The Bible and Archaeology

     BOOK REVIEW:   Ancient artifacts and the Bible illuminate each other in various ways, but it can be difficult to understand how this process works and how archaeological discoveries should be interpreted. In this book, Matthieu Richelle provides an enlightening perspective on these issues, showing how texts and material culture are in a fascinating "dialogue" with one another that sheds light on the meaning and importance of both. What emerges is a rich and balanced picture that enlivens our understanding of the Bible's message, increases our appreciation for the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written, and helps us be realistic about the limits of our knowledge.

     MY REVIEW:   I found this book to be very interesting. I don't follow archaeological discoveries, therefore this was all new to me. I quite liked that it was written in layman's terms, so it was very easy to follow and understand, and did not drag along. Matthieu discusses different aspects of archaeology and how it relates to the Bible. For example: the different kinds of writings discovered and the difficulties in dating and interpreting them; the debated theories of when discovered cities/monuments were built and by whom; how the progression of pottery indicates the period that civilization lived (though there were no details on the pottery itself); and more. There are also 31 pictures in the back of the book of different finds. The pictures are clear and interesting.
     The objective of this book is to better prepare the reader to consider the new discoveries being made in an unbiased and intelligent manner. I would say that purpose is achieved, though one needs to realize it is not a full-blown account. The book is only 208 pages long. It is this fact, however, that makes it practical for the general public.

    I received a copy of this book from HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS, and was not required to write a positive review.