Digital Logos Edition
In this course, Craig Evans describes the world of Jesus and the early church in detail based on archeology. He draws connections between archaeological finds and relevant Scripture passages and theological issues. Evans discusses how archaeology sheds light on the synagogues of Israel, literacy of the time, Pilate and Caiaphas, and burial traditions.
“You may be surprised to know that it’s estimated only about five percent of biblical sites have been excavated.” (source)
“Archaeology investigates the remnants, the remains, of human culture from antiquity and tries to sort it out, and just to figure out ‘What is it that we have and what can we recover?’ and then goes from there to ask ‘How does it shed light on narratives and stories, literature that has survived from the past?’ Think of archaeology really as an effort to recover—recover material culture, human material culture.” (source)
“According to Jewish tradition, at the time of death the spirit doesn’t exactly depart. The spirit hangs around; the spirit loiters for three days.” (source)
“In fact in and around Jerusalem over 800 tombs and tomb complexes have been excavated in the last 100 years.” (source)
“Wherever the elements are favorable and make survivability a possibility we find writing materials: ostraca, wooden tablets, papyri, parchment books, endless inscriptions and graffiti.” (source)