Queries & Comments
008
The Arch of Titus in Color
It’s a Triumph!
BAR’s report on research into the color of the Arch of Titus is fascinating (Steven Fine, Peter J. Schertz and Donald H. Sanders, “True Colors: Digital Reconstruction Restores Original Brilliance to the Arch of Titus,” BAR, May/June 2017). As a professor of art history, this piece looks like a peep-hole into a magic world of polychromatic revelation. Words fail me to thank you.
Emeritus Distinguished Professor
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Matthews, North Carolina
Colorful Revelations
Regarding the article on restoring the color of the Arch of Titus, are the bowls on the showbread table known to have been gold as depicted—or could they have been stone, as was required for certain ritual purposes?
New York, New York
Steven Fine Replies: As in our world, there were many different kinds of vessels available for use in first-century Judea. Very fine glass, for example, was well known, and even a vessel by the famous glassmaker Ennion was discovered in Jerusalem. Stone vessels were very popular, but so were terracotta.
Josephus describes two golden cups that were set above the showbread on the table (Antiquities 3.10.7). A rare gold first-century Roman beaker not unlike those illustrated on the Arch panel, now part of the J. Paul Getty Museum collection, was a significant inspiration for me (www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/130350/unknown-maker-beaker-roman-1st-century/).
The Bible and Archaeology
Making Bible Stories Come Alive
I appreciate William G. Dever’s article (“Whom Do You Believe—The Bible or Archaeology?” BAR, May/June 2017). I’d like to share what I teach my ten-year-old Sunday School class. I teach them that the Holy Bible is not the entire history of the House of Israel. Rather, it is the history of God’s dealings with the House of Israel. Hence, we’re missing a lot of history. I teach the Bible, but where I can and where appropriate, I supplement it with history and archaeology. BAR makes a regular appearance in my classroom.
But I am very careful to designate what is Biblical, what is history and myth, and what is archaeological—with Biblical getting the spotlight. I am not afraid that history and archaeology will supplant the Bible; to me, it helps it come alive.
Albany, Oregon
The Reliability of the Bible
The Bible is so accurate that its text is always current, never needing to be updated. How many times have the interpretations of archaeologists and historians been revised in light of newer discoveries, which have only served to confirm the Bible text as accurate all along? Why do the so-called experts continue to treat the Bible as only a fallible human-devised work?
Crawfordville, Florida
Biblical Scholarship at Risk?
Making Room for Debate
As a longtime reader of BAR, I was disappointed with your publishing the column by Ronald S. Hendel (Biblical Views: “Biblical Scholarship at Risk,” BAR, May/June 2017). It was obviously much more politically motivated than scholastically supported. It must be countered that many moderate/conservative professors have studied the arguments for the Documentary Hypothesis (JEPD) and have opted, based on internal and external evidence, to modify or even reject the assumptions of this argument. As a professor at a conservative seminary, I encourage all my students to study alternative views and rest their conclusions based on intellectual criteria and not just theological assumptions. I would not refuse a student from reading Hendel’s material or attend his class because he teaches “modern Biblical scholarship” unless he mocks and/or misrepresents counterarguments.
Professor of Biblical Languages
Covington Theological Seminary
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Bridging the Divide
I was sad to read of Ronald Hendel’s experience in being attacked as un-American for teaching modern Biblical scholarship. Biblical archaeologists, professors and well-trained pastors face the same challenge: the widespread lack of awareness of scholarly Biblical research. The field of study has become so highly specialized that the quantity of information a trained scholar possesses has become a barrier to communicating with the untrained believer. We don’t speak a different language, but we do have a different vocabulary.
A close-minded approach not only discourages debate; it eliminates it. Perhaps our real challenge is to faithfully teach the willing, while at the same time maintaining a loving attitude toward others.
Oakhurst United Methodist Church
Seminole, Florida
BAR Tidbits
Digging Up the Past
Receiving your request for a donation for dig volunteers brought back fond memories.
It all started in 1989–90 at a Bible study class at St. James Episcopal church in Birmingham, Michigan. I mentioned that I would like to volunteer on a dig in Israel and was told I should get BAR. I also discovered the BAS trips available that sounded wonderful. So thanks to BAS, I traveled to Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Jordan and twice to Greece, all trips led by Avner Goren.
During the tour through Israel, we stopped at Tel Miqne. I talked with Avner about volunteering even though I was in my 60s. He assured me that I could, so I signed up for the first time in 1992 at Tel Miqne, planning to go once. I got hooked and went every season through 1996. I am so grateful that I was able to have that experience. Yes, there were a few down days, but digging in 3,000-year-old dirt, learning so much, working with college students from the U.S., Europe and the Middle East (not to mention Avner, Sy Gitin, Trude Dothan and others) and exploring Jerusalem on weekends was wonderful.
And it all started with you. Thank you.
P.S. Throughout the past 20 years, I have continued to enjoy and learn about digs in the Middle East thanks to BAR.
Birmingham, Michigan
The Arch of Titus in Color
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