The Gallio Inscription - Evidence for Paul's Visit to Corinth скачать в хорошем качестве

The Gallio Inscription - Evidence for Paul's Visit to Corinth

Did you know that an archaeological artifact was discovered that precisely pin points the very year when the Apostle Paul was in the city of Corinth?! It’s called the Gallio Inscription. I am excited to share with you about the Gallio Inscription, also known as the Delphi Inscription. • Nine fragments were discovered at the ancient city of Delphi. • The inscription was initially etched into limestone with letters that are approximately three-fourths of an inch high. These fragments were confirmed to be a part of an imperial inscription from Emperor Tiberius Claudius. The contents indicate that this letter was probably written to the citizens of Delphi. This inscription is believed to have been a part of the exterior wall on the southern side of the Temple to Apollo. This inscription can be viewed today at the Delphi Museum. Multiple fragments have yet to be discovered, but scholars have been able to construct a possible restoration of the original wording. There are two details preserved in this fragmented stone that are significant for dating Paul’s first visit to Corinth. They are 1) the naming of Gallio, and 2) the numbering of the previous announcements proclaiming Claudius as Emperor. Even with the absence of a few letters, the identification of L. Junius Gallio is apparent. This discovered inscription was a copy of a message from Claudius. It names Lucius Junius Gallio as the Proconsular of Achaia. Not only is Gallio identified by name as Proconsular of Achaia; it also provides additional historical information essential to dating the year of Gallio’s proconsulship. It includes the Greek letters Κ (kappa) Σ (sigma), which is equivalent to the number (26), which with a careful reconstruction of the text denotes the number of times that Claudius was proclaimed emperor. Although the date of the 26th proclamation is not explicitly stated, the 27th proclamation is recorded on an inscription dedicating an aqueduct in Rome. Since this declaration occurred in the 12th year, the 26th proclamation must have taken place in the 12th year or before, i.e., January 25, AD 52 to January 24, AD 53. A series of inscriptions affirm that the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th acclamations took place in the 11th tribunician year of Claudius, i.e., 25 Jan. 51 to 24 Jan. 52. The 27th declaration is precisely dated to the 12th year of tribunal power. If the 27th declaration was in AD 52, then this inscription helps to solidify a narrow timeframe in which Paul’s visit to Corinth occurs. Regarding this discovery, Murphy-O’Connor states, “This assertion that Paul’s ministry in Corinth overlapped, at least in part, with the term of office of the Roman governor Gallio is the lynch-pin of Pauline chronology. It is the one link between the Apostle’s career and general history that is accepted by virtually all scholars.” A reign of a proconsular usually lasted only a year. It is likely that Gallio’s did not even last that long due to a fever that Seneca, the younger brother of Gallio, writes about, “I remembered master Gallio’s words, when he began to develop a fever in Achaia and took ship at once, insisting that the disease was not of the body but of the place.” The combination of the archaeological evidence along with the writings of Luke and Seneca makes an AD 50–51 dating very strong. Paul’s visit to Corinth is one of the most well-established dates of Paul’s ministry, and from which much of the rest of the events recorded in the book of Acts can be anchored. The reason for this strong level of certitude is the intersection of biblical archaeology (Gallio Inscription), and Luke’s historical record (Acts 18). From these sources, we can establish a strong chronology of events. 1. AD 49 - Priscilla and Aquilla are expelled from Rome (Acts 18:2; Dio Cassius) and make their way to Corinth. 2. AD 50 Paul joins them shortly after that (Acts 18:3). 3. AD 50-51 Paul ministers to the Corinthian people for one and a half years. 4. AD 51 Gallio is appointed proconsular. 5. AD 51-52 Paul is brought before Gallio by Jewish unbelievers (Acts 18:12) and is accused of violating the Jewish law (Acts 18:13). 6. After Gallio refuses to judge their matter, Paul is released (Acts 18:14–17). The Apostle stays many more days before departing for Syria (Acts 18:18). So, the discovery at Delphi, the Delphi Inscription, also known as the Gallio Inscription, First, it 1. Affirms the historicity of Luke’s account of the Apostle Paul’s journey to, and ministry in, Corinth. Gallio was proconsular during the time frame that Paul lived and ministered in Corinth, just as Acts 18 records. 2. The Delphi Inscription, along with Luke’s historical account in the book of Acts, pin-points the very year when the Apostle Paul was in the city of Corinth! It is indeed, the lynchpin of Pauline Chronology! And that is your Faith Affirming Finding of the week!