Podcast Summary: 12 Biblical Archaeological Discoveries You've Never Heard Of Before

Podcast: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an ATHEIST
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Guest: Dr. Titus Kennedy
Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Dr. Frank Turek sits down with renowned biblical archaeologist Dr. Titus Kennedy to discuss lesser-known archaeological discoveries that corroborate events, people, and places in the Bible. From ancient inscriptions to unearthed artifacts, the discussion delves into how these findings support the historical reliability of Scripture, offering insights that most people—even those familiar with mainstream discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls—have never heard about.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zoar: The Surviving City of the Plains

[03:22]

• Biblical Context: Zoar is one of the five "cities of the plain" mentioned in Genesis 14 and 19, most famous for being Lot's refuge following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Kennedy's Fieldwork: Dr. Kennedy led excavations at Zoar aiming to reach remains from Abraham and Lot’s era (Bronze Age).
  • Found Byzantine and Nabataean (Roman-era) remains, and Bronze Age pottery but not yet structural remains.
  • The actual Bronze Age settlement is likely adjacent and plans are in place for future excavation.
• Significance: Zoar’s continuous habitation—unlike the other cities—lines up with the biblical claim that it was spared destruction, lending "astonishing" accuracy to the narrative.
• Quote:

  “One of the things that we find out about this city...it’s the one city of those five that doesn’t get destroyed because Lot goes there...it was continuously inhabited more or less until about the 15th century AD.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [04:03]

2. Nomads of Yahweh: The Earliest Reference to Yahweh

[12:33]

• The Inscription: Egyptian inscriptions (ca. 1400 BC, Sudan region) list various nomadic groups and their gods—one group being "the Nomads of Yahweh."
• Importance:
  • This is the oldest known archaeological reference to the name Yahweh.
  • It places worshippers of Yahweh east of Egypt during the time of Moses, matching the biblical Exodus context.
  • The Egyptians' familiarity with the "nomads of Yahweh" validates biblical accounts of Israelite presence and wandering.
• Quote:

  “This is really important because it's the earliest we've ever found the name Yahweh in an archaeological context...from about 1400 BC...way back in the time of Moses or just after.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [13:23]

3. Amenhotep II’s Tomb and the Death of the Firstborn

[20:58]

• Exodus Pharaoh’s Tomb: Dr. Kennedy gained exceptional access to Amenhotep II’s tomb, believed to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
• The Crown Prince: The mummy of Amenhotep’s firstborn son, Webin Senu, is still housed in the tomb, supporting the biblical account of the firstborn's death during the tenth plague.
  • The son’s age and circumstances align as circumstantial evidence.
• Physical Evidence: Amenhotep II’s mummy has unusual scarring, speculated to possibly correspond to the plague of boils described in Exodus.
• Quote:

  “That mummy is still in that tomb. It’s actually the only mummy that’s still there...He was buried there in the tomb, which I think is some circumstantial evidence for the Exodus, that he died young...”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [21:09]

4. The Mesha Stele: Israel and Yahweh Confirmed by a Rival King

[27:01]

• Artifact Background: An inscribed stone from Moab (840 BC), now in the Louvre, recounts King Mesha’s victory over Israel.
• Biblical Corroboration: The account matches 2 Kings 3, mentions Yahweh, and references the House of David.
• Independent Confirmation: Serves as an outside (non-Israelite) source verifying Israelite kings, places, and religious practices.
• Quote:

  “It's basically the Moabite version of the story that is written in 2nd Kings chapter 3...we also have the name Yahweh. So the Moabites knew the personal name of God that the Israelites used, Yahweh.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [28:03]

5. Uzziah of Judah and Biblical Seals

[31:20]

• Inscriptional Evidence: Despite scholarly claims, several sources name King Uzziah (Azariah) of Judah:
  • The Assyrian records of Tiglath Pileser III.
  • Eighth-century seals (belonging to Uzziah's servants).
  • The Uzziah Tablet (from a later reburial).
• Significance: Multiple independent sources counter skeptics denying Uzziah’s existence or reign.
• Quote:

  “It’s quite clear from these three sources.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [33:16]

6. Isaiah, Hezekiah, and Baruch: Archaeology of the Prophets

[34:00]

• Major Finds:
  • The bullae (seals) of King Hezekiah and Isaiah the Prophet were found near each other in Jerusalem.
  • A bulla of Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, has also been discovered.
• Context: These discoveries provide direct, inscribed evidence for prominent Old Testament figures.

