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The
Jesus Family Tomb Examined: Did He Rise Physically? Foreword I have
been involved in the Talpiot tomb controversy since very early on. The
Discovery Channel asked me to preview the Special on the tomb and to give them
my feedback before it went public. I did. I was very frank about the problems I
saw. They graciously worked to put together the Ted Koppel Special that aired
after the other special to allow the discussion on the Special’s claims to
begin. Few channels would have been open to such a critique of something they
helped air. That Special signaled that there were real and important issues
related to the history of Christianity that needed attention. It began the
discussion and reaction to the claims that followed. However,
the controversy has not entirely died. This January Princeton Theological
Seminary sponsored a symposium in Jerusalem on the issue of first-century
burials in Judaism. The Talpiot tomb was a part of that discussion. Reports
from magazines like TIME claimed that scholars were taking a fresh look at the
Talpiot claims, reassessing the largely negative reception that initial claims
received. Since then the scholars present at the Symposium, including its
chairperson James Charlesworth, have challenged this take on the meeting. (For
the discussion generated by the Symposium, see the blog, www.primetimejesus.com
and search the many entries with the keyword, Jesus Tomb). The question is,
What evidence is there for and against these claims? This
work by René A. López covers the issues these claims raise from every angle:
archaeological, historical, and theological. René has gone through the many
discussions these claims have generated, giving them a close look. He is well
equipped to guide one through the myriad of questions these claims have raised.
This is the book to get on the claims about the Jesus Tomb. In it, you will be
able to assess what the discussion is about at all of these levels. I commend
the book with enthusiasm. I think you will “discover” a great deal in the
process. “The book to get on this controversy” Darrell L. Bock Research Professor of New Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary
Editor Have Jesus' bones actually
been found? If so, then the biblical teaching that Jesus rose bodily from the
grave is false. This in turn means that the Bible is unreliable because it
states repeatedly that He rose from the dead. What's more, it means Jesus is a
liar because He said He would rise from the dead after three days. Did He rise "spiritually"
rather than bodily? This notion too runs counter to the testimony of Scripture. Lopez
discusses these issues thoroughly and argues in detail for the authenticity of
the biblical record that affirms Jesus' physical resurrection. Lopez carefully
and painstakingly debunks the foolish idea that some bones found outside
Jerusalem are those of Jesus and His alleged family. This scholarly, thoroughly
researched work, written in an easy-to-read style, stands as a strong defense
of the physical resurrection of Jesus, a cornerstone truth of Christianity. Roy B. Zuck, Th.D. Editor of Dallas Seminary’s
theological journal Bibliotheca Sacra and Senior Professor
Emeritus of Bible Exposition Dallas Theological Seminary
The sensational reporting of the alleged “Jesus tomb” at Talpiot in
Israel has, in this work by René López, run up against the stubborn facts
of careful research that seriously undermine both the premises and conclusions
of the superficial journalism that has till now dominated the discussion. Point
by point, Lopez makes the case for the traditional view of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ by citing the best of both ancient and modern
scholarship. For believers and unbelievers alike, The Jesus Family Tomb
Examined sets the issue in stark and clear terms that lead no doubt as to
the historical legitimacy of the time-honored tradition. Eugene H.
Merrill, PhD Distinguished
Professor of Old Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary
Jesus
gets Prime Time attention today, but unfortunately the Jesus presented is a no
frills Jesus who demands neither adoration nor allegiance. Here is a book that
sets the record straight by pointing out that the best scholarship leads us
back to a Jesus who claimed to be God and had the evidence to prove it. In
these pages we are shown why we can have confidence in the New Testament
documents where we find a Jesus who can save us; a Jesus who is worthy of our
worship and trust. Erwin
W. Lutzer, LL.D. Moody
Church, Chicago Ill.
Sometimes the
information which comes out of crypts can be, for lack of a better
word,--'cryptic'. But the supposed revelations that have come out of the
Talpiot tomb in the past year and a bit have been trumpeted as proof positive
that Jesus' bones have bee moldering in the grave for low these 2,000 years.
With meticulous detective and scholarly work Rene Lopez demonstrates in
detail that the answer to the question Who is buried in the
Talpiot tomb? is-- NOT Jesus and his family. He shows at length that
the location and the character of the tomb and also the evidence from inside
the tomb itself positively rules out such a conclusion. This detailed
scholarly book should put the final nail in the coffin of 'the Talpiot tomb
theory'. This 'cold case' has been solved, and it doesn't involve Jesus or his
family. Highly recommended. Ben
Witherington, III, Ph.D. Amos
Professor of NT Asbury
Theological Seminary Doctoral
faculty St. Andrews
University, Scotland
With the recent frontal attack upon the credibility of
Christianity from both atheists and religionists, it is essential that the
church have skilled and scholarly apologists who are able to make a defense for
the hope that is in us. This book is a carefully crafted defense of the
integrity of the Christian scriptures and the resurrection of Christ our
Savior. For those who are troubled by the recent rash of books and television
documentaries that have the “appearance of knowledge” as they deny the truth
and trustworthiness of the biblical record, let not your heart be troubled.
