Description: What really happened to the body of Jesus after his crucifixion? Was Jesus eventually reburied in a family tomb, along with his wife and child? How were crucified criminals treated under Roman and Jewish laws? What did the earliest Christians mean when they proclaimed that Jesus was resurrected? Was Mary Magdalene's role as wife of Jesus and apostolic leader of the Christian movement deliberately suppressed by the male leadership? The discovery of bone boxes (ossuaries) inside two burial chambers in South Jerusalem has led to proposals that radically challenge the traditional understanding of Jesus and the early Christian movement. This book examines the Jesus Family Tomb hypothesis and presents a comprehensive, in depth assessment.
Brief description: Dr John Pryor is a graduate of Sydney, London and Cambridge Universities. Formerly Dean of the Australian College of Theology, and now Honorary Research Associate in Ancient History at Macquarie University, Sydney, he has had a long career lecturing in the areas of historical Jesus studies and the gospels. He is the author of several books, including The Enigmatic Jew -in quest of the historical Jesus and Jesus Resurrected? Sifting the Historical Evidence. He regularly leads study tours to Israel.
Review Quotes: ""John Pryor combines sharp archaeological analysis, insightful New Testament interpretation, and theological acumen in this timely contribution to the ongoing debate about the discovery thirty years ago of first century Jewish tombs near Jerusalem and their significance. This is a must read for any scholar of the gospels and early Christianity, and for anyone interested in the always fascinating intersection of archaeology and Jesus research."" --Mark Harding, Dean, Australian College of Theology