The discovery of perhaps the oldest Christian church in the Holy Land has stirred and excited many. In an article titled "Inscribed 'To God Jesus Christ' Early Christian Prayer Hall Found in Megiddo Prison," Vassilios Tzaferis described the discovery in Biblical Archaeology Review.
In the late 1990s, authorities at the prison that sits near the base of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel decided they needed more room. Accordingly, an addition was planned within the prison compound and work commenced. It was not long, however, before the construction workers (prisoners) hit ancient remains. Work on the prison extension was immediately stopped and the Israel Antiquities Authority notified.1
What they found was the mosaic floor of a chapel or prayer hall attached to a private home. "[T]he excavators date it to the first half of the third century, around 230 A.D.... from a time before Christianity became the religion of the Roman empire in the early fourth century during the reign of Constantine the Great." 2
The Israeli Antiquities Authority said the following in a press release:The combination of the three inscriptions in the mosaic from the third century, which link a Roman army officer with Christianity in a prayer hall, is a unique and rare find. It precedes the proclamation of Christianity as a recognized and official religion and is therefore extremely important in understanding Christianity in this period, in studying the Roman army in the eastern empire and in matters relating to the presence of a Christian community existing along side a mixed Jewish-Samaritan settlement. 3
Not only is this early evidence of the establishment of the Christian religion, the home appears to have been owned by a Roman military officer. What is really exciting is that the language of the mosaic leaves little doubt about the attitude of early Christians toward Jesus' deity. Regarding the inscriptions in the mosaic floor, Tzaferis wrote:
The third and final inscription makes it unmistakably clear that this place was intended to serve the religious needs of the Christian community organized in the Roman military camp. It also removes any doubt that a table once existed in the center of the hall—paid for by a woman named Akeptous: “The God-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.”
The words “God Jesus Christ” on the next-to-last line are abbreviated in the form of a contraction consisting of the first and last letters of the two words. Above the two sacred words is a straight line. While these abbreviations and the line above indicating sacred words was later a common practice, this is their earliest attestation. 4
If for no other reason, this find puts to rest the allegation that Jesus was declared to be God in the fourth century, by the vote of a church council called by Constantine. As the Tzaferis exclaims in his article, "And this is the earliest inscription ever found in Israel, and perhaps anywhere, that mentions Jesus Christ!" 5
1 Inscribed 'To God Jesus Christ' Early Christian Prayer Hall Found in Megiddo Prison, by Vassilios Tzaferis, published in Biblical Archaeology Review, http://www.bib-arch.org/online-exclusives/oldest-church-02.asp, accessed 10 July 2009.
3 The Philatelic Service of the Israel Postal Authority has issued an exhibition sheet of a mosaic from the antiquities site at the Megiddo Prison (Legio) - May 9, 2006, Israel Antiquities Authority, http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1081&module_id=#as, accessed 10 July 2009.
