Has Archaeological Evidence for Jesus Been Discovered? | The Institute for Creation Research

Has Archaeological Evidence for Jesus Been Discovered?

Skeptics have often pointed out that no archaeological evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ has been discovered. And they are correct, at least perhaps up until the present. A recent incredible discovery may put to rest that criticism.

A secondary issue must first be considered. Is it reasonable to expect such artifacts or inscriptions? After all, the man Jesus was not a prominent governmental leader. He was essentially an itinerant preacher, with few possessions, and eventually suffered the death of a common outlaw. Would the Romans have recorded His life or death with an inscription or statue? Certainly not.

Actually, Jewish archaeological evidence of the entire period is rather sparse. There are the remains of large and extensive Roman cities, and adequate inscriptions of leaders, including Herod, Pilate and Festus. There are also influential Jews such as Caiaphas, but almost nothing can be found recording the lives of ordinary individuals. And remember that in A.D. 70 Jerusalem was totally destroyed by Titus. What may still exist is buried under the thriving modern city. Certainly the odds are against an artifact's survival.

The scarcity of archaeological artifacts can be contrasted, however, with the wealth of historical evidence for Christ. Soon the apostles had written letters detailing Christ's life and teachings, to be followed by the writings of Paul all widely copied and circulated, within the lifetime of eyewitnesses. The Roman historian Josephus mentioned Christ several times while relating noteworthy civic events, including the execution of one named "James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ/Messiah" referring evidently to Jesus' brother James, leader of the early church and author of the New Testament book bearing his name.

The new artifact is an ossuary, a medium-sized box in which human bones were placed for permanent burial after the flesh had all decayed away. This practice was employed for only a brief period of time from about B.C. 20 to A.D. 70. The box is made of a soft, chalky, limestone, common to the area. The contents have long since vanished.

Most remarkably, an inscription has been etched into the side which reads, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" in the Aramaic script of the time. Careful studies, including scrutiny under a scanning electron microscope show the inscription to be genuine. The patina, or oxidized surface equally covers both box and the interior of the etched letters. The recognized expert on such matters, Dr. Andre Lemaire, concludes: "I am pleased to report that in my judgment it is genuinely ancient and not a fake."

All three names used were common in that era, but seldom was the deceased's brother mentioned, unless that brother was noteworthy. To have all three listed, in correct Biblical relationship certainly supports the possibility of this being the ossuary of the Biblical James.

With or without the ossuary or other archeological evidence, we can still be confident that the events are true. The Christian faith is a reasonable faith, well grounded in the facts of history, and the Bible is an entirely accurate document. On its teachings we can base our lives and eternal destiny.

Cite this article: John D. Morris, Ph.D. 2002. Has Archaeological Evidence for Jesus Been Discovered?. Acts & Facts. 31 (12).

The Latest
NEWS
More Woolly Mammoth DNA
Woolly mammoths of the Ice Age1 were once found in huge numbers in Siberia, northern Europe, and North America. Organic remains from...

CREATION PODCAST
Giants, Genetics, and Pre-Flood Longevity | The Creation Podcast:...
Scripture describes humans living for a very long time, nearly a millennium before the Flood. Many scoff at this, stating this is reason to...

NEWS
Reflecting on Five Years of the ICR Discovery Center
Since its grand opening on September 2, 2019, the ICR Discovery Center has encouraged thousands of visitors from all over the world with science that...

NEWS
The Magnificence of a Colorful Autumn: Beauty and Complexity...
Scientists have long endeavored to comprehend the transformations that take place in trees and plants throughout the autumn season. While lacking complete...

NEWS
September 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Geysers
by Renée Dusseau and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Sharing Our Creator's Truth
My name is Bill, and I’m the information technology manager at the Institute for Creation Research. I keep everything technical running and make...

ACTS & FACTS
Engineered Parallel Gene Codes Defy Evolution
Researchers over the past decade have been characterizing new, previously hidden genetic codes embedded within the same sections of genes that code...

ACTS & FACTS
La Brea Tar Pits at Hancock Park: Post-Flood Catastrophes
The La Brea Tar Pits have fascinated visitors ever since Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá chronicled the site in 1769.1 But even...

ACTS & FACTS
Proclaiming Christ in Paradise: An Interview with Dr. Brian Thomas
For more than 50 years, the Institute for Creation Research has investigated the evidence showing how science supports the Bible’s account of...