The Bible Is Not Just a Book of Faith—It’s Rooted in Real History
The Bible is often challenged on historical grounds. Some ask, “Did these people really exist? Did these events really happen?” The answer, rooted in both faith and fact, is a confident yes. The Bible is not a mythological text—it records real events, real people, and real places. And time and time again, archaeology, ancient records, and historical research confirm what Scripture has said all along.
Evidence from Archaeology
- The Hittites – Once considered fictional by skeptics, the Hittite Empire is now well-documented through archaeological discoveries in modern-day Turkey, confirming references throughout the Old Testament (Genesis 15:20, 2 Kings 7:6).
- King David – Critics once claimed David was a legendary figure, but the Tel Dan Stele, discovered in the 1990s, contains a reference to the “House of David.”
- The Pool of Bethesda – John 5 describes a pool with five porticoes in Jerusalem. For centuries, no such pool was known. Then it was discovered—exactly as described—in excavations near the Church of St. Anne.
- Pontius Pilate – Once thought a fabrication, a stone inscription bearing the name “Pontius Pilatus” was found in Caesarea in 1961.
These are only a few examples. Over and over again, the spade of the archaeologist confirms the pen of the prophet.
Historical Consistency and Eyewitness Accounts
The Bible isn’t a single viewpoint. It’s a collection of multiple eyewitness testimonies, often written close to the time of the events:
- The New Testament gospels were written within decades of Jesus’ resurrection—while eyewitnesses were still alive to confirm or refute the accounts.
- Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, was a detailed historian who carefully investigated everything (Luke 1:1–4).
No other ancient text is supported by as many early manuscripts and copies as the New Testament—over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, many of them within a few centuries of the originals.
Faith and Fact Work Together
Of course, faith is essential in our walk with God. But biblical faith is not blind—it is grounded in evidence. The God of the Bible operates in time, space, and history. Christianity is not built on fairy tales. It is built on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—a real event in history.
“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” – Psalm 119:89