The tomb of Jesus and his family?

Would the finding of Jesus' bones
contradict belief in his resurrection?

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Overview:

Jacobovici, the "Naked Archeologist" said that nobody's belief in the resurrection should be shaken by the discovery of what some people belief is the burial tomb of Jesus and his immediate family. He said:

"What convinced people in the New Testament of the resurrection was Jesus' appearances, not his disappearance from the tomb. I am not a theologian. I didn't want to take anyone on." ₁

However, many Christian theologians are interpreting information about this tomb as a direct attack on belief in Jesus' resurrection. There does not seem to be any consideration in the media of an alternate opinion that there would not necessary be any impact on the belief in Jesus' resurrection. However, there would be an impact on the belief in Jesus' bodily ascension to heaven.

The importance of the resurrection:

Belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus is considered by most Christians to be a cardinal doctrine. Many believe that a person cannot really be called a Christian if they do not believe that Jesus rose bodily from the grave.

Consider the following quotations:

Reactions by Christian theologians and commentators:

A number of theologians and commentators believe that finding Jesus' bones in an ossuary would disprove -- or at least shed doubt on -- the bodily resurrection of Jesus:

"The claims were met with skepticism by several archaeologists and New Testament scholars, as well as outrage by some Christian leaders. The contention that Jesus was married, had a child and left behind his bones — suggesting he was not bodily resurrected — contradicts core Christian doctrine." ₄

"Why would Jesus’ disciples endure torture for claiming he was resurrected, if they knew it was a hoax? New Testament scholar Darrell Bock asks, 'why would Jesus' family or followers bury his bones in a family plot and then turn around and preach that he had been physically raised from the dead'?" ₅

"Of course, the main implicit contention of the documentary and book is that the Resurrection is demonstrably a fraud--and thus, we must assume, people like Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, were prepared to be martyred in grisly ways to perpetrate a fraud. Resurrection had only one meaning for early Jews--a miracle that happens to a person's body so that they are raised from the dead." ₆

"I think this is more fanciful and absurd theorizing. Every Christian knows that Jesus, the son of God and man, died and rose again on Easter Sunday. ... No alleged DNA test or Hollywood film is going to change that." ₁

The third quotation above in particular poses a few problems:  The DNA test is not alleged; it really happened. The film is not alleged; it exists and was broadcast on MAR-04. There are over a billion Muslims in the world who are absolutely convinced that Jesus was neither crucified nor resurrected. They regard him as a human prophet, not as a God and not a member of the Trinity. If current membership trends continue, Muslims will outnumber Christians in the world during the 2030s and their belief about Jesus resurrection and deity status will become the most prevalent.

Reactions by media personnel and bloggers:

"In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene."

Actually, the producer and director make no such claim, as noted above. McGirk made his posting on 2007-FEB-23. Within 15 days, it had received over 4,200 comments. ₇

"Devout Christian congregations will abhor Cameron's publicity stunt as absolute heresy. Some 27 years after archaeologists first uncovered this unprepossessing family tomb containing half a dozen inscribed caskets and four unmarked ones, the sensational scientific claims now threaten to debunk belief in the Resurrection, a cornerstone of the Christian faith. The New Testament recounts how three days after crucifixion, Jesus arose from the grave (which is now supposedly the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the heart of Jerusalem's old walled city.) But scientists, archaeologists, DNA experts, statisticians, and antiquities specialists are suggesting that Jesus' burial site was on a hill rather far away from the old rugged cross." ₈

"Paul centers his entire message around the idea that Christ’s resurrection glorified God, our resurrection will glorify God, and because we have this glory to look forward to, our lives should be lived to glorify God."

"So, Mr. Jacobovici, don’t try to tell us your 'theory' is not a rejection of the resurrection. It is not only a rejection of the resurrection but also a rejection of the Gospel itself." ₉

"... the Discovery Channel will air a James Cameron/ Simcha Jacobovici documentary called 'The Lost Tomb of Jesus.' The special attempts, with these new 'findings,' contradict the idea of Christ's resurrection and takes massive liberties with other areas of Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition and basic Christian belief." ₁₀

What is the impact of the tomb discovery on the resurrection:

If the tomb is shown to have belonged to a family other than Jesus' then the discoveries will have no effect on basic Christian doctrines at all. The DNA in the ossuary marked "Jesus" would simply refer to another Jesus.

However, if it is shown to be the tomb of Jesus and his family, it can be argued that the presence of Jesus' bones on Earth does not necessarily have any impact on the belief in Jesus resurrection.

Consider two examples:

The same sequence could have happened to Jesus: birth, infancy, childhood, adulthood, death, burial, bodily resurrection, a passage of time  -- perhaps decades long -- a second death, a second burial, and survival of his bones.

Thus, the finding of Jesus' remains on Earth does not necessarily have any impact on belief in his bodily resurrection. However, it might impact on the belief of his bodily ascension.

Religious groups do not like to change their basic teachings. Changes over the last 15 decades over human slavery, women's role in the church, contraception, equal rights for homosexuals, etc. have triggered schisms in a number of denominations, and have come close to causing splits in others. Fortunately for the stability Christian faith groups, there appears to be no way to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the tomb at Talpiot contains Jesus' bones.

References used:

1. Stuart Laidlaw, "Jesus tomb claim sparks furor," The Toronto Start, 2007-FEB-26, at: http://www.thestar.com/
2. Pope Pius Xii, "Munificentissiumus Deus," Vatican, 1950-NOV-01, at: http://www.ewtn.com/
3. "Toward a Common Date for Easter," World Council of Churches / Middle East Council of Churches Consultation, 1997 at: http://www.elca.org/ea/
4. Laurie Goodstein, "Crypt Held Bodies of Jesus and Family, Film Says,"  New York Times, 2007-FEB-27
5. "Who was the real Jesus?" Y-Jesus magazine, at: http://www.y-zine.com/
6. Ben Witherington III, "Tomb of the (still) unknown ancients: More Jesus hype of the 'Da Vinci Code' type," Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal, 2007-MAR-02, at: http://www.opinionjournal.com/
7. Tim McGirk, "Jesus: Tales from the Crypt," Time, 2007-FEB-23, at: http://time-blog.com/
8. Izzy Bee, "More on the Christ family's criptic crypt," Israelity Bites blog, 2007-FEB-27, at: http://israelitybites.blogspot.com/
9. "TheFilmCritic, " 'I guess this means we're Jewish.' Part 1 of 3," Salt & Light blog, 2007-MAR-06, at: http://how2fish.blogspot.com/
10. Aggregator, "Cameron's 'The Tomb of Jesus' Sinks Like Titanic - Wake up America," Freedom's Zone, 2007-FEB-28, at: http://www.freedomszone.com/aggregator.php?id=19304

Copyright © 2007 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2007-FEB-26
Latest update: 2007-MAR-08
Author: B.A. Robinson