Jesus Tomb

At times on PrimeTimeJesus, a post from a colleague will deserve and generate a response from a team member. Such is the case with Robert Webb's note of James Charlesworth's report on the Symposium held in Jerusalem that included consideration of the Talpiyot tomb.

The faculty of the University of Holy Land Studies have recently posted two blogs commenting on the handwriting style of the ossuary inscription here and here. Note also the humorous cartoon in the most recent one. It is good sometimes to find a little humour in these debates!

The Jerusalem Post has an interview with James Charlesworth, the chair of the Jerusalem Symposium that discussed the Jesus Tomb. He calls for more study. Since he is on sabbatical in Israel until April and will try to see of the tomb can be reopned for study. The inter view three pages long in the Jerusalem Post and I have made a link in News We're Watching. He says gainging the right questions are important.

April DeConick of Rice University also reports on the Jerusalem Conference and her reaction to the Duke Conference.

Here is her report from January 22:

Some have asked my opinion of the Duke letter that is now circulating with signatures from several scholars who attended the Talpiot conference. Mark Goodacre has posted it on his blog. (DLB note: it is now on the Duke site which is where our link has it)

I think we can close the book on Jesus Tomb, Phase 2. The Christian Post has published a discussion of the Jerusalem Conference as well as noting the Duke Statement. The article can be seen in full on our "News We're Watching Site". It is the second entry from the Christian Post there (Dated Jan 23.08). It is called simply "Jesus Tomb Case Closed for Most Scholars".

The inscription of the name Jesus from Talpiot is said to be "grafitti-like". Well, here it is. You make the call.

Jesus Talpiot Inscription

The revival of the Jesus Tomb means the question of what kind of Resurrection is relevant. The short answer is a resurrection into a spiritual but material body, what the church has called a bodily or physical resurrection, but not simply a reproduction of mortal flesh. I have reproduced the key parts

Several others are now making statemnts about the Jerusalem Meeting. I will not post them all, but just give the links.

Ben Witherington has also just made a post. I will post much of it.

Here is Witherington's take: