Lost Tomb of Jesus”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Biola Professors Respond to the “Lost Tomb of Jesus” A documentary titled, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” is set to premiere on the Discovery Channel on March 4. The film claims that the 1980 discovery of 10 ossuaries in Jerusalem belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth, challenging the Christian belief that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead three days after he was crucified. Scholars from Biola University, a private Christian university in Southern California, responded to the claims on Friday with a list of points. 1. The discovery of the tomb is not a “new” discovery. According to John Hutchison, professor of Bible Exposition, “This is not a new archaeological find, but only a rehashing of information that has been known for more than two decades. I think it’s important to remember that this ossuary evidence has been around since 1980, and was the subject of a BBC documentary in 1996. During these years, reputable international scholars and archaeologists have examined the ossuaries and have discounted this theory. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, has said that this theory fails to hold up by archeological standards, but makes for profitable television. Oscar-winning directors like James Cameron and reputable sources like the Discovery Channel generate interest in projects like this; however, nothing new has really been discovered that was not known in 1996. Reputable archaeologists, most of whom are not orthodox Christians, have denied any significance in this find.” 2. The location of the tomb discovered is not historically supported. John Hutchison said, “Another problem for this theory is the location of the family tomb. Why would a poor Galilean family have a burial tomb in Jerusalem? Located in south Jerusalem, this site is also far from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The claim that Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus are located under the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is strongly supported archaeologically and historically. Helena, mother of Constantine, ordered the building of this church and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem approx. 325 AD, and buildings have existed on these sites ever since. Until at least 66 AD there had been a tradition for the Jerusalem community to hold celebrations of public worship at the tomb, in accordance of the Jewish practice of praying at the tombs of holy persons. The original Christian community knew where Christ had been executed and buried; but they were prohibited from entering Jerusalem after its destruction in 70. Yet the list of bishops of Jerusalem during this period is continuous, and the site of Christ's crucifixion seems to be known even at a later date. The decision of Hadrian (117-138) to eliminate Christian churches is a clear indication that in his time the veneration of Christian holy places was widespread. The Romans built a temple of Venus (Aphrodite) over the tomb (135 AD) and erected a statue of Jupiter on Golgotha. When the Empress Helen visited Jerusalem in 326, Bishop Macarius was able to give her information about the locations; In 326-35 AD Hadrian's temple was then replaced by a new church that became the shrine of Christendom. The information leading to this church as the burial place of Jesus thus has an unbroken archaeological and historical trail of information.” 2. This documentary challenges the Christian belief of a resurrection of Jesus Christ. Contrary to the Discovery Channel’s Web site, this documentary does challenge the Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection. Kevin Lewis, professor of theology and law said, “The “resurrection” of Jesus is defined as the reunification of His human spirit with His physical body after He was biologically dead for three days. The resurrection to new, physical, biological life is a permanent condition. As such, Jesus could not die again and leave a body in a tomb and later bones in an ossuary. Thus, the statement regarding a second tomb theory is completely absurd.” John Hutchison said, “Belief in the resurrection is based on BOTH the claim of an empty tomb and the appearances to hundreds of people later. The claim that Jesus’ body was moved from one tomb to another is based entirely on speculation, and it seems to me that the makers of the documentary are proposing it only to appease opponents who hold more traditional views. The traditional resurrection from any tomb could not have happened if bones are found in an ossuary. The story in John 20:11-18 is clearly emphasizing the missing body, followed immediately by Jesus’ first appearance to Mary Magdalene.” Clinton Arnold, professor of New Testament Language and Literature said, “This lacks historical plausibility. It must assume that Jesus’ disciples were able to come in stealth to a tomb guarded by a company of soldiers, move away the stone that sealed the entrance, and then steal the body of Jesus without the soldiers detecting them. The reenactment in the film conveniently did not depict any soldiers as present. The only reason for suggesting a second tomb is to explain how there could be a burial box with Jesus’ bones present there. But once again, if Jesus rose bodily from the grave, as the Scriptures and Christian tradition both proclaim, there would have been no bones for a secondary burial.” 