Understanding the historical background is essential in comprehending the meaning of scripture. In the past two centuries, scholars have made significant discoveries that have shed light on previously unknown historical information. The diligent work of biblical archaeologists has played a vital role in uncovering these valuable insights.
For example, the study of biblical archaeology in the modern era is said to have started around the mid-19th century. A significant figure in this field was Edward Robinson, an American scholar of biblical texts. Robinson's journeys to Palestine in 1838 and 1852 led to many significant findings, such as the identification of various biblical locations in Jerusalem. His work greatly contributed to our understanding of the ancient world referenced in the Bible.
The past 200 years have seen the discovery and translation of a vast array of ancient Near Eastern texts, providing scholars with an invaluable window into the cultures, beliefs, practices, and histories of the region's ancient civilizations - these include the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Anatolia, Palestine, and the Levant, among others.
1. Akkadian Cuneiform Texts: Cuneiform was one of the earliest forms of writing, originating in ancient Mesopotamia. The Akkadian language cuneiform texts were discovered in the 19th century and have revealed a wealth of information. These include "The Epic of Gilgamesh,” one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature, and the "Enuma Elish", the Babylonian creation story.
2. Sumerian Cuneiform Tablets: Discovered in various sites across Iraq and Iran, these tablets give insight into the earliest known civilization, the Sumerians. Important texts include the "Code of Ur-Nammu” and “Code of Hammurabi”, some of the oldest known law codes.
3. Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts: Numerous tombs, temples, steles, and papyri have been discovered with Ancient Egyptian writing. The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, allowed scholars to finally decipher hieroglyphics thanks to its tri-lingual inscriptions.
4. Achaemenid (Old Persian) Texts: The discovery of these texts, often found inscribed on monuments, offers insights into the ancient Persian civilization. Significant texts include inscriptions of Darius I and Xerxes I, outlining the grand narratives of the Achaemenid empire.
5. Hittite Clay Tablets: Discovered in Hattusha, these ancient Anatolian texts have shown insight into the intricacies of Hittite laws, treaties, and literature, such as "The Epic of Gilgamesh" Hittite version.
6. Phoenician and Punic Inscriptions: Texts from the ancient maritime civilization in Lebanon and Carthage contain crucial information about their trade, religion, and warfare.
7. Ugaritic Clay Tablets: Unearthed in the ancient city of Ugarit, these tablets include "Ba'al Cycle," which explains the religious beliefs of the Canaanite.
8. The Dead Sea Scrolls: Discovered in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, these Jewish texts shed light on the Jewish sects and the intertestamental period.
9. Aramaic Texts: These documents from the Neo-Assyrian period include contracts, letters, and royal documents, illustrating the language in use during this period.
10. Linear B Tablets: Discovered in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Crete and mainland Greece, these tablets represent the earliest known form of the Greek language.
All these textual artefacts significantly contribute to our understanding of the ancient Near East, shedding light on mythology, law, administration, diplomacy, economy, literature, and daily life in these ancient civilizations.
It's difficult to provide an exact count of texts added over the last 200 years as the definition of "ancient texts" could vary, and the rate of discovery is not constant. Plus, many documents are fragments rather than complete texts. Experts estimate that we have approximately half a million cuneiform tablets, tens of thousands of papyrus fragments, and thousands of other significant texts, inscriptions, or records in other media. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls alone added around 900 texts to our collection. However, this is an approximation and the actual number could be slightly higher or lower.
The abundance of information, our examination of it, and the correlation of its narratives with scripture has enabled us to adopt the mindset of an ancient Near Eastern individual and of an ancient Jew. This approach helps us to grasp the original context of scripture by setting aside our own worldview. Instead, we seek to understand scripture through the lens of those who authored it and its intended audience. Without this knowledge, we would find ourselves imposing our own notions onto scripture, rather than allowing it to unveil its unadulterated narrative.
One glaring result of this situation, especially for me, has been a response of a lack of confidence in what I now see as distorted theologies, traditions, doctrines, and dogmas that have prevailed for at least 1,700 years. This has given an increasing rise to entire systems of belief have some level of fabrication which are held tightly too by many without considering the knowledge we have today. We do this without knowing what people knew from ancient times.
Although not all teachings from these traditions are unreliable, a significant portion have become greatly distorted. As a result, false theologies and even complete counterfeit "gospels" have emerged, leading people down treacherous paths. These distortions have become so ingrained in society that individuals passionately defend them, unaware of the genuine narratives that have surfaced, particularly in recent times.
