1968 find |
| Census under Quirinius | Luke 2:2 | “…first census…” | Roman administrative records | 1st c. |
| Death of James (Jesus’ brother) | Gal 1:19 | “…James…” | Josephus mentions execution | ~AD 94 |
| Edict of Cyrus | Ezra 1:1 | “…Cyrus king of Persia…” | Cyrus Cylinder confirms return policy | 1879 |
| Fall of Samaria | 2 Kings 17:6 | “…king of Assyria took Samaria…” | Assyrian records | 8th c. BC |
Table 4: Cultural Features in the Bible Supported by External Evidence
| Cultural Aspect | Bible Ref | Verse | Supporting Evidence | When/Where Discovered |
| Ancient treaties | Gen 15 | “…cut a covenant…” | Parallels in Hittite vassal treaties | 1900s |
| Law codes | Ex 20 | “You shall not…” | Code of Hammurabi & others | 1901, Mesopotamia |
| Seals/signets | Jer 32:10 | “…sealed the deed…” | Dozens of bullae found | 20th–21st c., Israel |
| Idol worship (Baal, Asherah) | Judges 2:13 | “…served Baal…” | Figurines, shrines | 1920s–present |
| Temple practices | Lev 16 | “…Day of Atonement…” | Dead Sea Scrolls, Mishnah detail similar rituals | 20th c. finds |
| Rock-cut tombs | John 19:41 | “…new tomb…” | 1st-century tombs in Israel | Jerusalem excavations |
| Crucifixion practices | John 19:18 | “…crucified…” | Remains of crucified victims, Roman writings | 1968, Latin texts |
| Coinage (Tyrian shekels) | Matt 17:27 | “…a coin…” | Shekels found in temple sites | 20th c. digs |
| Synagogues | Luke 4:16 | “…went into synagogue…” | Capernaum, Magdala synagogues | 20th c. |
| Purification practices | Num 19 | “…water of purification…” | Ritual baths (mikvaot) across Israel | 1900s–today |
Conclusion: The Evidence Is Overwhelming
Archaeology digs up truth. Historical documents confirm what Scripture says.
Whether it’s the name of a forgotten king, the outline of an ancient city, or a cultural practice preserved in clay or ink, the external record consistently echoes what the Bible has declared all along.
“The truth of the Lord endures forever.” — Psalm 117:2 (NKJV)
The Bible is not just spiritually reliable. It is historically trustworthy. And if it can be trusted in what we can verify, it can be trusted in what it reveals about God, salvation, and eternity.
Resources For Addition Study
| Author / Organization | Title | Resource Link |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Kramer | Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence (Book) | https://www.amazon.com/Where-God-Came-Down-Archaeological/dp/0998037480 |
| Expedition Bible (Official Archaeology Website & YouTube Channel) | https://expeditionbible.com/ | |
| Titus Kennedy | Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries That Bring the Bible to Life | https://www.amazon.com/Unearthing-Bible-Archaeological-Discoveries-Bring/dp/0736979157 |
| Excavating the Evidence: 101 Photos, Maps, and Insights to Explore the Bible’s Story | https://www.amazon.com/Excavating-Evidence-Photos-Insights-Explore/dp/0736984683 | |
| Kenneth Kitchen | On the Reliability of the Old Testament | https://www.amazon.com/Reliability-Testament-Kenneth-A-Kitchen/dp/0802803962 |
| Randall Price | The Stones Cry Out: What Archaeology Reveals About the Truth of the Bible | https://www.amazon.com/Stones-Cry-Out-Archaeology-Reveals/dp/1565076400 |
| Eric H. Cline | Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford Press) | https://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Archaeology-Very-Short-Introduction/dp/0195342632 |
| Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) | Official Website & Research Hub | https://biblearchaeology.org/ |
| BiblePlaces.com (Todd Bolen) | High-Quality Biblical Archaeology Photo Archive & Commentary | https://www.bibleplaces.com/ |
| Faithlife / Logos | Biblical Archaeology Resources Collection (Digital Library) | https://www.logos.com/product/57702/biblical-archaeology-collection |
| World Video Bible School | Evidence for the Bible: Archaeological Confirmation Series | https://video.wvbs.org/video/evidence-for-the-bible-archaeological-confirmation/ |
