In a recent interview in The Jerusalem Post, Dr. James Charlesworth, the scholar behind the recent Jerusalem conference on the Talpiot Tomb, said
Every single name [on the ossuaries] in the tomb can be found in the New Testament either directly or indirectly related to Jesus’s clan,” he points out.
Which gives rise to one question, where in the New Testament do we have a verse mentioning a “Yehudah bar Yeshua”? I know that there are references concerning relatives of Jesus with the name Judah, but they clearly are not his son, as the Talpiot Tomb inscription would have it. I fail to see why we should ignore this patronym in order to allow for biblical references.
Of note is also the comment by the editor:
[Six of the 10 ossuaries found in the tomb, which was uncovered amid the apartment-building frenzy in East Talpiot 28 years ago, bear inscriptions. Jacobovici's film, made for the Discovery Channel, linked all six to Jesus: "Jesus son of Joseph," "Mary," (his mother) "Jose" (a brother), "Matia" (another relative), "Mariamne" (said to be Mary Magdalene) and (a child) "Judah son of Jesus." The ossuaries are held by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The controversy sparked by the film led, in turn, to last week's scholarly conference.]
Which unfortunately jumps on the bandwagon assuming “Matia” can legitimately be named as a relative of Jesus, to spite no evidence of such a relationship. Though, this assumption has been put forward so frequently by a relatively vocal group, that it is not surprising that some are willing to run with it.
Filed under: Archaeology, Archaeoporn, Religion, Talpiot Tomb | Tagged: James Charlesworth, Jerusalem Conference, Jesus Tomb, Judah son of Jesus, Matia, Talpiot Tomb
Jacobovici as well as others in his ballpark like Charlesworth are wishing and hoping to find something to discredit the claims of Christ. Concerning the Mariamne claim to be Mary Magdelene, there’s no evidence Mary Magdalene was ever called by this name in the New Testament. The only appearance of the name is in a 3rd century Gnostic gospel. So what? We are speaking of a first century tomb containing first century ossuaries. Why is this inscription in Greek? So many scholars feel that upon closer examination of the greek inscription the name Mariamne could refer to two women: Mary and Martha not one female in the ossuary.
Besides all the wonderful articles already written to debunk this unsubstantiated theory, I also wrote a pamphlet entitled, “Burying the Jesus Family Tomb Controversy.” I have been in the ministry 36 years, earned two master degrees in Old Testament and semitics and have been featured in Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ. To obtain my book go to<Atlas books.
I search to be put in communication with Professor Charlesworth for a lecture in France (Sorbonne) in december, can you give me his mail adress?
I am a catholic priest, responsable of review Resurrection.
“Every single name [on the ossuaries] in the tomb can be found in the New Testament either directly or indirectly related to Jesus’s clan,” he points out.”
His point being?
Jesus’ family and followers inevitably bore the names common during the period – as did innumerable people completely unconnected with Him!
In England we have a lottery. The numbers are very common numbers. Get six common numbers together on one ticket, and you can be a millionaire!!!!