Burial Artifact May Be the Oldest Evidence of Christ

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Proof of Jesus
W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 21 — An inscription on a burial artifact that was recently discovered in Israel appears to provide the oldest archaeological evidence of Jesus Christ, according to an expert who dates it to three decades after the crucifixion.This burial artifact, recently discovered in Israel, may be the oldest evidence of Jesus' existence. (ABCNEWS.com)
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Writing in Biblical Archaeology Review, Andre Lemaire, a specialist in ancient inscriptions at France's Practical School of Higher Studies, says it is very probable the find is an authentic reference to Jesus of Nazareth.

The archaeology magazine planned to announce the discovery at a news conference today.

That Jesus existed is not doubted by scholars, but what the world knows about him comes almost entirely from the New Testament. No physical artifact from the first century related to Jesus has been discovered and verified. Lemaire believes that has changed, though questions remain, such as where the piece with the inscription has been for more than 19 centuries.

The inscription, in the Aramaic language, appears on an empty ossuary, or limestone burial box for bones. It reads: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." Lemaire dates the object to 63 A.D.

Writing Style Reflects Time Period

Lemaire says the writing style, and the fact that Jews practiced ossuary burials only between 20 B.C. and A.D. 70, puts the inscription squarely in the time of Jesus and James, who led the early church in Jerusalem.

All three names were commonplace, but he estimates that only 20 Jameses in Jerusalem during that era would have had a father named Joseph and a brother named Jesus.

Moreover, naming the brother as well as the father on an ossuary was "very unusual," Lemaire says. There's only one other known example in Aramaic. Thus, this particular Jesus must have had some unusual role or fame — and Jesus of Nazareth certainly qualified, Lemaire concludes.

It's impossible, however, to prove absolutely that the Jesus named on the box was Jesus of Nazareth.

The archaeology magazine says two scientists with the Israeli government's Geological Survey conducted a detailed microscopic examination of the surface patina and the inscription. They reported last month that there is "no evidence that might detract from the authenticity."

The ossuary's owner also is requiring Lemaire to shield his identity, so the box's current location was not revealed.

No Absolute Proof

James is depicted as Jesus' brother in the Gospels and head of the Jerusalem church in the Book of Acts and Paul's epistles.

The first century Jewish historian Josephus recorded that "the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, James by name," was stoned to death as a Jewish heretic in A.D. 62. If his bones were placed in an ossuary that would have occurred the following year, dating the inscription around A.D. 63.

The Rev. Joseph Fitzmyer, a Bible professor at Catholic University who studied photos of the box, agrees with Lemaire that the writing style "fits perfectly" with other first century examples and admits the joint appearance of these three famous names is "striking."

"But the big problem is, you have to show me the Jesus in this text is Jesus of Nazareth, and nobody can show that," Fitzmyer says.

The owner of the ossuary never realized its potential importance until Lemaire examined it last spring. Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review, himself saw the box Sept. 25.

Lemaire told The Associated Press the owner wants anonymity to avoid time-consuming contacts with reporters and religious figures. The owner also wants to avoid the cost of insurance and guarding the artifact, and has no plans to display it publicly, he said.
Source:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/jesus021021.html
 
I was very excited when I heard about this. I wondered if it couldn't be a sign from above that Christ will return as promised. After seeing all the terrible things going on in the world, it is not difficult for me to believe good vs evil is taking place on Earth.
 
ku'u came running in to talk to me about it :)

We discussed it a little in one of my classes yesterday but not in real detail. How exciting for the world that believes so deeply in him :)
 
Actually i think it's more exciting for historians then christians. Christianaty is based on truth that comes by faith, not fact. I could never be convinced that christ was what i believe him to be by any historical facts that exist.
 
They broke it! :eek:
It’s one of the most precious artifacts in human history. And it’s been damaged on its trip to a Toronto museum. A 2,000-year-old ossuary, which is said to have contained the bones of James – the brother of Jesus - didn’t make it intact on its journey from Israel to the Royal Ontario Museum.
 
Just because Jesus existed doesn't mean he was devine. Nor that I should follow beliefs that were handed down by word of mouth (remember how chinese whispers changes words and meaning) and not written down until centuries later. But I agree the find is interesting from an archealogical point of view.
 
maybe they should get a DNA sample, for comparison. Interesting find, now to find his long lost brother.

Leave it to the Canadians to break it :D




Question: if one believes in YHWH and is not Jewish but one doesn't believe Yeshua is the "son of God", is that person Christian? (serious question, inquiring minds need to know)
 
A very inquisitive question i'm sure, but it's about like asking if a mormon is a christian, it totally depends on who you ask.
 
Gonz said:
Question: if one believes in YHWH and is not Jewish but one doesn't believe Yeshua is the "son of God", is that person Christian? (serious question, inquiring minds need to know)


No - to be a christian you have to believe that Jesus was the son of god and that he died to attone for your personal sins. Therefore as I don't I'm not a christian although I was brought up with christian values.
 
I saw this on the morning news about a week or two ago...

Someone got it at a garage sale, I think? and stored it up in their attic for the longest time.

It looks pretty authentic, but it seems kind of suspicious someone would have gotten it at a garage sale only to just stick it in their attic. I think it could just be another hoax.
 
No - to be a christian you have to believe that Jesus was the son of god and that he died to attone for your personal sins. Therefore as I don't I'm not a christian although I was brought up with christian values

Says you. Like i said, different people(even christians) believe different things. God knows the heart of man. The bible says in Romans 14:5

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

Only god knows what's in each persons heart/mind. So he asks us to do our best regardless of what we believe. Ghandi is a perfect example. He was far from being a traditional christian imo, yet he walked in the footsteps of Christ like almost no other man i have ever known and believed in Christ in some form. What i'm saying is, who the hell am i to say exactly who is and who isn't a christian? People are different and god isn't giving anyone all the answers. The worlds churches who make these popular 'rules' are nothing more than man incarnate.
 
Sorry, but if you don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to forgive your sins, and rose 3 days later, then you are not Christian.
 
What if I believe he rose 2 days later? I mean, they checked the tomb three days later, but that doesn't mean he JUST left, he could have already been gone for a day, you know?
 
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