Who is Tom McCollough? Historian thinks he has discovered "persuasive" evidence of the location where Jesus Christ turned water into wine

Tom McCollough, a historian, recently claimed that he has discovered the evidence of the place where Jesus Christ is believed to have performed his first miracle, the New York Post reported.

The outlet referred to the archaeologist's interview with Pen News, during which he claimed Khirbet Qana has “persuasive” evidence of being the site where Jesus turned water into wine. Per the New York Post, the village is situated five miles north of Kafr Kanna, the place traditionally believed to be the one where Christ performed the miracle, albeit without definitive historical evidence. Tom McCollough was quoted saying (via the New York Post),

“[No other village] has the ensemble of evidence that makes such a persuasive case for Khirbet Qana.”

As mentioned, Tom McCollough is a historian who was a professor of religion and history at Centre College from 1980 to 2017. Per his LinkedIn profile, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Florida in 1972.

Later, McCollough got an MA and PhD from the University of Notre Dame. He is also an alumnus of Duke University Divinity School and has received a "Master of Divinity" degree from the institution.

Apart from being a professor, Tom McCollough has been director of archaeological excavations at Khirbet Qana since 2008. Since January 2013, he has been an annual professor at the Jerusalem-based Albright Institute of Archaeological Research.

According to Centre College’s official website, McCollough is a recipient of multiple awards. He has received the Kirk Teaching Award (2009) and Kentucky Professor of the Year honor.

More about Tom McCollough’s claims around the evidence of the place where Jesus Christ turned water into wine

“Wedding at Cana” in the Gospel of John depicts the first miracle of Christ. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (via catholicity.com), Cana – A city of Galilee – is believed to be the place where Jesus attended a marriage and turned water into wine. Here’s a quote per Bible.com (New International Version),

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.” – John 2:1-2

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Kafr Kanna is traditionally identified as the site of the biblical miracle. However, Ain Qana and Khirbet Qana have also emerged as the claimants.

Tom McCollough favors the latter as the site where Jesus Christ turned water into wine. Talking about the findings of his excavation, the archaeologist told Pen News (via the New York Post),

“We have uncovered a large Christian veneration cave complex that was used by Christian pilgrims who came to venerate the water-to-wine miracle.”

He added,

“This complex was used beginning in the late fifth or early sixth century and continued to be used by pilgrims into the 12th-century Crusader period.”

McCollough claimed to have uncovered “an altar and a shelf with a stone vessel” during the excavation at Khirbet Qana. According to the New York Post, the historian also noted that the site has a “space for five additional jars.” Based on biblical accounts, Jesus Christ turned six vessels of water into wine.

Furthermore, Tom McCollough noted that the walls within the complex have references to the Kyrie Iesou, which means Lord Jesus in Koine Greek, per the New York Post. Talking about the uncovered texts, he said,

“The pilgrim texts we have from this period that describe what pilgrims did and saw when they came to Cana of Galilee match very closely what we have exposed as the veneration complex.”

McCollough further referenced the work of a first-century Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, during his conversation with Pen News (via the New York Post),

“His references to Cana align geographically with the location of Khirbet Qana and align logically with his movements. The reference to Cana in Josephus, the New Testament and in the rabbinic texts would argue the village was a Jewish village, near the Sea of Galilee and in the region of lower Galilee.”

Tom McCollough stated that Khirbet Qana “fulfills all the criteria” to be Cana of Galilee. He also noted that the excavations hint at Khirbet Qana being a “thriving Jewish village” that was potentially situated in the “heart of much of Jesus’ life and ministry.”

He also raised questions about the historical accuracy of Kafr Kanna being the pilgrimage site of Cana despite the traditional beliefs.

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