'James,... brother of Jesus'

[theist 1]

From http://beliefnet.com

 

 

Artifact of 'Brother of Jesus' Discovered

Bone container carries Aramaic inscription 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus'; archaeologist certifies first-century date.

By Richard Ostling

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.

 

 

Above: Artists' rendering of the ossuary inscription.

 

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 Monday.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

[Gauracandra 1]

Very interesting. This is good evidence to anyone who questions the historicity of Jesus.

[mahak 0]

Haribol, theist and gaurachandra, hope youse guys are well. This info is very nice, and in my research, I have also noted that Didyamous Thomas is also an older stepbrother of Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph had sons prior to marrying Mary, and his first wife passed away. I have also heard that Joseph and Mary had children after the appearance of Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Thomas was an architect, taught the science of building by Joseph, who, despite the pictures of him sitting and whittling on a chair, was a much more heralded carpenter than that. In fact, he was kind of a master craftsman and contractor whose buildings were everywhere in Judea, and even as far away as Rome.

 

By the way, I wrote a story that includes thomas and james, and can be seen at

 

http://geocities.com/mahaksadasa/dd.html

 

Anyway, this stuff is sure interesting, hare krsna, ys, mahaksadasa

[Gauracandra 1]

Good to see you Mahak. Thought it would be good to put up the pictures. Apparently Josephus (Jewish historian) makes mention of the stoning to death of James, brother of Jesus, which is dated to the same time period. James led the early Christian church in Jerusalem.

 

Here is the box:

 

Here is the inscription which reads:

 

“James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”