3. Archeology Proving Skeptics Wrong Time and Time Again
In the 19th century, many scholars argued that the Bible was proven to be false … nothing more than fairy tales. Why? Because they could not prove the veracity of various historical accounts found in the Bible. A major one of these claims was that since such a major city as Nineveh had never been discovered, that therefore the Bible’s stories involving the Assyrian Empire must be mythological. This was quite a broadside, since the Assyrian Empire was shown in the Bible to be a major power that intersected with a significant portion of Israel and Judah’s history. If there is no Nineveh, it only follows that the Bible is nothing more than a book of fables.
There have been many similar claims. Consider that it was argued that the Bible’s account of King David was also fable. Why? Again, because no archeological evidence of his existence had ever been found. If David never even existed, then this would be a terminal blow to the entire Bible, both New and Old Testaments. After all, he was a long-reigning king at a time when Israel was near its peak power in the Middle East. Also, the Bible proclaimed that the Messiah would be the Son of David and the Savior. With no evidence of a historical David, again it was argued that the Bible must therefore be a book of meaningless fiction.
Was Nineveh a myth? Even during the time of Christ and the apostles, apparently no identifiable remains of this city existed. Lucian of Samosata (A.D. 120-180), who was a Greek writer, stated: “Nineveh has perished. No trace of it remains. No one can say where once it existed.” Nevertheless, Jesus Himself spoke of Nineveh. See His words recorded in the New Testament, Luke 11:32 and Matthew 12:41: “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it […].” Clearly, Jesus did not question this city’s one-time existence. So, what would be the consequence, if there never was a Nineveh? It would invalidate the words of Christ and therefore the existence of the Son of God. Moreover, the validity and reliability of the Bible’s accounts of history would be demolished.
Of course, not finding something does not prove conclusively that it does not exist. To no surprise, a spectacular discovery was made by Austen Henry Layard (1847) and Paul Emile Botta (1842). They discovered the remnants of three Assyrian cities. With that find they were also able to establish that the Assyrian Empire had ranged across much of the Middle East and indeed was a mighty, powerful empire just as the Bible had stated. Moreover, one of the three cities unearthed was indeed Nineveh.
The Bible had been proven correct … as it has been time and time again. Many archeological proofs for the Bible and validations of the historical accounts of the Old Testament continue to be discovered. Despite the systematic looting and destruction of any archeological evidence proving that the Jews had been the prominent inhabitants of Palestine over the past three millennia, new finds continue. For example, on July 21, 1993, a team of archaeologists led by Professor Avraham Biran, excavating Tel Dan in the northern Galilee, found a triangular piece of basalt rock inscribed in Aramaic. It included the words Beit David (“House” or “Dynasty” of “David”) (Source: Jewish Virtual Library).
This was exciting confirmation of King David’s existence. Since then, a number of additional proofs of King David’s reign have been found.
Today, many archeologists working in the Middle East (Assyriologists) use the accounts of the Old Testament as a primary guide. If a place or people is mentioned in it, there is little question that they had existed. To this day, not one inaccuracy or falsehood has been found in the Bible with respect to past history that has been conclusively proven. That provides ironclad provenance for this document. Crucially, by implication, the very words of Jesus Christ with respect to historic peoples and places have been verified.
Given the Bible’s veracity, it leads one to ponder the implications for Creationism. While archeology has proven the Bible true, the diggings of evolutionary paleontologists have not been so fruitful.
Archeologists who seek proofs (desperately) for their evolutionary theories have yet to find any conclusive evidence. In fact, it couldn’t be more to the contrary. Charles Darwin first introduced his evolution theories in the bookOn the Origin of the Species, published in 1859. Since then, more than 150 years of digging and studying have brought them no closer to finding the basic “missing links.” The fossil record plainly shows a history of death and extinction, not new creation.
Yet, Jesus, the very one whose words about Nineveh proved the Bible true and the doubters wrong, also said “[…] from the beginning, when God created the world […]” (Mark 13:19), and that he made humans male and female at the “beginning of creation” (Mark 10:6). Why should we not also take these words of Jesus as Truth?
As Luke 19:40 says, though truth may be suppressed, “[…] the stones will cry out.” Though archeology has proven the Bible to be a remarkably accurate document, its author, the personal God Jesus Christ, is rejected. Despite the evidence of the “stones,” the Bible continues to be mocked and knocked as a book of poetry and fables.
4. Creator Begat the Bible Begat Science
Consider that all the books of the Bible were of course written long before the discoveries of modern science. Shouldn’t one therefore expect to find many statements in the Bible that reflect ignorance of the basic physical laws, the workings of quantum mechanics, astrophysics, etc.? Surely some of the Bible’s statements about physics or chemistry or any other faculty of science would be proven wrong.
