ARCHAEOLOGY BUNDLE - 3 Books
The Archaeology Bundle includes the following three books
Unearthing the Bible: In Unearthing the Bible, Dr. Titus M. Kennedy presents 101 objects that provide compelling evidence for the historical reliability of Scripture from the dawn of civilization through the early church. Gathered from more than 50 museums, private collections, and archaeological sites, these pieces not only reinforce the reliability of the biblical narratives, but also provide rich cultural insights into the ancient world.
Using this visual guide, you can find context for your faith as you make your way through the Bible. Dr. Kennedy’s photographs and detailed descriptions enable you to examine each piece of fascinating evidence for yourself.
From the earliest tablets of creation to artifacts connected with the life and resurrection of Jesus, Unearthing the Bible shows you can be confident there is an abundance of archaeological support for the history told in the Scriptures.
The Trowel and the Truth: Scott Stripling’s The Trowel and the Truth: A Guide to Field Archaeology in the Holy Land gives readers a masterful treatment of the how and why of biblical archaeology. This book is important and timely for at least two reasons. First, archaeological work in the Holy Land continues to make good progress, resulting in exciting discoveries and fresh insights. Dr. Stripling’s book informs readers of many of these recent and important discoveries. Secondly, archaeology greatly aids in the interpretation of Scripture. Few students, faculty, and pastors know the land of Israel and its rich treasures from the past as well as they should. Knowledge of the land and its archaeological insights will equip students, teachers, and pastors with important tools for better, sharper, more incisive interpretation of Scripture. Dr. Stripling’s book shows how this can be done.
This book guides readers through every essential aspect of archaeology. This includes geography and chronology, which are vital for understanding the history of Israel, as well as the actual task of archaeological fieldwork and method. Knowing where and when major events took place provides the necessary context and makes it possible to interpret Scripture accurately. In a systematic way, Dr. Stripling’s book then works its way through all the major periods in biblical history, from the pre-patriarchal and patriarchal eras to the Roman and Byzantine Ages.
Dr. Stripling articulates in the preface his understanding that “illumination of the Bible serves as the primary goal of ancient Near Eastern archaeology.” He is of course quite correct. This is why the discipline is called “biblical archaeology.” Some have objected to this language, arguing instead for something more neutral, but no one can deny that the desire to know the Bible better has historically been the driving force behind archaeology in the Near East. Without the correlation between the text of the Bible and the realia of the Near East, there simply would be no discipline called biblical archaeology.
Once again: All the theological commitments in the world could never result in a field called “biblical archaeology” if no correlation between Bible and the remains of human culture could be found. And it has indeed been found, lots of it. It is because of great correlation between the biblical text and the results of archaeology that historians and biblical interpreters recognize that the Bible is talking about real people, real places, and real events. The Bible contains many parables and metaphors, to be sure, but the Bible contains lots of history, too. The work of Dr. Stripling and other archaeologists sheds light on this important history.
Dr. Stripling has studied under the guidance of the best. He has worked at several sites and in recent years has directed digs at significant places such as Khirbet el-Maqatir and Shiloh. Some of his finds are simply astounding. I remember the day I first visited Khirbet el-Maqatir. Dr. Stripling and his team had recovered the skeletal remains of eight persons who had died as the Roman army advanced on Jerusalem in the year AD 69. Desperate Jewish fathers and husbands tried to hide their wives and children in an underground olive press, but to no avail; the Romans found them and killed them. All that was left was ashes, debris, and bones. It was a graphic reminder of the cruelty of war.
To see the bones that were recovered from Khirbet el-Maqatir brought the past right into the present. To gaze upon the skeletal remains of these women and children, who lay unmourned and forgotten in an underground olive press for almost two millennia was sobering. In my opinion, this is one of the great values of archaeology: It brings the modern student and scholar face to face with the past. The past is no longer a story about a faraway place from a time long ago; the past becomes present, along with the joys and sorrows of those who lived in it, whose stories we want to hear afresh.
A Christian's Guide to Evidence for the Bible: With each passing year, archaeologists and historical scholars uncover more evidence that the people, places, and events presented in the Bible are verifiable historical facts. This engaging, full-color resource presents 101 undisputed examples of those people, places, and events to help ground your reading of the Scriptures in the historic record. The proofs include
- Scripture references
- full-color photos
- a brief discussion of the evidence
- a list of other places in the Bible the person, place, or event is mentioned
- and a list of sources to consult for further information and verification
This fascinating volume is not only a strong apologetic for the historicity of the Bible but is also the perfect resource for the layperson who wants to enhance their personal Bible study and for those teaching Sunday school or leading a group study.
