A) INTRODUCTION.

B) THE CONTENTS OF THE INSCRIPTION.

C) THE RULING EMPEROR.

D) JESUS, THE CHRIST.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

This stone is, other than historians documenting the resurrection of Christ, is the most used archeological article used for the “proof” of the resurrection of Christ.  It is a white marble tablet measuring approximately 24 inches by 15 inches, with Greek writing upon it.

 

It is called “The Nazareth Inscription” because it was discovered in the town of Nazareth where Christ was raised after returning from Egypt, discovered sometime in the 1800’s (no specific date is known; but what is known is that it ended up in 1925 in a personal collection).

 

In 1925, the Froehner Collection was acquired by the “Paris National Library.”  Froehner’s inventory of this Inscription simply states:  “This marble was sent from Nazareth in 1878.”  “Cumont,” pages 241-242; “Zelueta,” pages 1-2.  This is all that is known about the time and place of its discovery.  It is still in Paris, France, today.

 

 

B) THE CONTENTS OF THE INSCRIPTION

 

 

It is a stone slab, with a Greek inscription on it, that is often referred to as a “rescript.”  It was an “Official Letter” of the Emperor that was sent to a province, to an official in the Roman empire.  Basically, it was an announcement of a “New Proclamation or Law.”  Somewhat like an “edict.”  It would be placed in a prominent location where everyone would see it; market places, roadways, etcetera.

 

The content of it is so important, because within its inscription is inscribed a new law (punishment) which proscribed (loosely quoting here) “The Death Penalty for anyone who goes to a stone field sepulcher field and steels the body, with the intent of deception.”

 

What is notable about this inscription, is that people would go to graves in order to steal property of the deceased individual, that they could sell or use.  But they wouldn’t go digging up bodies in order to steel them.  Plus, to specifically mention “stone field sepulcher’s,” such as the place where Christ was buried, and give the “Death Penalty” for doing so, is very extreme for such a crime.  The specificity of the type of stone mentioned is beyond doubt of association to the resurrection of Christ.  Why?  That is not the way most people were buried in the Roman empire.  Jews were buried like Christ, but Romans were mostly cremated and then their ashes were put in an ern.

 

 

C) THE RULING EMPEROR

 

 

The Emperor Claudius came into power in 41 A.D.  By my calculations, Christ’s resurrection was in 31 A.D.  And at the stoning of Stephen, in 34 A.D, Christianity began to spread out from Jerusalem due to the persecution of them.  So we have seven (7) years before this edict comes out.  Why so long if this was really in reference to the resurrection of Christ?  Remember, the internet was very slow back then.

 

Christians were starting to become prominent in Rome and it would take time for the message of a risen Christ to permeate the Roman citizenry.  Thus, to combat this new religion, the “Nazarite Inscription” was sent to all regions of the Roman empire.  As we know, Christians were even expelled from Rome because of them being a nuisance to the authorities.  The Emperor Claudius is basically attempting to put a stop to the “rumors” of a resurrection, and also to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

 

This is exactly adjacent to the account in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 28, where the Romans must have thought or believed the story of the body of Christ being stolen by His disciples.  This is what is reflected on “The Nazareth Inscription.”

 

 

D) JESUS, THE CHRIST

 

 

People these days often say, or have been told, that there is “No Evidence For The Existence Of Christ Outside Of The Bible.”  This is ABSOLUTELY not true.  There are several historians and philosophers from the first and second centuries that mention Jesus and parts of His life.  See my Bible Study:  “CHRIST, IN SECULAR HISTORY.”

 

In relation to the writings and accounts of other people living at the time of Christ, such as rulers, governors, kings, generals, etcetera, being a normal personage, granted, a miracle worker, there is overwhelming evidence of writings about Christ over any other historical personage of His time.  Statues and monuments and inscriptions of the Caesars were prominent of the time.  But more is written about Christ then them all.

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