Before the nineteenth century, the Gospel of John was considered an accurate description of Galilee
and Jerusalem. However, during the last 200 years or so, many scholars consider the Gospel's geography a creation by
an author who was ignorant of the first century Holy Land. Recent archaeological excavations now indicate that the Gospel
of John is sometimes strikingly accurate. For example, the gospel writer knew the importance of stone vessels, describes
large pools that have been unearthed, and perceives the importance of mikvaot near the Temple. This presentation examines
some of the most recent evidence for the Gospel of John's accuracy, particularly from the lecturer's work at Bethsaida, in
its portrayal of the time of Jesus.
Dr. Carl E. Savage is currently the
Director of the Drew DMIN program. He began teaching at Drew's Theological School in the fall of 1999, where he received his
Ph.D. with distinction. His educational background is in biblical interpretation as well as sociology of religion, the origins
of Christianity and archaeology. He is a registered professional archaeologist and serves as the Assistant Director of Excavations
for the Bethsaida Excavations Project. His excavation experience also includes work at the Cave of Letters, Qumran, Nazareth
and Yavne. He has written numerous articles in the field of archaeology including "Supporting Evidence for a First-Century Bethsaida " in Religion, Ethnicity and Identity in Ancient Galilee:
A Region in Transition . Ed. by Jürgen Zangenberg, Harold W. Attridge and Dale B. Martin 2006. (Wissenschaftliche
Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament) and The Leshem Inscription" in Bethsaida, A City by the North Shore of the Sea of
Galilee, Volume IV, Dr. Rami Arav and Dr. Richard A. Freund, editors, Thomas Jefferson University Press, 2010. Dr. Savage
has appeared in the Nova special Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land (2004) and in the Biblical Archaeological Society’s
" Lecture Series Volume I: Just Dug Up: The Latest Finds from Biblical Israel and the Deep “Refuge in
the Cave of Letters: A Report from the John P. and Carol Merrill Expedition to the Cave of the Letters."
His latest book is Biblical Bethsaida: An Archaeological Study of the First Century, Lexington Books, 2011.
