Deus Artefacta: New article published in the NEASB on Hippocratic oath

Unveiling a Hidden Connection: The Hippocratic Oath and Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaties

I’m thrilled to share that The Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin (NEASB) has published my latest article, titled “Influence of the Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaties on the Hippocratic Oath.” Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin NEASB 57 (2012): 27–45. This groundbreaking study, born from my Ph.D. research, uncovers a previously unrecognized link between the Hippocratic Oath and Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) suzerain-vassal treaties, shedding new light on the cultural exchange between Babylon and Greek civilization. As a conservative evangelical scholar passionate about ANE studies and biblical archaeology, I’m excited to contribute to this fascinating field and grateful for the opportunity to share my findings with you.

The Discovery: A New Perspective on the Hippocratic Oath

The Hippocratic Oath, a cornerstone of medical ethics, has long been studied for its Greek origins, attributed to the school of Hippocrates around the 5th century BC. However, my research reveals that its structure and content bear striking similarities to ANE suzerain-vassal treaties, such as those from the Hittite and Assyrian empires. These treaties, which formalized relationships between a suzerain (king) and vassal (subject), typically include a preamble, historical prologue, stipulations, witnesses, and blessings/curses—elements that resonate with the Oath’s form and intent.

In the article, I argue that the Hippocratic Oath adapts this ANE treaty framework to establish a covenant-like bond between physicians and their mentors or patients.

For example:

Preamble: The Oath begins by invoking divine witnesses (e.g., Apollo, Asclepius), mirroring treaty introductions that identify the suzerain.

Stipulations: Ethical obligations, such as preserving life and confidentiality, parallel treaty stipulations binding vassals to loyalty.

Blessings/Curses: The Oath’s promises of prosperity for adherence and ruin for violation echo treaty blessings and curses.

This connection suggests that Babylonian cultural influences, transmitted through trade, conquest, or intellectual exchange in the ANE, shaped Greek medical ethics, challenging the traditional view of the Oath as purely Hellenistic.

Significance of the Research

This discovery is significant for several reasons:

Cultural Exchange: It provides fresh evidence of Babylonian influence on Greek culture, supporting broader research into ANE-Greek interactions. As Jeffrey H. Tigay and William F. Albright emphasize, cultural contact and complex patterns are key to identifying legitimate parallels, and my analysis meets these criteria by tracing specific treaty elements in the Oath.

Interdisciplinary Insight: The article bridges biblical archaeology, ANE studies, and medical history, offering a new lens for understanding the Oath’s origins and its ethical framework.

Pioneering Contribution: No scholar has previously identified this link, making the study a pioneering addition to the field. My Ph.D. research, which also explores ANE vassal treaties in the Book of Revelation, laid the groundwork for this insight, highlighting the versatility of treaty structures across cultures.

Gratitude and Peer Review

I’m deeply grateful to the Near East Archaeological Society for publishing this article and to the peer reviewers whose insightful suggestions strengthened the final piece. Their rigorous feedback ensured the study avoids parallelomania—the pitfall of overstating similarities—by grounding the parallels in historical and textual evidence. This collaborative process underscores the value of scholarly dialogue in advancing our understanding of the ancient world.

Implications for Evangelical Scholarship

For conservative evangelicals, this research affirms the Bible’s historical and cultural context by illuminating the pervasive influence of ANE covenantal forms, which also appear in Scripture (e.g., the Mosaic Covenant in Deut. 28). While the Hippocratic Oath is a secular text, its treaty-like structure echoes the covenantal patterns God used to communicate His relationship with Israel, reinforcing the Bible’s engagement with its cultural milieu. This study equips evangelicals to engage archaeology and ANE studies confidently, using rigorous scholarship to affirm Scripture’s reliability without compromising its divine inspiration.

Looking Ahead

Publishing this article is a milestone in my journey as a scholar, building on my dissertation’s exploration of ANE vassal treaties in Revelation 2–3. I hope it sparks further research into ANE influences on Greco-Roman culture and encourages dialogue among biblical scholars, archaeologists, and historians. If you’re intrigued by the intersection of ANE studies, biblical archaeology, and cultural history, I invite you to read the full article in NEASB 57 and share your thoughts!

Get the Article: Access “Influence of the Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaties on the Hippocratic Oath.” in Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 57 (2012): 27–45, available through academic libraries or the NEAS website.
Let’s Connect: How do you see ANE cultural exchanges shaping biblical or classical studies? Drop a comment or reach out to discuss this fascinating topic!
Also in the same issue: Graves, David E. “Review of Kamash, Zena. Archaeologies of Water in the Roman Near East: 63 BC - AD 636. Gorgias Dissertations in Near Eastern Studies 54. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias, 2010.” Near East Archaeology Society Bulletin no. 57 (2012): 56–57.