Ep 8. Carbon Dating & the Septuagint : Oriental Institute of Chicago

Beyond Is Genesis History? is an educational and informative documentary series that explores the historical and scientific evidence for the biblical account of creation and the global flood. Season 3 episode 8, titled "Carbon Dating & the Septuagint: Oriental Institute of Chicago," delves into the fascinating subject of carbon dating and the Septuagint, both of which have significant implications for understanding the historicity of the Bible.

The episode takes place at the Oriental Institute of Chicago, a research center and museum dedicated to the study of the ancient Near East. Host Dr. Del Tackett meets with Dr. John Walton, a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, to explore the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that was created in the third century BC. Dr. Walton explains how the Septuagint can shed light on the original meaning of certain Hebrew words and phrases, and how it can help us understand the cultural context of biblical texts.

Next, Dr. Tackett visits Dr. James Harrell, an expert in geology, archaeology, and anthropology, to learn about carbon dating, a method used to determine the age of organic materials such as bones, wood, and charcoal. Dr. Harrell explains the principles of carbon dating and its limitations, such as the fact that it can only be used to date materials that are less than 50,000 years old.

The episode then returns to the Oriental Institute, where Dr. Tackett meets with Dr. Andrew Fincke, an expert in ancient Near Eastern languages and cultures, to discuss the relationship between the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of biblical and non-biblical texts discovered in caves near the Dead Sea in the 1940s. Dr. Fincke explains how the Septuagint can help us understand the cultural and linguistic background of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Finally, the episode concludes with a discussion between Dr. Tackett and Dr. Douglas Petrovich, an Egyptologist and biblical scholar, about the historicity of the Bible. Dr. Petrovich argues that the evidence from the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls supports the historicity of the Bible, and that the Bible should be taken seriously as a historical document.

Overall, "Carbon Dating & the Septuagint: Oriental Institute of Chicago" is a compelling and informative episode that grapples with complex issues related to the Bible and its historical context. By exploring the Septuagint and carbon dating, the episode sheds light on the ancient world and the ways in which we can better understand the Bible through the study of history and science.