Graduate Spotlight: Archaeology grad shares life-changing experience

Graduate Henry Padilla values archaeology for illumination of the biblical text

Keely Hagan | 615-966-6491  |  12/15/2022

Lipscomb Archaeology and Biblical Studies December 2022 graduate Henry Padilla (MA) traces his profound interest in Biblical Archaeology to Chile, his native country where he learned from a young age that the archaeological tool provides a more precise explanation of the biblical text that speaks to us rather than the other way around.

In accordance with William F. Albright, the father of Biblical archaeology who was also born in Chile almost a century before him, Padilla believes theology is not enough to approach the biblical text as it can lead to dogmatic interpretations. Archaeological research combined with Biblical studies illuminates the stories, descriptions and discussions in the Bible to better understand its context and culture.

“What intrigues me about archeology is its freedom of not belonging to any discipline that wants to use it to legitimize things,” Padilla said. “But at the same time, it helps shed new light on said disciplines.”

Padilla, who is receiving his master’s degree at the Dec. 17 commencement ceremony, has already earned a Master of Theological Studies, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry. He said, “The Master in Archaeology is the most difficult and challenging thing I have done in my life but at the same time, the most wonderful. I see the biblical text and faith itself with new eyes.”

This past summer Padilla was part of Lipscomb’s Lanier Center for Archaeology excavation team at a dig in Israel. “It was an incredible, life-changing experience. In the mornings we excavated, and in the afternoon, we washed and read the pottery. We also had master lectures and tours at different sites. Those of us who went for the first time did tours on the weekends as well. I counted at least 42 significant sites we visited with a guide specialized in the geography and history of Israel. If there is any doubt, the excavation experience is what makes our program so significant.

“It was at the Israel dig where I understood the prestige of the program. Everywhere I went Dr. (Steven) Ortiz and Dr. (Tom) Davis were known and respected.” Ortiz is director of the Lanier Center for Archaeology and Davis is associate director. “In Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Jordan and the whole world, they are talking about archaeologists and the Lipscomb program,” said Padilla.

Padilla plans to enter Lipscomb’s Ph.D. in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East program to earn a terminal degree that will give him the credentials to teach archaeology at the highest levels of academia.

The decision to enter the Ph.D. program is difficult for Padilla because to attend classes in Nashville during the week he must leave his wife, son, home, church work and teaching job in Texas. Yet, the call to help in the education of Latin America is stronger than the comfort he has in a full life in Texas.

His goal is to establish a Latin American archeology program for his colleagues interested in the discipline but who don’t have the opportunities he has. “I started an archaeology and Bible class in Chile and to my surprise, there are around 50 students from 12 different Latin American countries,” he said. “That proves that the interest is real but there is not an evangelical archaeology Ph.D. program focused on Biblical studies in Latin America, at least that I know of. The one I start will be the first – the first of many to come.”