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In 2018 archaeologists in Frankfurt Germany made a fascinating and groundbreaking discovery though it would not be fully realized until 2024. According to an official report, during an excavation of an ancient Roman cemetery dating to the 3rd century AD, “One grave in particular came to the fore: the skeleton of a man was found in number 134, along with grave goods, an incense burner and a jug made of baked clay. But the special extra was under the man’s chin: a small silver amulet, a so-called phylactery, which he probably once wore on a ribbon around his neck.”[1]
Inside the amulet, which is only 3.5 cm in size, was a “wafer-thin silver foil” that had an inscription. Unfortunately, because of its great age, it could not be unrolled to read the text, or it would have crumbled into dust. Thus, scientists would have to find another way to get to the inscription. Finally, in May 2024, a significant advancement occurred when the object was analysed with a state-of-the-art computer tomograph. This technique employs penetrating waves to generate detailed images of various sections of an object’s internal structures. It was an extremely challenging and time-consuming process. In the words of Dr. Ivan Calandra, Head of the Imaging Laboratory, “The challenge in the analysis was that the silver sheet was rolled, but after around 1800 years, it was of course also creased and pressed. Using CT, we were able to scan it at a very high resolution and create a 3D model.”[2] Thus, by piecing it together digitally they were able to virtually unroll the foil and begin to decipher the text, of which there were 18 lines all in Latin.[3] And while there are a few words missing (which they’ve tried to fill in) most of it is intact:
“(In the name?) of St. Titus. Holy, holy, holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God! The lord of the world resists to the best of his [ability?] all seizures(?)/setbacks(?). The god(?) grants well-being. Admission. This rescue device(?) protects the person who surrenders to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, since before Jesus Christ bend all knees: the heavenly ones, the earthly and the subterranean, and every tongue confess (to Jesus Christ).”[4]
“Holy, holy, holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God!”
Frankfurt Silver Inscription
This Frankfurt Silver Inscription (as it is called) is super important for Christianity for lots of reasons. Here are just a few. First, it gives very early attestation to the divinity of Jesus Christ (E.g., “Lord”, “Son of God”). It also tells us something about the spread of Christianity. According to the report, “The grave in which the amulet was found is dated to between 230 and 270 AD. There has never been such early, authentic evidence of pure Christianity north of the Alps. All finds are at least around 50 years younger. There are historical references to the first Christian groups in Gaul and perhaps also in the province of Upper Germania in the late 2nd century. However, reliable evidence of Christian life in the northern Alpine regions of the Roman Empire generally only dates back to the 4th century AD.”[5]
Third, this inscription also provides very early extra-biblical evidence that Titus and Jesus were real people. Skeptics often assume that Biblical figures not known outside the Bible are fictional. Of course, while Jesus is already attested to in many extrabiblical texts, skeptics will now have to add St. Titus to the ever-growing list of Biblical people confirmed to exist! Actually, this invocation of Titus—who was the disciple and confidante of the Apostle Paul—baffles Church historian Wolfram Kinzig because, as he points out, “according to the tradition passed down to us, Titus is actually said to have been Bishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete—so quite a long way away!”[6]
Another thing is that certain phrases in the text were not attested to until many years later. For example, after the invocation of Titus, the Frankfurt Silver Inscription begins by quoting Isaiah 6:3— “Holy, holy, holy”—which previously was not known in Christian liturgy until the 4th century. And the closing section of the text includes an almost verbatim citation of Paul’s Christ hymn, as found in his letter to the Philippians (specifically Phil. 2:10-11).
I wonder what the wearer of this amulet would say today if he knew that one day it would become “one of the most important testimonies to early Christianity in the world.”[7]
Ryan Hembree is a daily co-host, speaker, and writer of Bible Discovery. He also hosts a YouTube channel that shows the unity of the Bible and how science and Scripture fit together. Ryan also has an honorary Masters of Ministry in Creation Science from Phoenix University of Theology.
[1] “Frankfurt silver inscription” – Oldest Christian testimony found north of the Alps
https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/frankfurt-silver-inscription-oldest-christian-testimony-found-north-of-the-alps/
[2] Ibid.
[3] As the report also notes, “The text is also very sophisticated. The author must have been an elaborate scribe.”
[4] “Frankfurt silver inscription” – Oldest Christian testimony found north of the Alps
https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/frankfurt-silver-inscription-oldest-christian-testimony-found-north-of-the-alps/
[5] “Frankfurt silver inscription” – Oldest Christian testimony found north of the Alps
https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/frankfurt-silver-inscription-oldest-christian-testimony-found-north-of-the-alps/
[6] University of Bonn Researcher Involved in Sensational Find in Frankfurt
https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/university-of-bonn-researcher-involved-in-sensational-find-in-frankfurt
[7] “Frankfurt silver inscription” – Oldest Christian testimony found north of the Alps
https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/frankfurt-silver-inscription-oldest-christian-testimony-found-north-of-the-alps/
