The Jesus Family Tomb

QUESTION: What is The Jesus Family Tomb?

ANSWER:

In February, 2007 Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino released their book, a postulation regarding nine to ten ossuaries (bone-boxes), presumed to be the remains of Jesus Christ, His mother Mary, His “wife” Mary Magdalene, His “son” Judah, His brother Joseph, and one other person named Matthew (a disciple or other family member). The book describes a “Jesus Equation” that defines the 600 to 1 odds that these bones are those of Jesus of Nazareth.

The entire Bible centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament gives hundreds of predictions (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 9:6-7, 25:7-8) and the New Testament presents the fulfilling of those predictions and continuation of His life and ministry.

No verse of the Bible states that Jesus Christ ever married or produced any child. Instead, Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38 provide detailed records of Jesus’ lineage. If a marriage or off-spring existed, it would make no sense to disregard Jesus’ generational records following His death. Yet, all four Gospels of the Bible provide detailed accounts of Jesus’ divine nature, incarnation, and resurrection.

Historically and culturally speaking, there is further reasoning to reject the ideas of the Jesus Family Tomb project. The names “Jesus, Maria, Matthew, Judas, and Joseph” were all very common names in 1st century Israel. Some cultural historians estimate that as many as 25% of 1st century Jewish women were named Mary (Miriam). It would not be uncommon for a 1st century Jewish family to have the names Jesus (Yeshua), Mary (Miriam), Joseph, and Judas (Judah) -- as all were very popular Jewish names (due to their background in the Hebrew Scriptures).

The archaeological community is nearly unanimous in condemning the Jesus Family Tomb as a hoax, with no basis in history or archaeology.