For example, take the book of Job, which is thought to be the oldest book in the Old Testament (written perhaps as much as 3,500 to 4,000 years ago). Surely, it must be riddled with myths, factual errors and ignorance of science. Indeed, Job makes many statements about life and the natural sciences.
Crucially, what do we find? Job not once refutes any scientific law or principle, nor the observed workings of the universe that a classical scientist today could point to as error. Amazing!
Could at least some errors be found elsewhere in the Bible? For example, wasn’t it a common belief at one time that the world was flat and that the sun orbited around the earth (geocentrism)? It was only as late as the mid-16th century that Nicolaus Copernicus published his theory that the earth orbited around the sun (heliocentrism). Previously, it was believed that everything orbited around the earth.
Galileo Galilei also took this revolutionary view of geocentrism at that time. He was heavily criticized by the Roman Catholic Church for his belief, as was Copernicus after his death. The Roman Catholic Church deemed this view as unbiblical.
The view that the earth was an orb (rather than flat) came to be generally accepted as early as 300 BC, certainly so in educated and Hellenistic circles. That said, this view was first credited to Pythagoras (c. 570-500 B.C.). However, the books of the Old Testament had been written well before this time. Therefore, it should only be understandable that some of the writers of the Old Testament books would have reflected a geocentric or flat-earth view.
But, that is not what we find.
Here is what Isaiah wrote: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers” (Isaiah 40:21-22).
Isaiah states that the earth is a circle … not square or flat. Where did this knowledge come from?
The writer of Ecclesiastes also reflects the “round world” view. He says: “The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course” (Ecclesiastes 1:6).
This statement clearly holds the implication that the world is an orb. This verse could not be interpreted otherwise. How could the wind ever return to its course on a north/south trajectory were the world not a round ball?
The Bible also indicates that the universe has been “stretched out” or expanded. For example, Isaiah says that “[…] He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in” (Isaiah 40:22). Indeed, the universe is still constantly expanding today—being stretched out—according to astrophysicists. This observation is consistent with the Bible.
We consider one last statement in the Bible—of many more that we could examine—that proves a “scientifically” correct understanding. “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left” (Luke 17:34-35).
This statement speaks about a future event in the end times. It is of global scope and happens at a specific time. What we note is that when people are “taken,” some are in bed and others are working grinding grain. That is consistent with a global event. At any one point in time, it will be simultaneously night for one part of earth and daytime for others. Here again we observe that Scripture’s statements are true and correct.
We finally return to the oldest book in the Bible, Job. Consider these two statements that he made: “He stretches out the north over empty space; Hehangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:6-7, NKJV). “He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters […]” (Job 26:10).
These certainly do not dispute our modern understanding of the universe. These words confirm that the earth hangs on nothing. And indeed there must be a circular horizon on the ocean, as can only be the case with an earth that is an orb.
We have only scratched the surface in this brief investigation. There are many more Bible verses that reflect correct classical science as only modern experts could so identify today. There are NO misstatements … NO errors. Again, this is amazing.
Where did this information come from so many thousands of years ago? Clearly, the Bible’s writers were inspired by the Creator of science himself. The ancient documents that are in the Bible are true.
Such alignment and scientific accuracy are not to be found in the writings of the other major religions of the world. We certainly do not wish to cast aspersions on any specific person. We will simply refer to facts.
Let’s briefly turn our attention to the Koran (the foundational scriptures of Islam), the content of which is claimed to be written by Mohammed under the direct inspiration of Allah.
The Koran is riddled with factual errors and inconsistencies. There are literally hundreds of such factually incorrect statements.
For example, unlike the Bible, the Koran takes a geocentric view. Says the Koran, “It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit” (Qur’an 36:40). Here it is mentioned that both the moon and the sun have an orbit. No mention is made that the earth is in an orbit. The succession of night and day is not a function of an orbiting sun in any case. This is due to the earth spinning upon its axis.
We do not wish to cause further embarrassment, so will not prolong this line of investigation. Readers can pursue additional evidence, as there are many helpful resources available on this topic. Conclusion? The inspiration behind the Koran could therefore not have been the Creator Jehovah.
Is the Bible a product of the imagination of mankind? No. As we have shown, in at least one respect, the Bible is true and factual, displaying knowledge that its writers and prophets could not have known.
There are many excellent resources available that cite many further proofs of the Bible’s source of inspiration. Consider the scientific and Biblical materials from Answers in Genesis and/or the Institute for Creation Research. An informative article from Answers in Genesis, written by Dr. Jason Lisle, can be found at this link: (https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/taking-back-astronomy/the-universe-confirms-the-bible/).