Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Discovery That's Just Too Perfect [James brother of Jesus Ossuary is a hoax-my title]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-eisenman29oct29.story?null ^ | October 29, 2002 | Robert Eisenman

Posted on 11/01/2002 10:45:35 AM PST by Polycarp

COMMENTARY

A Discovery That's Just Too Perfect

Claims that stone box held remains of Jesus' brother may be suspect.

By Robert Eisenman Robert Eisenman is the author of "James the Brother of Jesus" (Penguin, 1998) and a professor of Middle East religions and archeology at Cal State Long Beach.

October 29 2002

James, the brother of Jesus, was so well known and important as a Jerusalem religious leader, according to 1st century sources, that taking the brother relationship seriously was perhaps the best confirmation that there ever was a historical Jesus. Put another way, it was not whether Jesus had a brother, but rather whether the brother had a "Jesus."

Now we are suddenly presented with this very "proof": the discovery, allegedly near Jerusalem, of an ossuary inscribed in the Aramaic language used at that time, with "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." An ossuary is a stone box in which bones previously laid out in rock-cut tombs, such as those in the Gospels, were placed after they were retrieved by relatives or followers.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: catholiclist; epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; jamescameron; jamesossuary; letshavejerusalem; simchajacobovici; talpiot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 421-430 next last
To: BearCub
My argument is not faulty. The women who visited the tomb were mentioned in all four Gospels. If Mary, Mother of Jesus went. The Holy Spirit would certainly mention it.

The fact is Jesus' mother, Mary DID go to His tomb. It says so right in the Bible.

61 posted on 11/01/2002 11:44:05 AM PST by berned
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Delbert
We have been in the end times since Christ died on the Cross...
62 posted on 11/01/2002 11:44:37 AM PST by Irisshlass
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: BearCub; berned
Such a silly and faulty argument appears foolish

Amen. Especially coming from one who does not comprehend the difference between being ignored and being run away from ;-)

63 posted on 11/01/2002 11:45:20 AM PST by Polycarp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: ER_in_OC,CA
Unfortunately, all we get is Eiseman's doubts and nothing additional

See post # 20

64 posted on 11/01/2002 11:46:30 AM PST by Polycarp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: berned
The fact is Jesus' mother, Mary DID go to His tomb. It says so right in the Bible.

Okay... So if the Bible says she went, then what is the problem? Were you just challenging polycarp to regurgitate a particular verse?

65 posted on 11/01/2002 11:47:03 AM PST by BearCub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: reformed_democrat
If we can find some documentation tracing it back even 500 years, I'd be inclined to be less sceptical.

We don't have a chain of custody for the dead sea scrolls. I is faulty reasonng to assume that its a fraud because its recently discovered.

Look, I have agreed that this thing can be a hoax. However real proof of its hoax status isn't going to come from claiming the evidence fits too good or because it wasn't known until recently. These things raise suspicions but the evidence itself needs to be dealt with.

66 posted on 11/01/2002 11:47:18 AM PST by VRWC_minion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: VRWC_minion
Which of them were at the cross in danger of being arrested while he was dying ?

Mary His mother!

The problem is, Roman Catholicism implies that Mary dropped Jesus like a hot potato once she saw He was dead.

Christians do not believe that. We believe she DID go to His tomb at first light!

It says so RIGHT IN THE BIBLE.

But Catholics cannot admit that. That's why they run away when you pose the question.

67 posted on 11/01/2002 11:47:58 AM PST by berned
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Irisshlass
Then I am ready for the end of the end times.
68 posted on 11/01/2002 11:48:20 AM PST by Delbert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: berned
It's quite unlikely that Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited the tomb for the following reasons:

1. Jesus died not long before sundown when the Sabbath was to begin.

2. I may be wrong on this, but my understanding of Jewish law is that it would have forbidden or at least dissuaded a Jew from visiting a tomb on the Sabbath.

3. I would imagine that Mary was quite overwhelmed with grief. Though Jesus is the Messiah, He was also Mary's son, the one she had cradled as an infant. She had witnessed Him dying in a most terrible way. As a woman, I can imagine being so overwhelmed with grief that I would not have been able to drag myself out before sun up the day after Sabbath to annoint His body.