Over the past two decades, an abundance of credible understandings have come to light, offering a fresh perspective, helping to remove greater swathes of distorted beliefs. It is essential to approach these new revelations with an open mind, free from the constraints of deeply entrenched beliefs. By doing so, we can gain a clearer understanding of the truth of scripture and avoid being misled by the prevailing distortions that have caused much confusion and division.
In today's world, we encounter a troubling reality. Some identifying as Christians hold beliefs that deviate from re-emerging understandings. Ironically, they label those who seek to share these original insights as heretics themselves. As individuals who have shifted our perspectives to align with ancient truths, we face opposition from those we once stood alongside. However, if we possess wisdom, we work to remain loyal to our King, relying on his mercy and compassion through us; our goal being to guide our fellows back from the distortions to that having been obscured over the course of centuries and millennia.
The majority of scholarly work in biblical studies remains largely inaccessible to the average churchgoer. This lack of accessibility has led to the persistence of distorted beliefs and their impact on people's thoughts and lives. However, there have been individuals who have clearly been chosen and empowered by the Holy Spirit to bridge the gap between academia and the everyday person. Dr. Michael S. Heiser is a prominent example of such a person who has made significant strides in this endeavor. Following his lead, others have joined in this important work, dedicating their time and efforts to the same cause.
The impact of this research has been to awaken numerous individuals with average education, yet possessing the divine wisdom and intellect to comprehend this knowledge and simplify it for the general public. After conversing with many of these individuals, they often express sentiments like, "I've never heard it this way before! It makes so much sense!" Their gratitude and appreciation usually follow. However, at times, these insights evaporate from believers who lack consistent exposure to this information until, as Paul suggests, "Christ is fully formed in them."
The last statement made in the previous paragraph is indeed bold, as it implies that everything we are discussing in this article is connected to Jesus being formed in humans without any distortions. However, it is important to remember that the main purpose of scripture is for us to become more like Christ and to reflect his love, mercy, and compassion in our lives. This is the ultimate goal, as it leads to the hope of salvation on the Day of judgment. Once again, these ideas may seem bold, but they hold great significance.
With all of this in mind, we can now understand the importance of untangling and comprehending the ancient mindset and scripture. This will serve as a clarifying lens through which we can see Jesus and his purpose, mission, and process more clearly. As a result, we will be transformed into better representations of him on earth. The culmination of this transformation is a deeper understanding of his unwavering and active loyalty to us in love. This understanding allows us to respond to him in a similar manner, embracing his love and mission towards others. This includes both those who are already devoted to Christ and those who are still trapped in disloyalty and unaware of Jesus' loving faithfulness and our own returned commitment to him.
From context to loyalty
The story found in Genesis 1 to 11 holds immense significance as it sets the foundation for everything that follows in the Bible. This narrative provides us with valuable insights into the historical context and sheds light on the three major rebellions spoken of in scripture and other ancient texts such as 1 Enoch and helped further by the physical discoveries of biblical archaeology.
Within this story, we are introduced to epic acts of treachery and violent rebellion carried out by powerful celestial beings fallen from the heavenly realms. These beings, who were once heavenly hosts, played the most significant role in these rebellions.
It is against this backdrop of rebellion that humanity enters the scene (Genesis 3, 6, and 11), becoming participants in the overall great rebellion against God. This rebellion ultimately shapes the mission of Jesus throughout the Old Testament and is a key element in understanding his purpose in the New Testament—the mission of not only reversing the damage done through these rebellions, but establishing an ever enlarging beachhead of loyalty and allegiance to Jesus Christ as King of all kings in all of the heavenly and earthly realms!
Furthermore, this foundational story also serves as a framework for the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will return as the King of kings. The culmination of this event is linked to the Judgment, the Great and Notable Day of the Lord, where all will be held accountable.
By understanding and exploring the scripture story and its historical context, we gain insight into the grand narrative of the Bible and the significant role it plays in shaping our understanding of God's plan for humanity.
Therefore, it is crucial for us to recognize the immense importance of Christ's unwavering dedication to us. This encompasses the shame, humiliation, suffering, and death he endured on the cross. Additionally, we acknowledge his burial, resurrection, and ascension to heaven by our living devotion to him; making it the pinnacle of our existence as we follow his example and strive to love others faithfully in every aspect of our lives, even those who stand as adversaries to God.
It is this grand goal that all of history and the polemic of scripture is leading us to: The loyalty of Christ and ours in response, which is the adhering glue of us to Jesus and Jesus to us—a shared loyalty to each other, with his tested in full and found perfect and ours in testing as we live out our lives in this realm and in this current Age.