The story behind today’s Olympic Marathon is being scrutinized by scholars, and some now are saying it is merely a myth.
The story says that in 490 BC Pheidippides was sent from Marathon (site of the victory of the Athenians over the Persians) the 26.2 miles to Athens to proclaim the victory. After giving the news, he collapsed and died from exhaustion.
This story, or myth, is at the root of today’s Olympic race and others in all parts of the world. Now, historian Robert Waterfield says there is no historical basis for the story. “It’s a myth, nothing more.”
Time will tell, and historians will ponder the truth of this story. But it does remind us somewhat of similar statements about the Bible. “Just myths and legends,” say some. “No basis of truth in those stories…” say others. “Someone, honest in purpose, fabricated the details,” say the “scholars.”
This year’s Olympic games will magnify this tale, and many will argue the point of this “discovery” just as they have the narrative of the Bible. My interest in the story of Pheidippides does not match my determination to defend the veracity of the Bible.
Is the Bible full of myths? Are the stories of Adam, Noah, Moses, David and Jesus mere myths? What has history and archaeology revealed on this subject?
Genesis 1-11
Some have denied the credibility of those events recorded in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, calling them legends or myths. The problem with their charges is that these same events are spoken of all throughout the Bible, and they are referred to by many other Bible writers. Therefore, if one denies the credibility of these, he/she is calling into question the credibility of the rest of the Bible.
Here is one way to remember this point:
Every major character and every major event described in Genesis chapters 1-11 is also recorded in the rest of the Bible as literal characters and literal events.
Note the following examples of the mention of these people:
| Adam, Eve |
Rom. 5:12-29, |
1 Tim 2:13 |
| Cain, Abel |
Heb. 11:4, |
Matt. 23:35 |
| Enoch |
Luke 3:37, |
Heb. 11:5 |
| Noah |
Matt. 34:38, |
1 Pet. 3:20-21 |
Archaeology and The Bible
Myth? If so, the entire Bible must be suspect. But is that not claimed by some? Yes, but Bible believers are not afraid of the archaeologist’s spade, for that academic discipline is one of the Bible’s best friends.
One of the most respected and capable archaeologists of the 20th century was W. F. Albright. In his early years of the study of biblical Palestine, he noted that some of the details of Genesis were not “historical.” However, years later, in 1929, Albright wrote that, while he had formerly held this view, subsequent on-site research had proved just the opposite. The cities and the details of Genesis 14 were “authentic for Abraham’s time and for no other time.” In other words, when he examined the facts, he found the Bible to be very accurate.
Sir William Ramsay
Educated at Aberdeen University and Oxford, Ramsay associated with modernist scholars, accepting many of their views, even to questioning the historical accuracy of the Bible. In 1890 he set out to prove his views on the Bible were true. But, unexpectedly, Ramsay found that the Bible’s details were accurately recorded to an amazing degree. Though extremely detailed, Luke’s writings in Acts and Luke were so specific and accurate that Ramsay said about Luke’s work:
“You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s, and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment.”
No, the Bible is not full of myths and errors. It is the very Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, and it is the standard by which all shall be judged.
Other Quotes
- “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted any statement of the Word of God.” Nelson Glueck
- “The Bible picture of Hittites fits in perfectly with what we know of that nation. Nothing discovered by the excavators has in any way discredited the Biblical account. Scripture accuracy has once more been proved by the archaeologists.” Fred Wight
- “No book has ever been scrutinized so vigorously, and, I might add, so viciously. The microscope and the telescope of man have been applied to the ‘Book of books,’ but the more close the investigation and the more detailed the study, the more beautiful its fabric.” Curtis Cates
- “Archaeology has substantiated and illuminated the biblical story at so many crucial points that no one can seriously say that it is little but a gathering of myth and legend.” G. Ernest Wright, Harvard
Conclusion
As for the Pheidippides story, I have no opinion. Research done by Waterfield may serve some good purpose. History is always subject to revision, true or not.
God’s Word is subject to study and scrutiny, but not revision. History, science and archaeology —in other words, the evidence, validate its truths. Believe it and share it with your friends.
