How Important Historical Events
Are Portrayed In the Bible

ARTICLE INDEX     

There is a tendency of a totally erroneous consideration about the historical importance of the Bible. For sure, this popular opinion is a result of a reluctant approach about the study of the Gospels as historical texts. In part, this is understandable, but only if you think that having a very objective textual study will make you feel like you’re turning away from God’s word and focusing on the wrong things. But this is not the case. Your belief will grow and become stronger when you strengthen the spiritual importance of the Scriptures with historical significance and proof.

It’s in every reader nature to check the facts in a book they read and make sure the events portrayed in it are true and significant. Nothing easier and applicable to the important historical events that are portrayed in the Bible and passed on from generation to generation. At the end of this short investigation you will fully understand its essential value and meaning and have no doubt about its embodied powerful message.

The Academic Approach of the Bible

As in any old manuscript, there are various disciplines involved in creating and putting together the Bible. These disciplines are raging from ancient history, archaeology, social science, philology or literal and textual criticism. Each of these disciplines has the purpose of placing the biblical texts in time. While demonstrating the significance of the facts that are embodied in the biblical writings. First of all, the writings in the Bible are centered on particular geographical references backed up by detailed descriptions of events, historically recognized in other ancient writings and described in common history related books. Names, places and other significant factual details describing the reality of that time are actively subject to university studies.

A Historical Religion

Besides the fact that the Christian religion and faith has ancient origins, it is often stated that Christianity is a historical religion. The Bible brings to the world the story of the Christian religion based on facts. Both the Old and the New Testament are filled with historical occurrences that contribute with a strong spiritual significance. If you study the Bible from a historical perspective you will discover the history of Israel and the Near East historical times as well. You will find out about the reality of the Greco-Roman world, and the great empires that marked up our history like Persia, Assyria, Egypt and Babylon.

Starting with the beginning of times all the way to present days, our religion is linked back to this essential Biblical history that is constantly playing a decisive role. Unlike usual historical events, the Biblical history preserves a timelessness structure that cannot be discarded as soon as humanity goes through another stage of its development. It is applicable to every subsequent stage that finds its roots in a Biblical account.

The Gospels are History

Is there any reason why you should not consider the Gospels as historical documents? It is clear that the apostles have lived. It is proven by historical manuscripts that were attested in time. And even for those that read the texts with no spiritual intent or subjectivity, it is very close to impossible to deny these facts. Considering our Jesus Christ as a historical character we reveal the importance of the Gospels that refer to events just as true and historically proven such as the lives of Alexander the Great, Socrates or Hannibal. The birth, life, death and resurrection are historical sequences as well as the battle of Gaugamela, the trial of Socrates or Hannibal’s challenge in crossing the Alps. This simple fact related analogy becomes a useful tool against unfounded speculations about Christian religion and beliefs.

Conclusion

When it comes to telling a story, the Bible has a unique way of saying it. But these are not just stories; they are learnings that needed to be passed from generation to generation. And if you think about the fact that the book itself was written 2000 years ago, it becomes even more obvious why the stories were written using this particular style. It was not easy to teach and preach to people that had no studies or little to zero general knowledge. Therefore, the apostles and whoever else helped with writing the Bible were forced by circumstances to use a level of communication adjusted to the culture that the society had back then. Violence, war, plagues, they are all part of the Bible. But of course, all these bad things were happening not due to the Creator’s will to destroy but to serve as a lesson.

Since the aptly named Biblical times, sharing of history and knowledge was important and as such great historical events were implemented in the Bible, not just because if their importance to the lives and history of people of those times, but also to preserve and share this knowledge and information with the future generations, to teach them of where they came from and what they can learn from history.

The bottom line is that the Bible is not just a piece of paper or a regular book but rather a mean of maintaining balance on the earth, to keep people on the right path, doing good things, to teach everybody that we all can contribute to a better society and to maintain hope and faith that everything is happening for a greater good.