Here’s Why That Matters

Did you know that archaeologists in Israel use the Bible as a reference for archaeology?

Despite what many skeptics claim, archaeologists regularly use the Bible when conducting excavations in Israel. This isn’t about proving faith—it’s about using an ancient historical document to identify and interpret real-world sites, just as archaeologists do with Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek texts. Yet, some critics dismiss the Bible as a historical source simply because it contains religious elements.

But here’s the problem: If we reject the Bible on those grounds, we’d have to throw out nearly every ancient historical record—from Egyptian inscriptions to Roman chronicles—because they all contain religious or supernatural content. No serious historian operates this way, and neither do archaeologists.

So, let’s examine why the Bible is not only a valid archaeological tool but one of the most detailed and historically rich documents of the ancient world.

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1. Archaeologists Treat the Bible Like Other Ancient Texts

Archaeologists don’t blindly accept every word in the Bible as fact, but they also don’t ignore it. Like other ancient sources—such as the writings of Herodotus, Egyptian king lists, or Mesopotamian tablets—the Bible provides historical markers that help researchers locate and understand ancient sites.

Dr. Craig Evans, a biblical scholar and archaeologist, explains:

“Archaeology helps us understand the context of the biblical stories, and more often than not, the material evidence supports rather than contradicts the biblical narratives.”¹

Dr. Titus Kennedy, a field archaeologist, argues:

“The Bible is one of the most detailed ancient texts we have. Ignoring it in archaeology would be like ignoring Egyptian or Assyrian records when excavating their sites.”²

Even skeptical archaeologists recognize its usefulness. Israel Finkelstein, a biblical minimalist, admits:

“The Bible contains valuable historical memories, though they must be carefully analyzed.”³

This is the same approach applied to all ancient texts—analyze them critically, compare them to physical evidence, and use them to interpret the past.

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2. Archaeological Discoveries That Confirm the Bible

Skeptics often claim that archaeology has disproven the Bible. The truth? Time and time again, archaeology has corroborated biblical history.

A. The Tel Dan Stele (9th Century BCE) – King David Confirmed

Discovered in 1993, the Tel Dan Stele contains the earliest extrabiblical reference to the “House of David.” This stele, written by an Aramean king, proves that David was a real historical figure, contradicting past claims that he was purely legendary.

Dr. Joel Kramer, field archaeologist of Expedition Bible, states:

“The Tel Dan Stele completely dismantles the idea that David was a later invention. The archaeological record speaks for itself.”⁴

Even biblical minimalist Philip Davies reluctantly admitted:

“This inscription at the very least suggests that a dynasty known as the ‘House of David’ existed in the 9th century BCE.”⁵

B. The Mesha Stele (9th Century BCE) – Biblical Kings Mentioned

The Mesha Stele, discovered in 1868, records the victories of Mesha, king of Moab, and mentions the Israelite God Yahweh—aligning with 2 Kings 3.

Dr. Kenneth Kitchen observes:

“The Mesha Stele provides a striking parallel to the biblical narrative, reinforcing the historicity of Israel’s conflicts with Moab.”⁶

C. The Pool of Siloam (John 9:7) – A New Testament Site Uncovered

In 2004, workers uncovered the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man in John 9:7.

Dr. Shimon Gibson, an archaeologist on site, confirmed:

“There is no doubt that this is the same Pool of Siloam described in the Gospel of John.”⁷

These discoveries refute the claim that the Bible is purely theological fiction. Real sites, real people, real history.

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3. The “Spider-Man Fallacy” and Why It Fails

Skeptics often argue: “The Bible mentioning real places doesn’t prove its people or events are real. After all, Spider-Man comics mention New York City, but that doesn’t mean Spider-Man is real.”

This analogy might sound clever at first, but it completely collapses under scrutiny.

Why This Argument Fails:

1. False Equivalence – The Bible is an ancient historical document, while Spider-Man comics are modern fiction created for entertainment.
2. Verified Historical Figures – Unlike Spider-Man, biblical figures such as David, Hezekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pontius Pilate, and Caiaphas have been confirmed through archaeology.
3. Ancient Historiography vs. Modern Storytelling – The Bible was written in the style of ancient history, law, and genealogy, not fantasy storytelling like modern comic books.

Dr. Titus Kennedy clarifies:

“The argument that supernatural claims invalidate historical content is a logical fallacy. Using that standard, we would reject nearly all ancient historical records.”⁸

This is why no serious historian applies the Spider-Man analogy to any other ancient text. The Illiad mentions Troy, and archaeology confirmed Troy existed. Egyptian records mention Pharaohs, and archaeology confirmed those Pharaohs were real.

Applying the Spider-Man analogy only to the Bible while ignoring its flaws in every other historical context is intellectually dishonest.

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4. Archaeology and Biblical Studies: A Symbiotic Relationship

While archaeology does not confirm every biblical story, it has consistently provided context and corroboration for biblical history.

Dr. Hershel Shanks, founder of Biblical Archaeology Review, stated:

“Archaeology is not about proving the Bible; it’s about understanding the world in which the Bible was written.”⁹

As Kenneth Kitchen concludes:

“The Bible, when set alongside archaeology, emerges as an incredibly rich and informative ancient document, grounded in historical realities.”¹⁰

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The Real Tour Guide Test

I began this with a question about whether archaeologists in Israel use the Bible.

Now, imagine you’re on a tour of New York City. You have two tour guides:

1. One guide has a map and a deep knowledge of historical sites in New York City.
2. The other guide has a copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man comics and points to random places, saying, “This is where Spider-Man saved MJ’s life” or “This is where Peter Parker went to high school.”

Which tour guide would you find more compelling?

If the Spider-Man analogy were valid, the second tour guide would be just as reliable as the first. But no rational person would prefer the Spider-Man tour. Why? Because the first guide uses actual history, while the second is relying on modern fiction.

So if skeptics want to use the Spider-Man analogy, they should ask themselves: Do they want their view of biblical history to be based on serious scholarship—or a failed analogy that falls apart under scrutiny?

Because in the real world of archaeology, the Bible is the map—not the comic book.

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Footnotes

¹ Craig A. Evans, Jesus and His World: The Archaeological Evidence (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012).

² Titus Kennedy, Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries that Bring the Bible to Life (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2020).

³ Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman, The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology’s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts (New York: Free Press, 2001).

⁴ Joel Kramer, Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence (Expedition Bible, 2021).

⁵ Philip R. Davies, Memories of Ancient Israel: An Introduction to Biblical History—Ancient and Modern (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008).

⁶ K. A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).

⁷ Shimon Gibson, interview in Jerusalem Post, 2004.

⁸ Titus Kennedy, Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries that Bring the Bible to Life (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2020).

⁹ Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review, 2012.

¹⁰ Kenneth A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).