[Aliska]

I thought this was hopeful but didn't know relics were honored that early. I don't have anything to add to the discussion but thought it worth posting, was hoping somebody would, think not.

[Aliska]

ping also the Catholic list. I can’t think offhand Protestant FReepers but think they’d be interested, too.

[GreyFriar]

The British “Daily Mail” had this story 3-4 days ago. I consider it interesting speculation only.

[Boogieman]

There’s no reason to assume that this means relics were honored that early. The Crusaders dug up plenty of stuff centuries later and shipped it back to Europe.

[madison10]

If the head is still intact we know that the bones discovered are NOT those of John the Baptist. How can they tell from just a knuckle bone?

[skeeter]

Sweaty Ivan is Bulgarian for John the Baptist?

[donmeaker]

I have nothing to add to the subject of relics that wasn’t said better by Geoffry Chaucer in his “Pardoner’s Tale”.

“He had a cross of latten set with stones,
And in a glass a handful of pig`s bones.
But with these relics when he had in hand
Some humble parson dwelling in the land,
In one day he could get more revenue
Than would the parson in a month or two.”

[jagusafr]

I’m sorry - why is this important to any Christian? Does it make any more or less true Christ’s death and resurrection?

[editor-surveyor]

Seriously, how can they build such an elaborate theory on a knuckle bone?

Its almost as bad as the evolutionistas inventing an “ape man” from a pig’s tooth.

[A.A. Cunningham]

"And Moses took Joseph's bones with him: because he had adjured the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones from hence with you." Exodus 13:19

"And when he was come home he took a sword, and divided the dead body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts, and sent the pieces into all the borders of Israel. And when every one had seen this, they all cried out: There was never such a thing done in Israel from the day that our fathers came up out of Egypt, until this day: give sentence, and decree in common what ought to be done." Judges 19:29-30

"And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet." 4 Kings 13:21

[JimSEA]

As I understand, they got and processed DNA from the bones and determined the age of the bones. The result was that the bones were those of a Mideastern man who died in the first century. The next step is to try and test other bones supposedly belonging to John the Baptist (of which there are many). Should he get a match he can claim the bones are likely those of John. There is no known means of positive proof at this day and age.

[johngrace]

Thanks for posting if this helps people to pick up their bibles it can be a good thing. I have what I call signal graces or sign posts myself at times. Which all of us with faith know about.

This could be a signal grace for secular types to read the bible.

It is interesting that John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah has his bones being talk about in the secular media.

Also Elijah is the precursor of the coming of the Lord.

Rumored since the early fathers to even today to be one of the two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Hmmmmmm.

Why If I was a Man of Faith. I might wonder/sarc. LOL!

[Ditter]

We saw what was claimed to be Mary Magdelene’s toe in a church in central France. Fabulous church but I couldn't even swear it was a toe. How do they think this is John the Baptist knuckle and not someone else?

[WashingtonSource]

This headline is misleading. It should say, ‘Unearthed Bones Possibly Those of John the Baptist.”