Answer: In
1980, in Talpiot (a suburb of Jerusalem), Israel, a construction crew
unearthed an ancient tomb. Inside the tomb was discovered ten ossuaries
(burial bone boxes). Inscribed on these bone boxes were names. The
discovery of the ossuaries was not unusual, as thousands of ancient
ossuaries have been discovered in ancient tombs in and around
Jerusalem. What was somewhat unusual was the names that were inscribed
on the ossuaries: Jesus son of Joseph, Maria, Mariamene, Matthew, Judas
son of Jesus, and Jose (likely an abbreviation of Joseph). The
similarities of these names to the biblical Jesus
and His family has led TV director Simcha Jacobovici and movie producer
James Cameron to produce “The Jesus Family Tomb” in both movie and book
form. Jacobovici and Cameron are making the claims that the Jesus
Family Tomb is indeed the family burial place of Jesus and His family,
and that the presence of Jesus’ bones disproves His resurrection. Is
there any validity to the claims of the Jesus Family Tomb?
First, before we examine the question biblically, it is important to
understand that no influential archaeologist has come forward in
agreement with the Jesus Family Tomb project. The curator for
anthropology and archeology at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem from
1972 to 1997, Joe Zias, states that the project “makes a mockery of the
archaeological profession.” Second, the ossuaries cannot conclusively
be dated to the 1st century A.D., although they can likely
be dated to that approximate time period. Third, there is evidence
that the tomb had been disturbed and vandalized. It cannot be verified
what was, or what was not, vandalized or stolen. On an archaeological
basis alone, there is serious reason to doubt the authenticity of the
Jesus
Family Tomb project.
Historically and culturally speaking, there is further reasoning to
reject the ideas of the Jesus Family Tomb project. The names “Jesus,
Maria, Matthew, Judas, and Joseph” were all very common names in 1st century Israel. Some cultural historians estimate that as many as 25% of 1st
century Jewish women were named Mary (Miriam). The New Testament
confirms this by mentioning six different women named Mary, including
three who were prominent in Jesus’ life (Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene,
and Mary of Bethany). It would not be uncommon for a 1st
century Jewish family to have the names Jesus (Yeshua), Mary (Miriam),
Joseph, and Judas – as all were very popular Jewish names (due to their
background in the Hebrew
Scriptures).
Biblically speaking, there are numerous reasons to reject the idea of
the Jesus Family Tomb. First, the New Testament consistently states
that Jesus’ family was from Nazareth (Matthew 2:13; Luke 2:4,39,51;
John 1:45-46). If Jesus’ family had a tomb, it would have very likely
been in Nazareth. Second, the Bible describes Jesus and his adopted
father Joseph as carpenters (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), likely making
them financially poor and of a lower social status. The tomb discovered
in Talpiot is the tomb of a wealthy family. Third, the New Testament
states that Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of
Arimathea, and that there were witnesses as to where Jesus was buried
(Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42).
Without
even considering the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the New
Testament account paints an entirely different account of Jesus, His
family, and His burial. Even secular historians and archaeologists view
the New Testament gospels as the best existing historical record of the
life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Now, let’s get to the crux of the matter. The true motivation of the
Jesus Family Tomb project is to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The subtitle of the book is given as “The Discovery, the Investigation,
and the Evidence That Could Change History.” Cameron, Jacobovici, and
co-author Pellegrino have a clear agenda. They do not believe that
Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God-incarnate, or that Jesus was
resurrected after His crucifixion. The discovery of the “Jesus Family
Tomb” is simply a convenient basis for their argument, due to the
similarities of the names on the ossuaries to the names of Jesus and
His family. If it could be proven that the “Jesus Family Tomb” was
indeed the tomb of the biblical Jesus of Nazareth and His family, the
resurrection would be disproven, thus destroying the very foundation of
the Christian faith (see 1 Corinthians chapter 15).
None of the suppositions of the Jesus Family Tomb project can be
proven. In fact, the archaeological community is nearly unanimous in
condemning the Jesus Family Tomb as a hoax, with no basis in history or
archaeology. There is every reason to doubt the claims of the Jesus
Family Tomb – archaeologically, historically, and biblically. The
Christian faith has nothing to fear from honest and scientific
archaeology.
