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

183 Pages·2003·0.95 MB·English

by  Craig A. Evans

Jesus and the Ossuaries

Jesus
and the
Ossuaries
Craig A. Evans
A Markham Press Fund Publication
Baylor University Press
Waco, Texas USA
This volume is the forty-fourth published by the Markham Press Fund of
Baylor University Press, established in memory of Dr. L. N. and Princess
Finch Markham of Longview, Texas, by their daughters, Mrs. R. Matt
Dawson of Waco, Texas, and Mrs. B. Reid Clanton of Longview, Texas.
All Biblical translations come from the Revised Standard Version unless
otherwise stated.
Cover Design: Joan Osth
Copyright © 2003 by Baylor University Press
Waco, Texas, 76798
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Evans, Craig A.
Jesus and the ossuaries / Craig A. Evans.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-918954-88-6
1. Ossuaries—Palestine. 2. Funeral rites and ceremonies,
Jewish—Palestine. 3. Excavations (Archaeology)—Palestine. 4.
Palestine—Antiquities. 5. Inscriptions—Palestine. 6. Bible. N.T.
Gospels—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 7. Jews—History—168 B.C.-135
A.D. I. Title.
DS111.9.E93 2003
933’.05—dc22
2003016223
Printed in the United States of America on acid free paper
For Carrie and Garth,
on the happy occasion of their marriage

Contents
Preface ix
Introduction 1
1 Jewish Burial Practices in Late Antiquity 17
2 Inscriptions—Non-Burial 31
3 Burial Inscriptions—Themes 53
4 Burial Inscriptions—Names 67
5 Significant Ossuaries for Research in the Historical Jesus 91
6 Conclusion 123
Abbreviations 125
Bibliography 131
Index of Biblical Literature 159
Index of Modern Writers 165
vii