Read and be comforted & convinced. Fred Chay, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology & Director of Doctoral Studies Phoenix Seminary
This
intriguing book investigates a range of sources (such as ancient languages,
Gnostic texts and ossuary inscriptions) to soundly critique the artificial and
tendentious approach of Cameron’s Jesus Tomb. Those who enjoy reading
mysteries will enjoy this book’s exposure of the real conspiracy involved in Cameron’s “documentary.” Craig
S. Keener, Ph.D., Author of countless books, Theological articles and Professor
of New Testament Palmer Seminary
Last year the obnoxious attack came via the
movie The Da Vinci Code which 2003
book brought out dozens of books in previous
years, both pro and con. But when the dust had settled and many millions of
dollars wasted, it proved to be “much ado about nothing.” Now, this year it is
The Jesus Family Tomb and the denial of the physical resurrection of Jesus
Christ—the very heart of the “good news” that is on the block. At this juncture we
can be very thankful for seasoned scholars, such as Rene Lopez, who has
carefully, thoroughly, and systematically answered the attack in the Spirit of
Christ. I heartily commend his work to you. It will require some diligence but,
I assure you, you will be better and stronger for it. Earl D. Radmacher,
Th.D. President Emeritus Western Seminary
In The Jesus Family
Tomb Examined, René López presents the most detailed treatment yet of the
Talpiot Tomb discovery. For those who want to study the unabridged edition of
the archaeological find itself, the subsequent sensational announcement that
this was probably the burial tomb of Jesus’ family, and the backlash of recent
scholars, including their plethora of reasons for firmly rejecting this
conclusion, I would strongly recommend López’s fine volume. Gary R.
Habermas Distinguished
Research Professor Liberty
University
Much discussion
surrounding the person of Jesus in the media is fictional rather than factual.
The Hollywood docudrama, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus,” which aired last year around
Easter kept the trend going. Many were flabbergasted by hearing that the
alleged Jesus family tomb was discovered. Therefore, Jesus did not rise
physically, because they now possessed the bone box and even some DNA residue
where Jesus once rested. René López's work skillfully dismantles, point by
point, the arguments made by these advocates and shows cogently how Jesus' tomb
continues to remain empty, because He rose physically. I wholeheartedly
recommend this work. Josh D. McDowell International Author
and Speaker
Too often around Easter
evangelical Christians are confronted with presentations of Jesus’ bodily
resurrection that call into question the historical evidence on which one’s
Easter faith rests. René López has taken on one such challenge in response to
the so-called The Jesus Family Tomb.
His reasoned examination of this tomb along with his defense of Jesus bodily
resurrection is a formidable apologetic in support of this indispensable
foundation of Christianity. James F. Davis, Ph.D. Associate Professor of New
Testament Capital Bible Seminary
Someone
once said that there is no such thing as bad publicity. With all the fanfare
for a major motion picture destined to be a “winner,” the “facts” concerning
this family tomb do not stand up to close scrutiny. In his usual diligent and
clear style, López unearths and sheds light on what some have called “the
incredible archaeological discovery in Israel that will change history as it
shocks the world.” He has delivered the goods to dismantle the hype while at
the same time affirming the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a must read for anyone interested in
the facts surrounding the Family Tomb of Jesus and the bodily resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead. Stephen
R. Lewis, Ph.D. President Rocky
Mountain Bible College
& Seminary
René López gives the Jesus
family tomb theory the thorough debunking it so richly deserves. He points out
countless errors and lapses in logic on the part Simcha Jacobovici and his
associates, who have foisted on a naive public and gullible media a highly
implausible scenario. Critical scholars and laity alike are appalled by this
travesty. The Jesus Family Tomb Examined
will go a long way toward setting the record straight. Craig A. Evans, Ph.D. Payzant Distinguished
Professor of New Testament at Acadia
Divinity College and author of Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels
López
painstakingly unearths the facts of the investigation in both The Jesus Family Tomb book and The Lost
Tomb of Jesus documentary. He carefully contrasts conversations with
scholars and what was actually reported to demonstrate hidden agendas and
obvious assumptions in both the book and the documentary. Clearly and
forcefully written, and with ample documentation, The Jesus Family Tomb Examined provides much needed answers to the
escalating attacks on the Christ of the Gospels. Roger
Felipe, D.Min. Director
of the Master of Arts and Religion and
Florida Programs Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School
In
2007, Jacobovichi and Pellegrino claimed that Jesus’ family tomb had been
found. One may have thought that the matter would have gone away after a
nearly unanimous scholarly community agreed that the two were seriously
mistaken. However, their proposal found new life when it became the
subject of discussion at the Princeton
Symposium on Judaism and Christian Origins. In this volume, René
López provides an encyclopedic refutation of the Jesus Family Tomb hypothesis
and gives it the dishonorable burial it deserves! Michael
Licona Author, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus and Paul Meets Muhammad Director of
Apologetics Evangelism, North
American Mission Board, Southern
Baptist Convention
This book is
by far the most accurate and detailed response to the Talpiot Tomb I have read
to date. A must read for anyone interested in the facts behind the hype! Dillon
Burroughs, Author, What’s the Big Deal about Jesus? and Staff
Writter of Ankerberg Theological Research Institute
Mark L. Bailey, Ph.D. President Dallas Theological Seminary
René
A. López has written a timely and thorough refutation of recent sensational
theories that allege that the family tomb of Jesus has been found, with
inscribed ossuaries which prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, had a
son named Judas, and was not resurrected. His book also clearly and
convincingly sets forth reasons for the historic Christian belief in Christ’s
resurrection. Edwin M. Yamauchi, Ph.D. Professor of History
Emeritus, Miami University |
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