Historic Mosaic Unveiled as Earliest Inscription Declaring «Jesus is God»

The recent discovery of an ancient mosaic, unearthed in the Megiddo region of Israel, is causing significant excitement among historians and theologians. This artifact, known as the Meggido Mosaic, has been identified as containing the oldest known inscription declaring «Jesus is God.» Experts suggest that this 1,800-year-old inscription could potentially reshape our understanding of early Christian beliefs.

The mosaic is currently housed at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. Carlos Campo, CEO of the museum, described it as «the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls.» The artifact was originally found beneath a floor of the Megiddo Prison in Israel in 2005 and was subsequently excavated by the Israel Antiquities Authority over a period of four years.

According to Gil Lin, the head of the Megiddo Regional Council, the mosaic once decorated a private chapel in 230 AD, which is believed to be one of the earliest known houses of prayer. The inscription in Greek reads, «The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial,» marking «the first physical proclamation of Jesus Christ as God,» as stated by Lin.

The curator of the exhibition, Alegre Savariego, emphasized the significance of the mosaic as it reveals «groundbreaking physical evidence of the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including the first archaeological instance of the phrase, ‘God Jesus Christ.'» This discovery is particularly notable as it dates from a period before Christianity was officially recognized by the Roman Empire.

Brutus, a craftsman credited with designing the Megiddo, included some of the earliest depictions of fish—an important symbol in Christian theology—within the mosaic. The gospel of Luke 9:16 references Jesus performing a miracle involving fish and loaves of bread, underscoring this symbolism.

There is also mention of Gaianus, a Roman officer who commissioned the mosaic tile during the Roman occupation of Judea. The close proximity of the mosaic to a Roman camp suggests that there may have been some degree of coexistence between Romans and early Christians, contrary to the historical narrative of conflict between the two groups.

«This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church,» commented Bobby Duke, director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible. «The mosaic presents a wealth of new data for church historians.» The mosaic also features the names of five women: Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, Chreste, and Akeptous, highlighting the contributions of women in early Christian communities.

Following its display at the Museum of the Bible, the mosaic is set to return to Israel, where it will be showcased at the same site where it was originally discovered.