A Gospel of John Passage Is Proven True

Uncle Red · 09-11-2005, 10:21 PM

It turns out that a specific passage from the Gospel of John wasn't a religious conceit, that is a kind of poetic license John took to prove a point. It's true. Now there is proof. When the sewer line in the Old City of Jerusalem needed repairs in the fall of 2004, the workmen made a historic discovery: the biblical Pool of Siloam. The Gospel of John cites this as the place where Jesus cured the blind man. Theologians have long thought the setting of the pool was a "religious conceit" used by John to illustrate a point. Turns out, the place is real. And it's exactly where John said it is, reports The Los Angeles Times of a new study published in the Biblical Archaeology Review.

What's more, it is much grander than anyone ever realized with three tiers of stone stairs on three sides that allow easy access to the water. Each group of steps is separated by narrow landings. The pool is about 225 feet long. The Pool of Siloam is not only a holy site for Christians, but also Jews. In ancient times, Jews who made their annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem gathered at this very reservoir. Since Jesus was a Jew it would have been natural for him to have gone here, too. Scholars have long said that the place didn't exist and was just created by John as the setting for Jesus' miracle when he cured the blind man. A gospel that was thought to be "pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history," New Testament scholar James H. Charlesworth of the Princeton Theological Seminary told the L.A. Times.

Hezekiah built the pool to provide a safe water supply to the people of Jerusalem in case they were attacked by the Assyrians. The workers also built a tunnel measuring 1,750 feet under the City of David that connected to the Gihon Spring in the adjacent and less vulnerable Kidron Valley. This pool was destroyed in 586 BC by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, but rebuilt in the 1st century BC before being destroyed again in 70 AD by Titus, the man who would become the Roman emperor.

Fast forward to the fall of 2004: When the men repairing the sewer line uncovered two steps, the work stopped so the antiquities' experts could have a look. They didn't have to look long before they were "100 percent sure it was the Siloam Pool," Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority told the L.A. Times. How could they be so sure? When the workmen crafted the steps centuries ago, they buried four coins in the plaster, all of which date from 103 to 76 BC. In addition, in the soil in one corner of the pool, the archaeologists found a dozen coins that date from 66 to 70 AD, indicating that the pool was being filled in at that time

-UR

rebel727 · 09-11-2005, 10:34 PM

Archaeologists are always finding places mentioned in the bible. I believe if the bible says they're there they are. They just haven't been found yet.

troylaplante · 09-12-2005, 03:39 AM

Yup. People would have known that the earth was round hundreds of years ago if they had just believed what was written for them in the scriptures.

Gunnie Ed · 09-12-2005, 08:56 AM

they did know the earth was round. it takes a special kind of stupid to not notice the curve inherent in the horrizon.

Rave · 09-12-2005, 09:41 AM

Yup,that special kind of folks that form PC groups,oh well,they gottra go somewhere.

troylaplante · 09-12-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunnie Ed

it takes a special kind of stupid to not notice the curve inherent in the horrizon.

I agree with you there, but that didn't stop leaders from pontificating a flat earth. Yup, stupid.

Apollyon67 · 09-12-2005, 10:17 PM

and its a good way to keep your sheeple close.

09-11-2005, 10:21 PM	#1
Uncle Red Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 552	A Gospel of John Passage Is Proven True It turns out that a specific passage from the Gospel of John wasn't a religious conceit, that is a kind of poetic license John took to prove a point. It's true. Now there is proof. When the sewer line in the Old City of Jerusalem needed repairs in the fall of 2004, the workmen made a historic discovery: the biblical Pool of Siloam. The Gospel of John cites this as the place where Jesus cured the blind man. Theologians have long thought the setting of the pool was a "religious conceit" used by John to illustrate a point. Turns out, the place is real. And it's exactly where John said it is, reports The Los Angeles Times of a new study published in the Biblical Archaeology Review. What's more, it is much grander than anyone ever realized with three tiers of stone stairs on three sides that allow easy access to the water. Each group of steps is separated by narrow landings. The pool is about 225 feet long. The Pool of Siloam is not only a holy site for Christians, but also Jews. In ancient times, Jews who made their annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem gathered at this very reservoir. Since Jesus was a Jew it would have been natural for him to have gone here, too. Scholars have long said that the place didn't exist and was just created by John as the setting for Jesus' miracle when he cured the blind man. A gospel that was thought to be "pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history," New Testament scholar James H. Charlesworth of the Princeton Theological Seminary told the L.A. Times. Hezekiah built the pool to provide a safe water supply to the people of Jerusalem in case they were attacked by the Assyrians. The workers also built a tunnel measuring 1,750 feet under the City of David that connected to the Gihon Spring in the adjacent and less vulnerable Kidron Valley. This pool was destroyed in 586 BC by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, but rebuilt in the 1st century BC before being destroyed again in 70 AD by Titus, the man who would become the Roman emperor. Fast forward to the fall of 2004: When the men repairing the sewer line uncovered two steps, the work stopped so the antiquities' experts could have a look. They didn't have to look long before they were "100 percent sure it was the Siloam Pool," Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority told the L.A. Times. How could they be so sure? When the workmen crafted the steps centuries ago, they buried four coins in the plaster, all of which date from 103 to 76 BC. In addition, in the soil in one corner of the pool, the archaeologists found a dozen coins that date from 66 to 70 AD, indicating that the pool was being filled in at that time -UR __________________ "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"--Amendment II, Bill of Rights "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."--Thomas Paine "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." - Jesus, Luke 22:36

09-11-2005, 10:34 PM	#2
rebel727 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Heidelberg, Mississippi Posts: 1,639	Archaeologists are always finding places mentioned in the bible. I believe if the bible says they're there they are. They just haven't been found yet. __________________ North-1 South-0 HALFTIME!

09-12-2005, 08:56 AM	#4
Gunnie Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: three clicks left of center. Posts: 811	they did know the earth was round. it takes a special kind of stupid to not notice the curve inherent in the horrizon. __________________ http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95.../warinmine.gif

09-12-2005, 09:41 AM	#5
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 7,065	Yup,that special kind of folks that form PC groups,oh well,they gottra go somewhere. __________________ USAF '62-'66 .

09-12-2005, 10:17 PM	#7
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,238 Images: 17	and its a good way to keep your sheeple close. __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

09-12-2005, 03:39 AM	#3
troylaplante Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Selma, NC Posts: 2,223	Yup. People would have known that the earth was round hundreds of years ago if they had just believed what was written for them in the scriptures.