Finegan Jack. Light from the Ancient Past: The Archeological Background of the Hebrew-Christian Religion

Princeton University Press, 1954. — 650 p.The purpose of this work is to give a connected account of the archeological background of Judaism and Christianity. Within the last century and a half and largely within the past few decades, oriental archeology has pioneered a new past, in which are revealed more extensive vistas and higher cultures than hitherto were imagined. The account which can now be given of the rise of civilization in the Middle East, of the development of art, and the formulation of ethical, philosophical, and religious ideas is of fascinating interest in itself. It is also of great significance for an understanding of Judaism and Christianity, both of which in their origin and earlier history were integral parts of that ancient world. To see that world come vividly and startlingly alive is to find biblical and early Christian history invested with a fresh sense of reality and interest. There are, moreover, many points at which biblical records and archeological discoveries are in direct contact, and increasingly in the later centuries there are many archeological remains which are primary historical monuments of Judaism and Christianity. A knowledge of these facts is now indispensable to all serious study of the Bible, and the proper utilization of the abundant new archeological materials may even be said to constitute one of the most important tasks in that study.