Mohammad Waheeb contends that the site on the river's eastern bank, roughly five miles north of the Dead Sea, matches both Biblical references and early travelers' accounts better than long-standing western-bank alternatives.

In the June paper in the Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies, Waheeb wrote that the work addresses a centuries-old scholarly debate.

"This study investigates Bethany beyond the Jordan, presently recognized as the site of Jesus' Baptism, and analyzes the scholarly debate surrounding the precise location of the baptism from the early Roman period through the late Byzantine era," the abstract states.

"Historical records from early pilgrims and travelers consistently identify Bethany beyond the Jordan as the traditional place of baptism," the Jordanian scientist explained. Yet "recent archaeological excavations within this area and its surroundings have uncovered substantial new evidence, including the remains of churches and associated religious structures, offering deeper insight into its historical significance."

Waheeb and his team conducted fieldwork from 1996 to 2002, uncovering churches, baptismal pools, prayer halls, mosaics, and water systems spanning the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods.

During this time, The Washington Post reported that Waheeb, "a devout Muslim, has been reading the Bible for two or three hours daily since he began excavating the site ... So conversant has he become with Scripture that his assistants have taken to calling him 'Father Muhammad.'"

In the recent paper's conclusion, Waheeb asserted that "Intensive archaeology works performed at Bethany beyond the Jordan between 1996 and 2002 have revealed the true place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist on the east bank of the river Jordan." Further, "the discovery of churches, baptismal pools, prayer halls, mosaics, and water supply systems of Roman-Byzantine times proves that this place, not Bethabara, is the Bethany beyond the Jordan mentioned in the Gospel according to John 1:28."

A central thread of his argument concerns textual confusion introduced by early Christian scholar Origen... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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