Steven Collins

So-called ‘biblical’ archaeology can be long on speculation, short on facts, and colored grotesquely by theological predispositions. Not a few scholars consider ‘biblical’ archaeology conceptually biased and incapable of contributing to a realistic understanding of Ancient Near Eastern history. Unfortunately, some of these sentiments are correct. But the astute archaeological scholar knows full-well that the dominate, conventional theories of OT Torah textual origins are, themselves, highly speculative in nature and founded on presuppositions now known to be false (aka, fictions).

There is, however, a proper, scientific methodology by which one can approach the relationship, if any, between biblical text and ANE archaeology/history. I call this the historical synchronisms and material specificity approach (HSMSA). As much as is humanly possible, the HSMSA avoids speculation and focuses only on factual data in ascertaining the relationship between text(s) and physical reality. I present the Genesis Sodom narratives as a model for the application of the HSMSA, by which said narratives are demonstrated to be consistent with all the known and testable facts relevant to the case.