3. According to the Web site, the discovery of the lost tomb does not challenge the ascension of Jesus Christ, only that the ascension was spiritual, not physical. John Hutchison responds: “The only trustworthy historical record we have of Jesus’ ascension is in Acts 1:9-12. The language is not symbolic here, but descriptive of physical events, specifically the disappearance of Jesus’ body into the clouds. If Jesus’ mortal remains were found, yes it would deny a physical ascension, but it would also deny a physical resurrection. The preaching of the early church linked these two truths—resurrection & ascension—as both true and inextricably linked. Spiritual ascension would not seem to me to be acceptable.” 4. According to the documentary, the names found inscribed on the ossuaries belong to Jesus of Nazareth and his family. Also suggesting that Jesus was married and had a family and heir. John Hutchison says, “Scholars and archaeologists who have examined this find since 1980 have described all the names on the ossuaries as very common names from the first century. The makers of this documentary claim the appearance of these particular names together in a family tomb increases the odds it is the tomb of Jesus’ family. But why does it? Neither the canonical Gospels nor tradition include Mary Magdalene in Jesus’ family. The claim that the coincidence of these names increases the chances that this is Jesus’ family is a false claim. Clinton Arnold, Professor of New Testament said, “The statistical argument falls apart if Mariamene e Mara cannot be interpreted as referring to Mary Magdalene. The University of Toronto statistician cited in the film admitted this in the “Critical Look” segment that aired immediately following the two-hour special. He noted, “I must work from the interpretations given to me.” It is highly doubtful that Mariamene e Mara was Mary Magdalene. There is no evidence at all that the name Mariamne was ever used of Mary Magdalene. This was noted and stated quite forcefully by Jonathan Reed in the Ted Koppel special. Mariamne was also a very popular name among Jews from that era. It appears 75 times in the writings of Josephus. The film moved into unrestrained and foolish speculation when it inferred that since “Mara” can mean “master,” Mary Magdalene became “Jesus’ most trusted apostle” and thus merited the title, “master.” “One of the ossuaries clearly had the inscription, Yehuda bar Yeshua (Judah, son of Jesus/Joshua). But once again we need to observe that we are dealing with the commonest of Jewish names. “Judah son of Joshua” would have fit many individuals in Palestine during the Hellenistic and Roman era. That one could infer from this piece of evidence alone that Jesus must have had a secret sexual relationship with a woman, fathered a child, and that his name was Judah— without a shred of any other corroborating evidence and piles of historical evidence to the contrary—is an irresponsible and sensationalistic journalistic claim.” 7. How have other archaeologists and biblical scholars responded to this interpretation of the tomb? Clinton Arnold: “It is still too early to tell how they will respond, but many who have weighed in on this have expressed considerable doubt. The Jerusalem Post reports that Amos Kloner, the archaeologist who oversaw the archaeological work at the Talpiot tomb, has said that “it makes a great story for a TV film. But it’s completely impossible. It’s nonsense. There is no likelihood that Jesus and his relatives had a family tomb. They were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem.” In an interview with the Scientific American, Professor Tal Ilan, whose Lexicon of Jewish Names was essential to the statistical argument, expressed outrage over the film and its use of her work.1 Also in an interview with the Scientific American, Jodi Magness, Professor of Archaeology and Jewish History at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, expressed disdain over the unprofessional way that this research had been carried out: “the entire way this has been done has been an injustice to the entire discipline and also to the public.” ‘ 8. How should Christians respond? Clinton Arnold: “This is a great opportunity to talk to friends, co-workers, and neighbors about Jesus. How often does the opportunity so easily present itself to discuss the events that stand at the heart of the gospel—the death and resurrection of Jesus? “ Several Biola professors, including Clint Arnold, John Hutchison and Kevin Lewis, are available to talk to the media responding to claims made by the documentary.