Nazareth Inscription
Encyclopedia
The Nazareth Inscription is a 24" x 15" marble
tablet with a 14-line "Edict
of Caesar
" prescribing capital punishment
for body stealing, acquired by Wilhelm Fröhner
(1834–1925), Paris, in 1878, sent from Nazareth
. Since 1925 it has been in the Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, displayed in the Cabinet des Médailles
.
The inscription was published in 1930 by Franz Cumont
, who had been alerted to it by Rostovtseff. Its chief interest lies in the possibility that it may represent the official Roman reaction to a contemporary Jewish interpretation of the resurrection of Christ, namely that the body had been removed from the tomb by followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
J. Spencer Kennard, Jr. interpreted the inscription's reference to "Caesar" as an indication that "the inscription must have been derived from somewhere in Samaria or Decapolis; Galilee was ruled by a client-prince until the reign of Claudius". Scholarly concerns regarding the Nazareth inscription set it in the context of tomb-robbery in Antiquity, analyse its language and style, assess its coherence and authenticity, attempt to date it precisely, and expand upon its significance for the historian of the New Testament
and more broadly, for Christians in general.
Michael Green cites the inscription as a secular source of early origin that bears testimony to Jesus' empty tomb. "It is an imperial edict, belonging either to the reign of Tiberius
(A.D. 14-37) or of Claudius
(A.D. 41-54). And it is an invective, backed with heavy sanctions, against meddling around with tombs and graves! It looks very much as if the news of the empty tomb had got back to Rome
in a garbled form. (Pontius Pilate
would have had to report: and he would obviously have said that the tomb had been rifled). This edict, it seems, is the imperial reaction."
Translation from the Koine Greek
text by Clyde E. Billington:
Clyde Billington of Northwestern College (Minnesota)
has dated it to AD 41, and interpreted it as evidence for the historicity of Christian
s preaching the resurrection
of Jesus within a decade of His crucifixion
.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
tablet with a 14-line "Edict
Edict
An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are currently the only persons who still issue edicts.-Notable edicts:...
of Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
" prescribing capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
for body stealing, acquired by Wilhelm Fröhner
Wilhelm Fröhner
Wilhelm Fröhner or Guillaume Frœhner was a curator at the Musée du Louvre, an archaeological researcher and collector of antiquities in Paris...
(1834–1925), Paris, in 1878, sent from Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
. Since 1925 it has been in the Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, displayed in the Cabinet des Médailles
Cabinet des Médailles
The Cabinet des Médailles, more formally known as Département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, is a department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, France, housed in its former premises in Rue de Richelieu.The Cabinet des Médailles is a museum...
.
The inscription was published in 1930 by Franz Cumont
Franz Cumont
Franz-Valéry-Marie Cumont was a Belgian archaeologist and historian, a philologist and student of epigraphy, who brought these often isolated specialties to bear on the syncretic mystery religions of Late Antiquity, notably Mithraism. Cumont was a graduate of the University of Ghent...
, who had been alerted to it by Rostovtseff. Its chief interest lies in the possibility that it may represent the official Roman reaction to a contemporary Jewish interpretation of the resurrection of Christ, namely that the body had been removed from the tomb by followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
J. Spencer Kennard, Jr. interpreted the inscription's reference to "Caesar" as an indication that "the inscription must have been derived from somewhere in Samaria or Decapolis; Galilee was ruled by a client-prince until the reign of Claudius". Scholarly concerns regarding the Nazareth inscription set it in the context of tomb-robbery in Antiquity, analyse its language and style, assess its coherence and authenticity, attempt to date it precisely, and expand upon its significance for the historian of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and more broadly, for Christians in general.
Michael Green cites the inscription as a secular source of early origin that bears testimony to Jesus' empty tomb. "It is an imperial edict, belonging either to the reign of Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
(A.D. 14-37) or of Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
(A.D. 41-54). And it is an invective, backed with heavy sanctions, against meddling around with tombs and graves! It looks very much as if the news of the empty tomb had got back to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in a garbled form. (Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
would have had to report: and he would obviously have said that the tomb had been rifled). This edict, it seems, is the imperial reaction."
Translation from the Koine Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
text by Clyde E. Billington:
-
- 1. EDICT OF CAESAR
-
- 2. It is my decision [concerning] graves and tombs--whoever has made
-
- 3. them for the religious observances of parents, or children, or household
-
- 4. members--that these remain undisturbed forever. But if anyone legally
-
- 5. charges that another person has destroyed, or has in any manner extracted
-
- 6. those who have been buried, or has moved with wicked intent those who
-
- 7. have been buried to other places, committing a crime against them, or has
-
- 8. moved sepulcher-sealing stones, against such a person, I order that a
-
- 9. judicial tribunal be created, just as [is done] concerning the gods in
-
- 10. human religious observances, even more so will it be obligatory to treat
-
- 11. with honor those who have been entombed. You are absolutely not to
-
- 12. allow anyone to move [those who have been entombed]. But if
-
- 13. [someone does], I wish that [violator] to suffer capital punishment under
-
- 14. the title of tomb-breaker.
Clyde Billington of Northwestern College (Minnesota)
Northwestern College (Minnesota)
Northwestern College is a private Christian college located in Roseville, Minnesota, and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1902 as Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School by Dr...
has dated it to AD 41, and interpreted it as evidence for the historicity of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s preaching the resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
of Jesus within a decade of His crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
.
External links
- "The Nazareth Inscription" by Richard Carrier, 2000
- "The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ?" by Clyde E. Billington, 2005