Customer Reviews

The Archaeology of the New Testament

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Edward Musgrave Blaiklock (1903-1983) was chair of Classics at Auckland University in New Zealand from 1947 until his retirement in 1968, and author of many works (particularly of Christian apologetics).

This 1970 book states in its Preface, "Striking vindications of biblical historiography have taught historians to respect the authority of both Old Testament and New, and to admire the accuracy, the deep concern for truth, and the inspired historical insight of the varied writers who gave the Bible its books of history.... The spade has obviously not yet finished with the Bible."

He only briefly treats the Census of Quirinius in Luke 2:1-7, saying, "The problem of the earlier governorship of Quirinius remains, and is not one which archaeology can solve. Inscriptions, none the less, locate Quirinius in office in Syria and Cilicia during the vital years, and offer a framework into which Luke's story can convincingly fit. The matter is outside our present theme."

He has an intersting observation on the "seal of the Beast" from Revelation 13: "Seals were set, in pursuance of this practice, on sacks of grain to guarantee the correct weight or measure of the contents. There was also a mark, a red stamp, which was required for all documents of exchange. It showed the Emperor's name and the year of his reign, and was technically known as 'the seal.' If, therefore, the first and basic interpretation of the Beast is Caesar himself, John's picture of the seal stamping hand and brow of the duped multitude becomes shockingly true to life. They are stamped and sealed with the sign of the false god of Rome, stamped upon the hand which creates, and before the brain which plans."

He notes, "In the fourth century, with Christ's real birthday long since forgotten, the Church placed the Nativity Feast on December 25th to overlay both Mithras and the gay Saturnalia."