Now, having said all this, I'm not sure I understand why this is such an issue for you. If this is an attempt to 'disprove' Catholic beliefs, I'd think there were better ways to approach it.

69 posted on 11/01/2002 11:48:34 AM PST by MEGoody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: berned
Roman Catholicism implies that Mary dropped Jesus like a hot potato once she saw He was dead.

Where does the RCC do this?

70 posted on 11/01/2002 11:48:58 AM PST by BearCub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: william clark
Is it possible the second part was added a few years afterwards and its still authentic ?
71 posted on 11/01/2002 11:49:19 AM PST by VRWC_minion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: MEGoody
I agree..what mother could see Her Son tortured and murdered...and not a say word so all of could go to Heaven....She is truly Our Mother...
72 posted on 11/01/2002 11:53:40 AM PST by Irisshlass
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: berned
On another note - coming from an apostate Catholic...

The RC church is well within the pale of orthodox Christianity. On EVERY essential bit of Christian doctrine, the RCC is in agreement with the major Protestant denominations. Yes, there are small things that I find irritating - and they are the reason I am no longer RC.

But for you to refer to the RCC and 'Christians' as though Roman Catholics aren't Christians is petty as hell. In fact I think the divisiveness is the work of Satan - and those who promote it are his agents - knowing or not.

Divisions in the Christian church are exactly what Satan loves to see...

73 posted on 11/01/2002 11:54:46 AM PST by BearCub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Gophack
I agree - a lot of fundimentalists seem to think if it wasn't recorded in the bible it did not happen. A whole lot happened that did not make it into the bible - especially stuff like your accuser mentions as this would be obvious to readers at the time - that would fill the whole world if written (paraphrase from somewhere in Mark or Mathew I think). Make me sick how desparate some christians are to prove Mary was not a virgin. Just to make their little pastor right and 2000 years of the Church, wrong.
74 posted on 11/01/2002 11:54:51 AM PST by epluribus_2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Tired of Taxes
"life becomes much more precious for many of us once we realize that there is no afterlife."

You chose to believe there is no afterlife, just as many of us chose to believe there is one.

75 posted on 11/01/2002 11:55:02 AM PST by MEGoody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: BearCub
Where does the RCC do this?

Do you see any of them posting the Bible verses that say that Mary DID go to the tomb? They run away from the discussion, like Polycarp and Campion have now done TWICE EACH.

This is because the Mary who visited Christ's tomb at earliest possible time is described as "Mary the mother of JAMES AND JOSES".

Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

76 posted on 11/01/2002 11:55:03 AM PST by berned
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: berned
Do Catholics believe that Jesus' mother Mary loved her son Jesus enough to VISIT Him at His tomb after He died? Or didn't she care enough about Him to bother even going to His tomb?

Mary knew Jesus would rise again on the third day. Of all His disciples, she knew this.

The Bible is silent on whether Mary visited the tomb.

According to YOPIOS, she did not.

Of course, NO SUCH ASSUMPTION CAN BE MADE FROM THE SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE.

I think, being the only disciple who truly understood and believed He would rise again, and having just been given to Christ's apostles and disciples as their mother at the foot of the cross, that she did what any good mother would do:

She stayed with, prayed with, and comforted His apostles and disciples, building up their faith and giving them hope in His resurrection.

Since scripture is silent, it is just as valid to assume she did visit His tomb as to assume she did not.

But the point is moot. It is meaningless.

Oh, by the way, I never run away from you, child. I just ignore your more inane posts.

77 posted on 11/01/2002 11:55:11 AM PST by Polycarp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: berned
The problem is, Roman Catholicism implies that Mary dropped Jesus like a hot potato once she saw He was dead.

Very interesting intepretation. Why ?

78 posted on 11/01/2002 11:55:13 AM PST by VRWC_minion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Polycarp
Can't they do carbon dating to find out if it is legit?
79 posted on 11/01/2002 11:56:18 AM PST by rintense
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Polycarp
This writer is stumbling around to find a way to pick at this. You have a man named Jesus who performed numerous miracles and was raised from the dead. Seems reasonable in that time or any time to make reference to Jesus on his brother's ossuary. Especially when James spent his last years preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
80 posted on 11/01/2002 11:57:14 AM PST by plain talk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 421-430 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson