Dr. Mitchell Rothman Dr. Mitchell Rothman Professor, Widener UniversityProfessor, Widener UniversityConsulting Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania MuseumConsulting Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania Museum

Dr. Rothman told us…Dr. Rothman told us…

• Lecture not about proving the bibleLecture not about proving the bible

• Archaeology disproves the bibleArchaeology disproves the bible

• This shouldn’t affect our faithThis shouldn’t affect our faith““If it could be proved that Jesus never existed, If it could be proved that Jesus never existed,

would it change your faith?”would it change your faith?”

What archaeological findsWhat archaeological finds??• some pictures of potssome pictures of pots• some generic pictures of idolssome generic pictures of idols• the Moabite Stonethe Moabite Stone• 4 room house foundation4 room house foundation• referred to the Ebla tabletsreferred to the Ebla tablets

Dr. Rothman assertedDr. Rothman asserted::• OT not written till 700 or 800 years after David (300 years before Christ)OT not written till 700 or 800 years after David (300 years before Christ)

• Not based on any archaeological evidence

• Flood Story based on Gilgamesh epicFlood Story based on Gilgamesh epic• Not based on any archaeological evidence

• Eden just a story about JerusalemEden just a story about Jerusalem• Based on “Gihon”

• NT not written till 100 or 150 years after JesusNT not written till 100 or 150 years after Jesus• Not based on any archaeological evidence

• JEDPJEDP• Not based on any archaeological evidence

Paul’s death reported by Paul’s death reported by Clement of Rome, A.D. 96Clement of Rome, A.D. 96

It is generally believed Paul died It is generally believed Paul died during the reign of Nero during the reign of Nero (A.D. 68)(A.D. 68)• Dionysius (2Dionysius (2ndnd Century) Century)• Tertullian (early 3Tertullian (early 3rdrd Century) Century)• Eusebius (4Eusebius (4thth Century) Century)• Jerome (4Jerome (4thth Century Century

PP5252

John Rylands John Rylands

fragmentfragment

c.c. A.D. 125 A.D. 125

While it is still generally held that the Pentateuch is the product of many hands and many centuries, since the late 1960s, with the spread of new scholarly tools and a growing recognition of the limitations of Wellhausen's analytical framework, Wellhausen's model has fallen out of favor.

But while the terminology and insights of the documentary hypothesis continue to inform scholarly debate about the origins of the Pentateuch, it no longer dominates that debate as it did for the first two thirds of the 20th century. "The verities enshrined in older introductions [to the subject of the origins of the Pentateuch] have disappeared, and in their place scholars are confronted by competing theories which are discouragingly numerous, exceedingly complex, and often couched in an expository style that is (to quote John van Seter's description of one seminal work) 'not for the faint-hearted.'"

• “ “Abraham probably not a monotheist”Abraham probably not a monotheist”• “ “Abraham probably not from the Ur we know”Abraham probably not from the Ur we know”• “ “If Abraham were from the traditional Ur, he would If Abraham were from the traditional Ur, he would have written in Sumerian.”have written in Sumerian.”• Abraham Abraham is called a “wandering Aramean”is called a “wandering Aramean”

Dt. 26:5Dt. 26:5 ““And you shall make response And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.and populous.

Exodus probably didn’t happenExodus probably didn’t happen

Exodus probably didn’t happenExodus probably didn’t happen

PHILISTIN

ES

PHILISTIN

ES

EXODUS 13:17-18EXODUS 13:17-18When Pharaoh let the people go, When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearalthough that was near. For God said, “Lest the . For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Red Sea.

EGYPTIAN FORTSEGYPTIAN FORTS

• Jesus not born on Dec. 26Jesus not born on Dec. 26• Not born in year 0Not born in year 0• Nothing about Jesus outside the BibleNothing about Jesus outside the Bible

Tacitius, c. A.D.116

Yet no human effort, no princely largess nor offerings to the gods could make that infamous rumor disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated.

• Jesus not born on Dec. 25Jesus not born on Dec. 25• Not born in year 0Not born in year 0• Nothing about Jesus outside the BibleNothing about Jesus outside the Bible

Tacitius, c. A.D.116

Yet no human effort, no princely largess nor offerings to the gods could make that infamous rumor disappear that Nero had somehow ordered the fire. Therefore, in order to abolish that rumor, Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians, who were infamous for their abominations. The originator of the name, Christ, was executed as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius; and though repressed, this destructive superstition erupted again, not only through Judea, which was the origin of this evil, but also through the city of Rome, to which all that is horrible and shameful floods together and is celebrated.

• “ “Jesus not born on Dec. 25”Jesus not born on Dec. 25”• “ “Not born in year 0”Not born in year 0”• “ “Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible”Nothing about Jesus outside the Bible”• “Probably a Pharisee”• “Jesus born in Nazareth”• Showed photo of “church” where Jesus was baptized• “James work was in Galilee”

Joshua’s point: facts and conjecture, can’t mix them up

“Scholars,” wild conjectures, and the effect on the masses

Dr. Rothman said that, as an archaeologist, he studies the evidence excluding the written account of the society he is studying.• Clearly, he does that with the Bible.• Would he take that skeptical approach with anything else?