7. The Alexamenos Graffito: Rome’s Earliest Image of Christ’s Crucifixion

[38:49]

• Discovery: A piece of anti-Christian graffiti from Rome (90–200 AD) depicts Jesus crucified with a donkey's head, mocking a follower named Alexamenos.
• Significance: This is the earliest known pictorial representation of the crucifixion and evidence that the figure of Jesus and Christian worship were commonly recognized and ridiculed in pagan Rome.
• Quote:

  “This is the earliest depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus...They wrote ‘Alexamenos worships his God’ there.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [39:02]

8. Archaeological Evidence for New Testament People

[40:47]

• Seven Names Associated with Jesus’ Trial and Crucifixion have been archaeologically confirmed:
  • Herod
  • Simon of Cyrene
  • Pilate (the famous Pilate inscription)
  • Caiaphas (ossuary)
  • Peter (house in Capernaum, tomb in Rome)
  • Annas (tomb location)
  • Jesus (references in ossuaries and graffiti)
• Deep Dive on Peter:
  • His house in Capernaum was converted to a first-century church with graffiti referencing Peter and Jesus.
  • Remains attributed to Peter, along with inscriptions, have been found beneath the Vatican in Rome.
• Quote:

  “This is probably the only actual body of one of the apostles that we have is Peter.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [44:03]

9. The Corinth Bema and Gallio: Book of Acts Corroborated

[45:21]

• Physical Structure: Excavations at ancient Corinth have uncovered the Bema (judgment seat) where Paul stood trial.
• Direct Epigraphic Evidence: Inscriptions and Roman records mention Gallio, the proconsul, matching the account in Acts and providing precise chronological anchors for Paul’s ministry.
• Quote:

  “We've got the bema, we've got the governor of Achaia at Corinth who was named Gallio...This is really a linchpin chronologically for when Paul was in Corinth.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [47:10]

Memorable Quotes

• “These are part of the overall evidence that demonstrates the historical reliability of the Bible...these are way back in time...astonishing.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [10:55]

• “The earliest we've ever found the name Yahweh in an archaeological context...from about 1400 BC.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [13:23]

• “This is probably the only actual body of one of the apostles that we have is Peter.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [44:03]

• “We've got the bema, we've got the governor of Achaia at Corinth who was named Gallio...This is really a linchpin chronologically for when Paul was in Corinth.”
  — Dr. Titus Kennedy [47:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Zoar and the Five Cities of the Plains: [03:22]–[09:17]
• Significance of Zoar for Biblical Reliability: [10:55]–[12:07]
• Nomads of Yahweh Inscription: [12:33]–[15:47]
• Amenhotep II’s Tomb, Exodus Archaeology: [20:58]–[26:21]
• Mesha Stele Explanation: [27:01]–[30:48]
• Uzziah, Isaiah, Hezekiah Seals: [31:20]–[35:46]
• Alexamenos Graffito in Rome: [38:49]–[40:47]
• New Testament People Confirmed by Archaeology, Focus on Peter: [40:47]–[44:10]
• The Bema at Corinth & Governor Gallio: [45:21]–[47:50]
• Books by Dr. Kennedy & Further Reading: [47:50]–[48:43]

Further Resources & Reading

• Dr. Titus Kennedy’s Books:
  • Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries That Bring the Bible to Life
  • Excavating the Evidence for Jesus
  • The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands
  • Forthcoming: [Title TBA, February 2026]
• Joel Kramer’s YouTube “Expedition Bible”
• Podcast References: Episodes with Tim Mahoney, Henry Smith (in-depth on Sodom/Gomorrah and Zoar)

Conclusion

This episode is a treasure trove for anyone passionate about the historicity of the Bible. Dr. Kennedy reveals a fascinating world where ancient stones and inscriptions provide powerful, overlooked corroboration for biblical narratives—sometimes from the pens of Israel’s adversaries. These discoveries not only bring biblical characters and events to life but also affirm the accuracy of the Scriptures through the discoveries “in the dirt.”

For a deeper dive, consult Dr. Kennedy’s books or visit crossexamined.org for more content and related resources.