Jesus feeding of the five thousand?

Daily Mail September 18 2019

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By Jack Elsom For Mailonline

A 1,500-year-old mosaic depicting Jesus's feeding of the five thousand has been unearthed during an excavation of an ancient city near the Sea of Galilee. 

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The discovery of the so-called Burnt Church in Hippos, northern Israel, has enthralled archaeologists who have spent the summer combing it for historical evidence.

A fire destroyed the fifth-century church in 700AD but the mosaic-paved floor has been remarkably preserved throughout the centuries by a layer of ash.

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The mosaic purports to capture one of the miracles referred to in the New Testament where Jesus used just five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 people gathered on the banks of the water.

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A team from the University of Haifa found the Burnt Church in 2005, but only began the dig this summer. Head archaeologist Dr Michael Eisenburg said: 'There can certainly be different explanations to the descriptions of loaves and fish in the mosaic, but you cannot ignore the similarity to the description in the New Testament. 'For example, from the fact that the New Testament has a description of five loaves in a basket or the two fish depicted in the apse, as we find in the mosaic.' He added that the generally accepted location of the miracle performed by Christ may have to be reconsidered in light of the new evidence.

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'In addition, the mosaic at the Church of Multiplication has a depiction of two fish and a basket with only four loaves, while in all places in the New Testament which tell of the miracle, there are five loaves of bread, as found in the mosaic in Hippos. '

In addition, the mosaic at the burnt church has a depiction of 12 baskets, and the New Testament also describes the disciples who, at the end of the miracle, were left with 12 baskets of bread and fish. 'There is no doubt that the local community was well familiar with the two miracles of Feeding the Multitude and perhaps knew their estimated locations better than us.'

Fox News September 20 2019

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James Rogers | Fox News Cited Mosaic discovered in Israeli 'Burnt Church' may depict Jesus’ miracle of the loaves and fishes 

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Experts feel that there are clear references to the New Testament depiction of the miracle in the mosaic. 

CNN September 20 2019

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Ancient mosaic found near Sea of Galilee depicts Jesus' loaves and fishes miracle Rory Sullivan, CNN • Updated 20th September 2019
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The Jeff, thank you.

A well-known British philosopher of religion in Manchester, once told me (paraphrased) that there was more and more archaeological evidence that disproved the Bible.

He indicated that there was also (paraphrased) no good modern archaeological evidence that supported biblical manuscripts.

I have my doubts he was right on either point...

There is often an academic connection between ancient manuscript evidence and ancient archaeology....