Pontius Pilate Inscription - The Pilate Stone is Archaeologic Evidence for Pontius Pilate - FAF #38 — Transcript

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1. 0:01Welcome to Faith Affirming Findings,  a podcast dedicated to sharing with
2. 0:05you the incredible discoveries from  the field of biblical archaeology.
3. 0:10These findings will strengthen your faith,  affirm the historicity of Scripture,
4. 0:14and provide you with unique insights into the  culture and background of the Bible. [Music]
5. 0:25Now, here is your host, Associate  Professor of Bible Exposition
6. 0:29at Dallas Theological Seminary,  Dr. Paul Weaver! [Music]
7. 0:38This week I'm recording again from upstate New  York at the Student Life Center overlooking
8. 0:44the beautiful Schroon Lake. Word of Life Bible  Institute is a wonderful college-level program
9. 0:50devoted to helping young people establish a solid  biblical foundation upon which they can build
10. 0:56a bright future for the glory of God. To learn  more about the Word of Life Bible Institute visit
11. 1:02wordoflife.edu. Your time is precious so let's  jump right into today's Faith Affirming Finding.
12. 1:11As we approach Resurrection Sunday it is fitting  that we discuss an archaeological discovery that
13. 1:17relates to the most important events of human  history the death burial and resurrection of Jesus
14. 1:24Christ. The Pontius Pilate Inscription is one  such discovery. Pontius Pilate, of course, was
15. 1:31a significant character in the biblical narrative  surrounding the events of Jesus's political trial
16. 1:38and crucifixion. He is so important to the  biblical story that his name is mentioned
17. 1:4351 times in the Gospels. Three times in the  book of Acts, and once in First Timothy. He's so
18. 1:50significant to the historical events of Jesus's  trial and crucifixion that two early creeds,
19. 1:56The Apostle's Creed and The Nicene Creed include  his name. The Apostle's Creed reads, "I believe in
20. 2:04God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and  Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son
21. 2:11our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit  and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under
22. 2:18Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was  buried." If a man named Pontius Pilate did exist,
23. 2:26and if he did rule over Judea, and if he  ruled over the trial of Jesus of Nazareth,
24. 2:31one would expect that there is some archaeological  data to substantiate the Bible's claims and those
25. 2:38of the early church creeds. In 1961, one  such piece of evidence was discovered.
26. 2:44It is known as the Pilate inscription.  This inscription is etched in limestone
27. 2:49and was discovered at the amphitheater in  Caesarea Maritima. It is at Caesarea Maritima,
28. 2:56right on the Mediterranean Sea that Pontius  Pilate would have lived most of the year.
29. 3:01Of course, with the exception of the Jewish  festivals, when he would go to Jerusalem
30. 3:06to ensure no Jewish rebellion occurs. Because  it's at times of the Jewish feasts that such a
31. 3:11rebellion is the most likely time to occur. This  archaeological artifact is also sometimes called
32. 3:18the Pilate Stone. The Pilate Stone was dated  to around 30 BC when this stone was discovered.
33. 3:25It was a part of the steps of the Roman  theater. This was its secondary usage.
34. 3:32In other words, the stone had been repurposed,  which was a common practice in that day.
35. 3:39Rather than discarding a very functional building  block from a previous structure, stones would be
36. 3:45repurposed as a part of subsequent construction.  The Pilate stone was probably originally part of a
37. 3:53temple built by Pontius Pilate to worship Emperor  Tiberius. Caesar Augustus Tiberius was the one who
38. 4:01appointed Pilate as ruler over Judea, and this  act of dedication would put Pilate in good favor
39. 4:08with the emperor. The first line of the stone  records the name, Tiberius. The second line
40. 4:15includes the name Pontius, and the third line is  translated as "Prefect of Judea." A translation
41. 4:22of this reconstructed inscription reads, "To the  divine Augustus Tiberius Pontius Pilate Prefect of
42. 4:30Judea. As my friend and scholar, Dr. Doug Bookman  from Shepherd's Theological Seminary has said,
43. 4:37"We expect that archaeology done well and  honestly, will vindicate the Scriptures.
44. 4:47And that is exactly what archaeology does, and  exactly what the Pilate Inscription did. Please
45. 4:54join us again next week as we will continue to  discuss archaeological artifacts that relate to
46. 5:00the events surrounding Jesus's death burial and  resurrection. Next week we'll talk about the bone
47. 5:07box of Caiaphas. You won't want to miss it! And  that is your Faith Affirming Finding for the week!
48. 5:17Faith Affirming Findings podcast is a  listener-supported podcast devoted to affirming
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54. 6:02[Music]