Christianity Spread Quickly to Europe
A silver amulet discovered in Germany
had an inscription from the 3rd century AD.
The message was just published.
1,800-year-old silver amulet could rewrite history of Christianity in the early Roman Empire (14 Dec 2024, Live Science). “A 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in a burial in Germany,” writes the reporter, “is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, according to a new study.” The amulet dates to sometime between 230 to 270 AD, and was discovered in a grave near Frankfurt, the east of the Rhine river.
The article quotes Tine Rassalle, an independent Biblical archaeologist not involved in the study:
“These amulets were widely used in Late Antiquity, especially in the eastern Mediterranean world,” Rassalle said, but “they are much rarer in the western Roman world. The discovery of this amulet in Germany suggests that Christian ideas had already begun to penetrate areas far from Christianity’s early centers of growth.“
Pagan and non-Christian worshipers used amulets for protection from misfortune and disease, said Rassalle, “to protect or heal their owners from a range of misfortunes, such as illnesses, bodily aches, infertility, or even demonic forces”—indicating they were considered good luck charms. This Christian artifact had a different purpose, Rassalle said:
Other early metal amulets that have been found in the early Christian world often mix different faiths, including elements of Judaism and paganism alongside Christianity. According to the researchers, the Frankfurt amulet does not mention any other faith; it is purely Christian.
“What makes this particular example remarkable is that it is written entirely in Latin and exclusively invokes Jesus Christ and the Christian god,” Rassalle said, which is unusual because most amulets “also appeal to angels, demons, or other supernatural entities.”
Another amulet found in Bulgaria in 2023 was mentioned. It mentions the archangel Michael and Jesus as the “guardian” possibly due to the “need for early Christians to conceal and guard their faith” in a world that persecuted Christians.
“Frankfurter Silberinschrift” – Elder Christian witness found north of the Alps (12 Dec 2024, Stadt Frankfurt Am Main). This is the press release (originally German, translated poorly to English by the web browser). The wafer-thin silver foil inscribed with writing took years of careful preservation and CT scanning to reveal the writing. The translation of the Latin text reads, with question marks indicating uncertainties:
In the name?) of Saint Titus. Holy, holy, holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God! The Lord of the world resists with [strengths?] all attacks(?)/setbacks(?). The God(?) grants entry to well-being. May this means of salvation(?) protect the man who surrenders himself to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, since before Jesus Christ every knee bows: those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth, and every tongue confesses (Jesus Christ).
Implications
The writer appears to reference the Epistle of Paul to Titus and the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. It does not ask for any kind of magical protection, which fits the Christian view that rejects divination and sorcery. Instead, the text presents the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Son of God before whom all people will bow, as stated in Philippians 2:10-11. The mention of Jesus as “Lord of the world” also points to his role as Creator (John 1:3, Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-17). And the Trisagion (“Holy, holy, holy”) indicates familiarity with either Isaiah 6:3 or Revelation 4:8 with its Trinitarian overtones. By implication, the wearer may have had access to translations of these portions of Scripture in his native language, and had been instructed in Christian doctrine at this early date. The date of the artifact, therefore, could be years or decades later than the arrival of the gospel in the Frankfurt area.
The press release calls the “Frankfurter inscription” a “scientific sensation” that pushes the history of Christianity in Frankfurt back in time 50 to 100 years.
Through them one becomes the history of Christianity in Frankfurt and far beyond around 50 to 100 years must turn back. The first Christian find north of the Alps is made of our city: We can be proud of this, especially now, so shortly before Christmas. Those involved have done a great deal.
The wearer of the amulet probably confessed faith in Christ years earlier, since it was found around his neck after he died. Clearly, in a land far from Bethlehem where Jesus was born, within two centuries of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, people were confessing, “O come let us adore Him.”
This early confession of faith has been repeated around the world, like the light of candles shared from person to person, lighting other candles till millions of lights are shining.
The message on the amulet reminds us of a written confession worn next to the heart of early scientist and writer Blaise Pascal. It was found in his coat after his death. Read our biography of Pascal to see what he wrote!