GERMANY - Rewrite History of Christianity?
Archaeologists have discovered an inscribed silver amulet that one theologian now says may rewrite the history of Christianity north of the Alps mountain range.
Researchers dated the grave where the amulet was found to between 230 and 270 AD. This is the earliest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, the city said: All other finds are several decades younger, with “reliable evidence” of the religion in the region dating back to the 4th century.
The inscription mentions no religion besides Christianity, which researchers said is unusual. Up until the 5th century, these kind of amulets “always contain a mixture of different faiths,” such as Judaism or paganism. Instead, it is entirely based on Christianity. At one point the invocation “Holy, holy, holy!” is present. Researchers previously had dated that invocation no earlier than the 4th century. The amulet also included quotations from the Bible used by Christians at that time.
German church historian Ulrich Volp told the Evangelical Press Service that the amulet can be used to help understand how Christianity spread through the Roman Empire in the 3rd century, even amid persecution.
-www.cbsnews.com, 18 December 2024
Arno's Commentary
From an archaeological standpoint, this is a significant discovery, yet opening the Bible, we read this: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We take note of the words, “unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In Romans 10:18, Paul asked the question: “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
Therefore, there is no need to “rewrite the history of Christianity.” The mechanics of the spread of the preaching of the Gospel are not revealed in detail in Scripture, but the world did hear.
Furthermore, in Romans 1:20, Paul makes a profound statement that Creation itself—planet earth and nature—testify to the Creator: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
