I have been learning the Ancient Greek language since 2013. I’ve even used it to read some Plato in the original. But my main goal with the language is to one day read the New Testament in the original. Since 2022, I have also been learning the Biblical Hebrew language. This is because I also want to read the Hebrew Bible (or the “Old Testament,” as it is known to Christians) in the original as well. Thus, I’ve also been interested in some of the relevant areas of history and archeology – and there are quite a few of them. This post will try to explain what geographical areas of archeology are most related to the Bible, and what they can tell us about the world in which the Bible takes place.
The Levant and Canaan
One relevant area is “classical archeology,” or the archeology of Ancient Greece and Rome
One relevant area is “classical archeology,” or the archeology of Ancient Greece and Rome. When it comes to the New Testament, classical archeology becomes particularly relevant here. But it also helps with understanding some of the later Jewish scriptures, such as the Talmud. I have some relevant experience with Greek and Roman history, but I freely admit that I don’t have much relevant experience with Greek and Roman archeology. What I do know comes mainly from some documentaries that I’ve watched about Greek and Roman history. For those who can’t afford to visit these places for themselves, such documentaries can be very helpful. Obviously, anything from Italy or Greece is automatically going to be relevant here. But the Roman Empire was one of the largest empires of the ancient world, and included a lot of territory. Thus, archeological discoveries from many different areas can be relevant to classical archeology. They can include things from Western Europe to Northern Africa to the Middle East. Mostly, though, they come from places in the Mediterranean. This can shed light on the various Roman emperors of the Biblical period, and on the various conflicts between the Jews and the Romans.
The site of the state prison in Ancient Athens, where Socrates was held during his trial
The New Testament has major connections to both the Greeks and the Romans
But classical archeology is interested in anything relevant to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, regardless of whether it has any known (or hypothesized) connections to the Bible. For example, it’s interested in the various battles fought by the Ancient Romans, or the location of the prison cell where Socrates was held after his famous trial (shown above). It’s interested in ancient ruins and surviving architecture, and in the relevant political history of the times. But even these kinds of things can shed some light on the world in which the Bible takes place. It tells you about the cultures with whom the Israelites were interacting, and the wars and commerce between them. And, at times, it really does give some direct connections to the Biblical narrative. For example, it sometimes gives cultural insights into the missionary journeys of Paul the Apostle, among his various Greek and Roman contemporaries. Paul once gave a famous sermon in Athens, and wrote epistles to Greek-speaking peoples like the Corinthians. Thus, this area can be highly relevant to Biblical history.
The Temple of Saturn – Rome, Italy
The archeology of Egypt is also particularly relevant to Biblical Studies
Another geographical area that is relevant to Biblical studies … is Egyptian archeology. This has some connections to the Christian New Testament, and to the Jewish Talmud. But it is most famous for its connections to the Hebrew Bible – or, as Christians call it, the “Old Testament.” This can connect to the Exodus, or to the famous sojourn of Joseph among the Egyptians. But, as with classical archeology, Egyptian archeology is interested in anything relevant to its culture of focus, regardless of whether it has any known (or hypothesized) connections to the Bible. For example, they are concerned with the political history of the pharaohs, with the burial practices of the Egyptian religion (including their famous mummies), and with the iconic Egyptian pyramids. I know somewhat more about this particular part, because I once read an entire textbook about Egyptian archeology. It was simply entitled “The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt” (more about that here). With Egyptology, it’s harder to do the kinds of history focused on written records, since relatively few of these Ancient Egyptian records have survived. Thus, I don’t have much experience with this written kind of Egyptian history. My Egyptology experience is mostly limited to the archeological side, as presented in this book – with exceptions from the written records quoted therein. However, I should acknowledge that Egyptologists also study the Egyptian language in detail, and it is possible to do some limited work with written records. There is some debate about whether Ancient Egypt was part of the “Ancient Near East.” However, most would acknowledge that they are at least connected, and that they certainly influenced each other. Thus, some comments on “Near Eastern archeology” might also be appropriate in this post.
The Karnak Temple – built in Ancient Egypt
Near Eastern archeology is relevant, even though it is not directly focused on the Bible
The term “Near East” is still used today, although it mainly focuses on more ancient times. This geographical area roughly corresponds to the modern Middle East, although this correspondence is not exact. And the number of cultures involved in this history is staggering, with many nations having struggled to gain control of the region. This complicates the cultural analysis of the Ancient Near East, but some things are quite well-attested. For example, this was the period in which agriculture was first invented, one of the most important developments in all of world history. It was also the period in which writing was first invented, allowing us to analyze written records from this period. I once read a textbook about the history of the Ancient Near East. Thus, much of my experience with this region is based on the written records. Outside of Biblical archeology, I don’t have much experience with Near Eastern archeology. This is because, again, Near Eastern archeology is interested in anything that is relevant to the Ancient Near East, regardless of whether it has any known (or hypothesized) connections to the Bible. My relevant archeological experience is almost entirely with the Biblical side of the subject, so I thus lack a broader understanding of this Near Eastern archeology. Thus, I am painfully aware of what I’m missing here. Thus, if someone wanted to become a Biblical archeologist, I would advise them to take any available classes on Near Eastern archeology, to broaden their understanding of this larger period. And, as with classical archeology and Egyptian archeology, I am sure that Near Eastern archeology is relevant to Biblical studies.
Assyrian Crown-Prince, circa 704–681 BC – Nineveh, Mesopotamia
Biblical archeology has the most direct connections to the Bible itself (no surprise there)
And the final area is Biblical archeology itself. This is concerned primarily with things that are directly related to the Bible itself. I have some experience with this part, because I once read a two-volume work on the subject. (Links to my reviews of the first and second volumes.) A good class in this subject will build on any knowledge from these other relevant areas, and the textbooks should ideally be written by someone who is familiar with all of them. A good Biblical archeologist would be well-advised to take classes in all of these subjects. But the Biblical archeology classes are the most focused on the narrative of the Bible itself, and with the debates about its historicity (a hot topic today). If someone were wanting to major in Biblical studies, and only had time to take one relevant archeology class, this would be the one that I would most advise them to take. Typically, this class would survey the relevant findings from the other relevant areas, and apply them directly to the contemporary Biblical debates. These range from debates within the believing community about the meaning of various scriptural passages, to debates between believers and nonbelievers about the Bible’s consistency with the archeological evidence. Such debates can be heated, making this a controversial area of archeology. But that’s part of what makes it so interesting, and part of what makes it so relevant to our collective debate on the subject. This might help you to weigh in, and give a more informed (and reliable) opinion about current debates – allowing you to get your opinion out there, if this is what you desire.
The caves at Qumran, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
Conclusion: There’s plenty of room in the field, for anyone who wants to enter it
Motivations for studying Biblical archeology can vary, with some desiring only to debunk and discredit the text. Others want to vindicate the text with some relevant evidence, or to find out where various Biblical events might have happened. Whatever your motivations, there is plenty of room in the field for anyone who wants to enter it. Others might just want to take an introductory class or two on the subject, or just study the subject independently in their spare time (as I have done).
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