Is the Talpiot Tomb the Family Tomb of Jesus of Nazareth?
- In 1980 during construction of an apartment building in the East Tapiot neighborhood of Jerusalem the
construction crew uncovered a tomb from around the time of Jesus. It contained bone boxes upon which were
inscribed names thought by some to include the name "Jesus son of Joseph" as well as other names associated
with the family of Jesus. A storm of controversy followed as the world asked: Is the Talpiot tomb the family tomb
of Jesus of Nazareth?
- Welcome. This site is being brought to you by JTERP (Jesus Tomb Education and Research Project). The
mission of JTERP is to help answer this question: Is the Talpiot tomb the family tomb of Jesus?
This mission will be pursued in two ways. First, using this site, JTERP will present materials for the purpose of
educating the general public as to what is known and being debated regarding this question. Second, JTERP
will provide support to research and analysis efforts that attempt to expand the knowledge base related to this
question. As these efforts yield new information it will be reviewed on this site.
The site is dedicated to using a balanced approach to probing the proposition that the “Talpiot Tomb” is the
family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. Please note that the proposition will be approached from two related points-of-
view; 1) is the Talpiot tomb the actual tomb of Jesus of Nazareth or 2) even if it is not, could it still be the burial
site of important members of his family.
This site is designed for non-specialists who desire to achieve a better understanding of this proposition by
studying the results of work from experts in disciplines such as Archeology, History and Epigraphy. The project
will not take any direct positions of matters of religious faith or theology. Likewise, the project will not appeal to
religious or theological explanations for historical events or phenomena. This is not to say that visitors who hold
religious beliefs that relate to this subject are unwelcome. Hopefully a wide diversity of people will enter into the
dialogue regarding this proposition.
Is the Talpiot Tomb the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth? Some visitors will be aware that this question has
been the subject of a heated and polarizing debate. Rather than adopt one of the polar views on the
proposition, it is the editorial position of the project that the answer to this question is knowable, but not yet
known. This tomb may or may not be the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.
Rather than generate a substantial quantity of new material relating to the proposition, this site will attempt to
guide the visitor through an organized body of resource material from recognized experts on the subject.
Visitors will find an annotated bibliography for this material in the Bibliography section. (click here)
The scope of this site will not reach every possible relevant and useful work. Rather it will be the objective of the
site to organize a cross-section of material of sufficient scope for the visitor to understand the general
background and the major lines of argument both for and against the proposition. Therefore, visitors will be
directed toward material that is generally readily available and readable by the public.
Ideally, there will be readers who will desire to pursue this matter more deeply. Some visitors may also want to
enter into a dialogue on this subject. Facebook members are encouraged to join the Facebook group – “Talpiot
Tomb” that has been set up for that purpose (click here).
If you are new to this subject the editor has prepared a brief Background Guide to help get you started (click
here).
Additional information will be organized for your review along seven “Lines of Argument”(click here). Each of
these lines of argument has the property that if this particular argument were to be satisfactorily resolved it could
lead directly to a conclusion regarding the proposition. For example, the line or argument – “Are some of the
names wrong?” – reviews the debate as to whether the name “Jesus son of Joseph” actually appears on a bone
box found in the tomb. Some argue that this is a correct reading, while others argue that is has been misread
and that we must conclude that there is no Jesus in the tomb.
- Go to the MyOdds page (click here) if are interested in converting your opinions regarding the Lines of
Argument into a personal overall odds estimate regarding whether or not the Talpiot tomb is the family tomb of
Jesus. Hopefully, even the mathematically disinclined will find this a useful exercise.
Visitors are encouraged to respond to the project survey (click here). This survey will help develop a profile of
what people know and believe about the Talpiot Tomb. It will also help make improvements to the site. Results
will be published on this site, once an adequate number of responses have been achieved.
© Copyright 2009 JTERP All rights reserved
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| | | | | | | | |