The Authenticity of the Book of Daniel

by Bill Cooper

Since the 18th century and the birth of what is laughingly known as the Enlightenment, the Book of Daniel has been subjected to the fiercest criticism. It has gone on until today, when amongst modernist scholars and the self-styled ‘higher critics’, nothing is too disparaging to say about it. In short, the Book of Daniel stands today in such a bloodied, bruised and battered condition, that few would risk their academic careers and reputations by defending even the smallest part of it. Now why should this be? Is it because the archaeological record is set against any notion of authenticity for Daniel? Surely, the answer is no. We shall see that there is a great wealth of fine archaeological and documentary detail which positively shouts the authenticity of Daniel. Not that the public ever get to hear about it, of course. That would never do. But the critics and disparaging scholars know it’s there. It’s just that they tend to keep such information to themselves. The purpose of this present enquiry, therefore, is to bring such information and evidence out into the light of day. For example, the most laughed-at episode in the Book of Daniel is surely that ‘silly and utterly fictitious tale’ about Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It is ridiculed at every level and on every side. What is kept from the public, though, is the fact that these individuals, far from being fictional, are actually named in the contemporary cuneiform sources, the records of that same Babylonian Empire into which they’d been exiled. Daniel himself appears twice in these records, and in all cases we are able to add considerably to our knowledge concerning their respective careers at Babylon. This authenticating evidence has been known and documented for a great many years now, yet barely a word of it has been allowed to reach the public. We shall, of course, be considering it here – openly!

Genres: Nonfiction

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 22, 2012

About the author

Dr Bill Cooper is a council member and trustee of the Creation Science Movement. He is married with two daughters and has recently been awarded an Honours degree by Kingston University (England) for combined studies in the History of Ideas (Religion, Philosophy and Political Theory) and English Literature. He has lectured on The Table of Nations, under the auspices of the CSM, in Germany, Belgium and at many venues in England including Leeds University.

He has written numerous articles for the Creation Science Movement and for the Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal published by the Creation Science Foundation of Australia, on the Table of Nations (The Early History of Man series), the historical Jonah and other subjects.

Reviews

[Tintinrulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Authenticity of the Book of Daniel" by Bill Cooper is another title in the brilliant "Authenticity" series. Herein, he explores the historical evidence for the book of Daniel being truth. Since many Bible scholars and theologians don't believe in divine revelation and the miraculous and Daniel is a book laced with prophecy and God's miracles, it has been 'proven' by them to have been a work of fiction written later than the 6th century BC. This book proves otherwise. It's very short, just read it.

8/10

[Howard Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Read. I really appreciated the amount of detail about biblical characters from the historical perspective.