1980, in Talpiot (a suburb of Jerusalem), Israel, a construction crew
unearthed an ancient tomb. Inside the tomb was discovered ten ossuaries
(burial bone boxes). Inscribed on these bone boxes were names. The
discovery of the ossuaries was not unusual, as thousands of ancient
ossuaries have been discovered in ancient tombs in and around
Jerusalem. What was somewhat unusual was the names that were inscribed
on the ossuaries: Jesus son of Joseph, Maria, Mariamene, Matthew, Judas
son of Jesus, and Jose (likely an abbreviation of Joseph). The
similarities of these names to the biblical Jesus
and His family has led TV director Simcha Jacobovici and movie producer
James Cameron to produce “The Jesus Family Tomb” in both movie and book
form. Jacobovici and Cameron are making the claims that the Jesus
Family Tomb is indeed the family burial place of Jesus and His family,
and that the presence of Jesus’ bones disproves His resurrection. Is
there any validity to the claims of the Jesus Family Tomb?
First, before we examine the question biblically, it is important to
understand that no influential archaeologist has come forward in
agreement with the Jesus Family Tomb project. The curator for
anthropology and archeology at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem from
1972 to 1997, Joe Zias, states that the project “makes a mockery of the
archaeological profession.” Second, the ossuaries cannot conclusively
be dated to the 1st century A.D., although they can likely
be dated to that approximate time period. Third, there is evidence
that the tomb had been disturbed and vandalized. It cannot be verified
what was, or what was not, vandalized or stolen. On an archaeological
basis alone, there is serious reason to doubt the authenticity of the
Jesus
Family Tomb project.
Historically and culturally speaking, there is further reasoning to
reject the ideas of the Jesus Family Tomb project. The names “Jesus,
Maria, Matthew, Judas, and Joseph” were all very common names in 1st century Israel. Some cultural historians estimate that as many as 25% of 1st
century Jewish women were named Mary (Miriam). The New Testament
confirms this by mentioning six different women named Mary, including
three who were prominent in Jesus’ life (Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene,
and Mary of Bethany). It would not be uncommon for a 1st
century Jewish family to have the names Jesus (Yeshua), Mary (Miriam),
Joseph, and Judas – as all were very popular Jewish names (due to their
background in the Hebrew
Scriptures).
Biblically speaking, there are numerous reasons to reject the idea of
the Jesus Family Tomb. First, the New Testament consistently states
that Jesus’ family was from Nazareth (Matthew 2:13; Luke 2:4,39,51;
John 1:45-46). If Jesus’ family had a tomb, it would have very likely
been in Nazareth. Second, the Bible describes Jesus and his adopted
father Joseph as carpenters (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), likely making
them financially poor and of a lower social status. The tomb discovered
in Talpiot is the tomb of a wealthy family. Third, the New Testament
states that Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of
Arimathea, and that there were witnesses as to where Jesus was buried
(Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42).
Without
even considering the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the New
Testament account paints an entirely different account of Jesus, His
family, and His burial. Even secular historians and archaeologists view
the New Testament gospels as the best existing historical record of the
life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Now, let’s get to the crux of the matter. The true motivation of the
Jesus Family Tomb project is to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The subtitle of the book is given as “The Discovery, the Investigation,
and the Evidence That Could Change History.” Cameron, Jacobovici, and
co-author Pellegrino have a clear agenda. They do not believe that
Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God-incarnate, or that Jesus was
resurrected after His crucifixion. The discovery of the “Jesus Family
Tomb” is simply a convenient basis for their argument, due to the
similarities of the names on the ossuaries to the names of Jesus and
His family. If it could be proven that the “Jesus Family Tomb” was
indeed the tomb of the biblical Jesus of Nazareth and His family, the
resurrection would be disproven, thus destroying the very foundation of
the Christian faith (see 1 Corinthians chapter 15).
None of the suppositions of the Jesus Family Tomb project can be
proven. In fact, the archaeological community is nearly unanimous in
condemning the Jesus Family Tomb as a hoax, with no basis in history or
archaeology. There is every reason to doubt the claims of the Jesus
Family Tomb – archaeologically, historically, and biblically. The
Christian faith has nothing to fear from honest and scientific
archaeology.