October 22, 2002


Ancient Stone Casket May Be Oldest Link to Jesus
An ancient limestone box once used to hold bones in Jerusalem could contain the earliest known reference to Jesus outside of the Bible, according to newly published research.

An article in the November/December issue of the journal Biblical Archaeology Review said the ossuary, a box once used to hold bones for burial and dated to about the year 63 A.D., is etched with an inscription in Aramaic reading "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."

It also said it was unusual for an ossuary to have the name of a brother, an indication that Jesus was a well-known figure. The article said the Geological Survey of Israel performed laboratory tests that confirmed that it was made of limestone from the Jerusalem area.




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