Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity

Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity
Craig A. Evans | 2003-11-01 00:00:00 | Baylor University Press | 168 | Ancient
The recent discovery and exhibition of an ancient Jewish ossuary (a burial box) that bears the inscription "James the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" has stunned scholars and the public alike. While the story of the ossuary's authenticity unfolds, what is not shrouded in mystery is that this ossuary is only one of several that shed important archeological light on the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity. In Jesus and the Ossuaries Craig A. Evans helps all readers, expert and layperson alike, understand the importance this recent find might have for the quest for the historical Jesus and any historical reconstruction of early Christianity.
Reviews
Craig Evans has written another excellent book, Jesus and the Ossuaries. The unfortunate title, probably intended to pick-up on the popular and controversial Jame's Ossuary discovery, does not convey the breadth of the inscriptions covered in this book. Ossuaries, tomb and other stone inscriptions bearing text relevant to New Testament and early Christian traditions are well covered in this book. Pertinent Jewish burial practices are also clearly presented. While this book is an excellent resource, loaded with exceptional footnotes, it is also very readable. It is well written, compelling, yet scholarly. If only more authors would write like this! The inscriptions are organized logically, with brief explanations of their significance, the story of their discovery, their controversies, and ample footnotes for further study. The Jame's Ossuary is fairly covered near the end of the book, without any special prominence over the other material.
The popular media tends to portray archeology in terms of a glamorous quest for ancient gold and riches, but in reality, it is the textual discoveries that archeologists find priceless. Craig Evans book amply demonstrates why this is true.
Reviews
With the attention of the world and media now on the controversial disputes over Jesus and history (with "The Passion of the Christ" film and the "James Ossuary"), Dr. Craig Evans brings to light an extensive survey of the influence of stone inscriptions on Biblical exegesis. He succeeds in educating the curious public on Holy Land artifacts that have shaped our understanding of Judaism, the early Church, and the Roman Empire. Not just highlighting the recent James ossuary, he discusses many other "bone boxes" that have shed light on Jewish burial practices and their theology of death. Such information magnifies and clarifies the way we look at the significance of the grave in the ancient world, the raising of Lazarus, and even the Resurrection of Christ. He offers a fair study of the "James, Son of Joseph, Brother of Jesus" ossuary discovered in 2002.
Dr. Evans' expertise in New Testament shows in his exaustive scholarly research (complete with full references), yet he does not sacrifice the popular audience (with exciting, and some humorous, stories). This smooth-flowing look into the exciting world of archaeology- its ancient crypts and stone sarcophagi- strengthens the understanding for any Bible scholar, Christian, Jew, or history buff. "Jesus and the Ossuaries" is a soon classic and a must-read.

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