The role of archaeology in our faith is two-fold.

First, when you learn about what all has been discovered, archaeological evidence has the ability to strengthen your faith in a major way. Secondly, it tells us more information than we had from the Bible alone.

Finding Faith

At some point in everyone’s lives, we have to examine what we believe. If we are raised in church, we weigh what we’ve learned there. I remember, as a middle schooler attending church regularly, coming face-to-face with these questions.

I noticed in seventh grade science, it was all about evolution and life springing up on earth from nothing at all. While it violates science itself to believe that nothing came from something, being taught two different things, one at church and another at school, it left me with questions and decisions to make.

I began to wonder, “Wait. Who is right? Which is true? Where is the evidence?”

When I was eleven, I began to read the Bible for myself. I didn’t like some of the strict things I heard from church leaders, but I didn’t love the worldly message of putting yourself first either.

When I began to read the Bible for myself, the love of Jesus became more apparent to me. The Jesus I found in the Bible drew me in. He had me at “love thy neighbor.”

For a believer, the number one way to strengthen your faith is to read God’s word.

So where does the role of archeology come in?

Archaeological evidence helps us understand the Bible and the people in it better. It plays an important role in validating biblical accounts. Discoveries often provide historical proof that enriches our faith.

Other discoveries leave more questions and provide even more information about what the Bible tells us about a story. Either way, no one’s faith should ever be a blind faith.

What good is a faith based on myths? It’s not any good at all. Christianity is not that kind of faith. The historical and archaeological evidence for the stories in the Bible is overwhelming. Many atheists have sought to disprove the Bible and ended up believers, because of this.

We can learn so much more about the people and events in the Bible from archaeological evidence. Coins tell us who they traded with and who all travelled through the region. Pottery and other artifacts show us how the people lived and how affluent the society was. The possibilities are endless for what we can learn!

Significant Findings

• Artifacts too many to list, like Hezekiah’s tunnel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Tel Dan Stele, etc.
• Excavations revealing ancient cultures. In Israel, they excavate all the time and find evidence of Hebrews past
• The Bible itself: The New Testament was written by people who witnessed the life of Jesus and read by people who also witnessed these events. If it weren’t true, these stories would not have had the power they have had.
• The disciples deaths testify they were willing to die for their testimony because it was true. All but one was martyred.
• historical accounts outside of the Bible

Most people in modern society aren’t taught anything at all about the Bible, or at least very little. Archaeology has the opportunity to reawaken faith in the world. Look into these discoveries. You will be amazed at what all has been found!