Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity [Paperback]

Craig A. Evans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

The recent discovery and exhibition of an ancient Jewish ossuary (a burial box) that bears the inscription "James the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" has stunned scholars and the public alike. While the story of the ossuary's authenticity unfolds, what is not shrouded in mystery is that this ossuary is only one of several that shed important archeological light on the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity. In Jesus and the Ossuaries Craig A. Evans helps all readers, expert and layperson alike, understand the importance this recent find might have for the quest for the historical Jesus and any historical reconstruction of early Christianity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If my disciples were silent," said Jesus in Luke 19:40, "the very stones would cry out." In this excellent book, they do exactly that. Evans gives us in one place the major ancient inscrpitions touching on Jesus. Evans' clear and thorough presentation emphasizes the need to read stone as well as papyrus, to do archaeology as well as exegesis, and to understand that incarnation involves both flesh as well as spirit. --John Dominic Crossan, DePaul University (Emeritus)

Rich with information! A "must" read for anyone fascinated with archaeological discoveries from antiquity and how they help us to reconstruct the past. --April D. DeConick, Illinois Wesleyan University

An important contribution to the study of the material culture of biblical times... The volume is informative, well written, well organized, and easy to read... Highly recommended. --CHOICE

This book places a controversial artifact firmly in its context. Better than that, it helps the reader of the New Testament understand what is going on in Jewish practices of burial, burial customs, what ossuaries are for, and other practices that illuminate the New Testament. The book stands on its own without the "James son of Joseph and Brother of Jesus" ossuary, though the book helps us understand why there would be so much debate over such an artifact. --James Strange, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Florida

Rich with information! A "must" read for anyone fascinated with archaeological discoveries from antiquity and how they help us to reconstruct the past. --April D. DeConick, Illinois Wesleyan University

This book places a controversial artifact firmly in its context. Better than that, it helps the reader of the New Testament understand what is going on in Jewish practices of burial, burial customs, what ossuaries are for, and other practices that illuminate the New Testament. The book stands on its own without the "James son of Joseph and Brother of Jesus" ossuary, though the book helps us understand why there would be so much debate over such an artifact. --James Strange, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Florida

About the Author

Craig A. Evans is the Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the author or editor of more than 30 books on the New testament and its Jewish backgrounds. His recent publications include Who was Jesus? (2001) and The Missing Jesus: Rabbinic Judaism and the New Testament (2003).

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Baylor University Press (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918954886
• ISBN-13: 978-0918954886
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,175,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ossuaries and more, April 11, 2004

By 

R. Michael Friends (Round Rock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity (Paperback)

Craig Evans has written another excellent book, Jesus and the Ossuaries. The unfortunate title, probably intended to pick-up on the popular and controversial Jame's Ossuary discovery, does not convey the breadth of the inscriptions covered in this book. Ossuaries, tomb and other stone inscriptions bearing text relevant to New Testament and early Christian traditions are well covered in this book. Pertinent Jewish burial practices are also clearly presented. While this book is an excellent resource, loaded with exceptional footnotes, it is also very readable. It is well written, compelling, yet scholarly. If only more authors would write like this! The inscriptions are organized logically, with brief explanations of their significance, the story of their discovery, their controversies, and ample footnotes for further study. The Jame's Ossuary is fairly covered near the end of the book, without any special prominence over the other material.
The popular media tends to portray archeology in terms of a glamorous quest for ancient gold and riches, but in reality, it is the textual discoveries that archeologists find priceless. Craig Evans book amply demonstrates why this is true.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defense for Biblical Archaeology Excellent and Relevant, February 19, 2004

By 

Andrew Belli (Atlantic Baptist University, Moncton, NB) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity (Paperback)

With the attention of the world and media now on the controversial disputes over Jesus and history (with "The Passion of the Christ" film and the "James Ossuary"), Dr. Craig Evans brings to light an extensive survey of the influence of stone inscriptions on Biblical exegesis. He succeeds in educating the curious public on Holy Land artifacts that have shaped our understanding of Judaism, the early Church, and the Roman Empire. Not just highlighting the recent James ossuary, he discusses many other "bone boxes" that have shed light on Jewish burial practices and their theology of death. Such information magnifies and clarifies the way we look at the significance of the grave in the ancient world, the raising of Lazarus, and even the Resurrection of Christ. He offers a fair study of the "James, Son of Joseph, Brother of Jesus" ossuary discovered in 2002.
Dr. Evans' expertise in New Testament shows in his exaustive scholarly research (complete with full references), yet he does not sacrifice the popular audience (with exciting, and some humorous, stories). This smooth-flowing look into the exciting world of archaeology- its ancient crypts and stone sarcophagi- strengthens the understanding for any Bible scholar, Christian, Jew, or history buff. "Jesus and the Ossuaries" is a soon classic and a must-read.