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Archaeology of Jesus' Nazareth
Archaeology of Jesus' Nazareth is the first book on the archaeology of first-century Jesus' hometown in Galilee. Requiring no previous knowledge of biblical history or archaeology, it outlines the latest archaeological evidence, placing the Gospels' account of Jesus' youth in the Bible, and origins of Christian pilgrimage, in a new context.
The book concentrates on the fascinating Sisters of Nazareth site in the centre of the present city. There, twenty-first century archaeological research identified a Byzantine pilgrimage church, which is likely to be the Church of the Nutrition - dedicated to the upbringing of Christ - the most important previously 'lost' early Christian church in the Holy Land. A seventh-century pilgrim said that a vaulted area under the Church of the Nutrition contained the actual house where Jesus was
brought up by Mary and Joseph. Intriguingly, below the Byzantine church at the Sisters of Nazareth site a vaulted area preserved what are probably the ruins of a first-century house. Even before the Byzantine church was built, a - probably fourth-century - cave-church was constructed next to the
first-century ruins, suggesting that they were assigned Christian religious importance. The similarities with the pilgrim's description raise the question of whether the Sisters of Nazareth house really could have been the childhood home of Jesus. The book draws to its conclusion by means of a discussion of this historical existence for Jesus and the implications of the archaeology of Nazareth for understanding the Gospels.
The book concentrates on the fascinating Sisters of Nazareth site in the centre of the present city. There, twenty-first century archaeological research identified a Byzantine pilgrimage church, which is likely to be the Church of the Nutrition - dedicated to the upbringing of Christ - the most important previously 'lost' early Christian church in the Holy Land. A seventh-century pilgrim said that a vaulted area under the Church of the Nutrition contained the actual house where Jesus was
brought up by Mary and Joseph. Intriguingly, below the Byzantine church at the Sisters of Nazareth site a vaulted area preserved what are probably the ruins of a first-century house. Even before the Byzantine church was built, a - probably fourth-century - cave-church was constructed next to the
first-century ruins, suggesting that they were assigned Christian religious importance. The similarities with the pilgrim's description raise the question of whether the Sisters of Nazareth house really could have been the childhood home of Jesus. The book draws to its conclusion by means of a discussion of this historical existence for Jesus and the implications of the archaeology of Nazareth for understanding the Gospels.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 16, 2023
Accessible and readable
A very accessible account of the archeology of Nazareth in Jesus’ time, focussing on the ancient structures - including from the first century AD - underneath the Sisters of Nazareth convent. Short, balanced and skilfully combining the archaeology with the recent history of the discoveries by the Sisters (and how they were dismissed or ignored by many 20th century archaeologists).
A very accessible account of the archeology of Nazareth in Jesus’ time, focussing on the ancient structures - including from the first century AD - underneath the Sisters of Nazareth convent. Short, balanced and skilfully combining the archaeology with the recent history of the discoveries by the Sisters (and how they were dismissed or ignored by many 20th century archaeologists).
April 1, 2025
If you are interested in biblical archeology this is a great book. If not then you probably not like it. It is written for the layman. It is not written as a scholarly book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews