Explosive New Book Cites Cutting-Edge Evidence Supporting The Bible As Historically Reliable

Online, November 1, 2010 (Newswire.com) - As a graduate student studying in Israel, Dr. Tom Tribelhorn nearly abandoned his Christian faith when he was forced to consider that the Bible could not be trusted as a historical document.

That crisis of faith became a 20-plus-year journey culminating in Tribelhorn's controversial book 'My Professor Says the Bible is a Myth: Before You Give Up on God, Get the Facts' (2010, Hevel Media International; softcover, 360 pp., $19.95; www.MyProfessorSays.com).

According to Tribelhorn's professors - whose views reflect the majority approach of academia - there is no basis from biblical archaeology to support key events recorded in the Bible. The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the battle of Jericho led by Joshua, and numerous other incidents never occurred, they say. Some scholars even deny that significant persons in the Old Testament - Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon - ever existed. The Bible is merely a book of fables.

Tribelhorn protests that these conclusions - which are virtually the only ones being presented in college textbooks - are based on a worldview and agenda that grossly distorts and misinterprets the evidence.

It's nothing less than academic intimidation. Students believe that the evidence proving there's no historical basis for the Bible is irrefutable - which is not the case. The mainline academics never get around to mentioning there is an alternative approach that just might be more reliable," Tribelhorn says.

This has created an unnecessary crisis: Christian students are abandoning their faith in droves. Student ministry pastors from numerous Christian denominations estimate that between 65 and 94 percent of Christian students turn their backs on the faith after high school. One study confirms that students who find themselves unable to defend their beliefs - or find someone to help them do so - typically walk away from their faith during their first year of college.

Time after time
The book is certain to ruffle many traditional academic feathers - and, in fact, already has, when Tribelhorn presented his case at the recent International Conference of Biblical Archaeology in Germany. But it is also earning the respect and support of a number of scholars whose re-examination of archaeological evidence leads them to believe the mainstream approach is flawed.

Archaeology is an interpretive - rather than a precise - science. There was no general calendar in the ancient world by which to accurately pinpoint the exact date of an event, so scientists rely on speculation and interpretation, based on several factors. However, if one or more of those factors is inaccurate, the dating can be hundreds of years off.

That's what Tribelhorn contends has occurred with the timeline - called the 'conventional' chronology - embraced by most of academia. As a result, this approach is as likely to be taught in a Christian college as it is in a secular one.

'My Professor Says the Bible is a Myth' introduces a growing contingent of world-renowned archaeologists who instead endorse a revised chronology that rediscovers the Bible's historical veracity. However, these scholars remain on the fringe, Tribelhorn said, because the majority of academics don't like to have their boat rocked. But some revised chronologists have vocally supported Tribelhorn's recognition of their efforts in his book.

"Ironically, some of the archaeologists who argue for the revised chronology that favors the biblical timeline are frequently accused of pushing a religious agenda. But many of them are neither Christians nor Jews. They're agnostics and secular scholars who simply want the evidence to speak for itself," Tribelhorn said.

A unique perspective
The author notes that most books on apologetics - the defense of the faith - deal primarily with the philosophical reasons as to why Christianity is valid. 'My Professor Says the Bible is a Myth' adds history, language and ancient literature to the mix. Most significant is that it deals with the historical veracity of the Bible primarily in the archaeological arena, and includes recent, cutting-edge discoveries, some of which were coming to light as the book was going to print.

Tribelhorn believes that, "Archaeology presents us with tangible evidence. If you lose the battle there, the philosophy almost doesn't matter, because you've discredited the Bible as a reliable document. There are some people who can take a dichotomous view of the Bible, that it's meant to be a book of spiritual instruction, not a history book. I'm not one of them. My feeling is, if you can't trust the Bible to be reliable about events that allegedly happened in history, why should you trust it to be reliable about spiritual matters?"

The author says he has not seen any other book on apologetics that covers these topics so comprehensively, and makes sometimes complicated issues so easy to understand.

"I've written the book I wish had existed during the time my professors almost made a shipwreck of my faith because they didn't present me with all the facts," Tribelhorn said.

About the author
Dr. Thomas B. Tribelhorn is academic dean and chairs the doctoral studies program at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary in Florida. He holds a Ph.D. (cum laude) in Judaic Studies from the Netzer David International Yeshiva, which included extensive primary research in Israel; a Doctor of Ministry in Judaeo-Christian studies from St. Petersburg Theological Seminary; an M.A. in Judaeo-Christian studies from Jerusalem University College (Israel); M.Ed. from William Paterson University; and a B.A. in Bible from Northeastern Bible College. He has done post-graduate work at the Selly Oak Centre for the Study of Judaism, University of Birmingham UK and Seton Hall University; graduate studies at the University of London and Westminster Theological Seminary. Prior to his current position at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, Dr. Tribelhorn chaired its Division of Bible and Theology for 10 years. He has also held teaching and administrative posts in New Jersey, Israel, France and Florida. He holds state and Association of Christian Schools International teacher and administrator certifications, and has served in the pastorate. Tribelhorn lived in Israel for nearly four years while completing his degree at Jerusalem University College, and has since led and co-led numerous tour groups to Israel, Egypt and Jordan, bringing to life the landmarks of the Bible, an activity he continues to perform.