Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries that Bring the Bible to Life. By Titus Kennedy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2020. 254 pp. Paper. $22.99.
Titus Kennedy is a professional field archaeologist and an adjunct professor at Biola University, as well as a research fellow at Discovery Institute. He draws upon archaeology and documentary artifacts to demonstrate the truthfulness of the Bible. The topics he considers in this book are often used by critics to deny Scripture’s reliability.
For this book, Dr. Kennedy selected 101 key topics that provide significant archaeological support for the accuracy of the Biblical record. The publisher’s back-cover summary is a good starting point:
In Unearthing the Bible, Dr. Titus Kennedy presents 101 objects [each with one or two clear color-photographs] that provide compelling evidence for the historical reliability of Scripture from the dawn of civilization through the early church. Gathered from more than 50 museums, private collections, and archaeological sites, these pieces not only emphasize the reliability of Biblical narratives but also provide rich cultural insights into the ancient world.
The 101 sections (distributed over eight chapters) correspond to:
- Genesis and Job (15 sections)
- Exodus–Deuteronomy (9 sections)
- Joshua–Ruth (8 sections)
- Samuel–Kings (9 sections)
- Kings–Chronicles (19 sections)
- Jeremiah–Malachi (14 sections)
- Matthew–John (11 sections)
- Acts–Revelation (16 sections)
Each chapter starts with a one-page overview of the relationship between that portion of the Bible and its surrounding world. Each section is then a self-contained unit within its chapter. Each section of 2-3 pages offers a summary of an artifact, a discussion of its relevance to particular Biblical passages, and (often) a discussion of how it assists in defending the Bible against liberal attacks. Sections are readable, current, and conservative.
The book concludes with definitions of key terms, a timeline, maps, and a Scripture index. The timeline mentions Biblical verses with chronological notations, so the timeline corresponds to content covered by the book.
The topics cover much of the Biblical text from Genesis to Revelation. Of the sixty-six books, the artifacts presented pertain to at least fifty-one. Of the Bible’s 1,189 chapters, 324 receive attention. The following shows the distribution of the 324 (e.g., discussed artifacts relate directly to 31 of the 50 chapters in Genesis):
Gen 31/50; Exod 18/40; Lev 3/27; Num 10/36; Deut 5/34; Josh 6/24; Judg 6/21; Ruth 1/4; 1 Sam 10/31; 2 Sam 6/24; 1 Kgs 15/22; 2 Kgs 15/25; 1 Chr 6/29; 2 Chr 10/36; Ezra 1/10; Neh 6/13; Esth 3/10; Job 6/42; Pss 4/150; Prov 1/31; Eccl 1/12; Song 1/8; Isa 66/66; Jer 17/52; Ezek 2/48; Dan 4/12; Hos 1/14; Amos 4/9; Jonah 1/4; Nah 1/3; Hab 1/3; Zeph 2/3; Matt 8/28; Mark 5/16; Luke 6/24; John 4/21; Acts 13/28; Rom 1/16; 1 Cor 3/16; 2 Cor 4/13; Gal 3/6; Eph 1/6; Col 1/4; 1 Tim 1/6; 2 Tim 2/4; Heb 2/13; Jas 1/5; 1 Pet 1/5; 2 Pet 1/3; Jude 1/1; Rev 2/22.
As a sample of what the book offers, chapter 1 deals with artifacts relevant to: Creation, the Flood, the Tower of Babel, Ur, personal and place names appearing in Genesis, contemporary customs matching those mentioned in Genesis, evidence that camels were domesticated by patriarchal times, and nomads settling in Egypt.
Many secular writers claim that Biblical books were written centuries after their purported settings. Based on this claim, they allege widespread error. This easy-to-read book does much to dispel such notions.
The book does not deal with Jesus’ message of life, assurance being of the essence of saving faith, or of discipleship. Even so, its relevance to grace-loving people is huge, precisely because God does not lie and the Bible does not err. I recommend it.
John H. Niemelä
Message of Life
Knoxville, TN
