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NYT: Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection
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Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection

By ETHAN BRONNER
Published: July 6, 2008

JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.

The tablet, probably found near the Dead Sea in Jordan according to some scholars who have studied it, is a rare example of a stone with ink writings from that era — in essence, a Dead Sea Scroll on stone.

It is written, not engraved, across two neat columns, similar to columns in a Torah. But the stone is broken, and some of the text is faded, meaning that much of what it says is open to debate.

Still, its authenticity has so far faced no challenge, so its role in helping to understand the roots of Christianity in the devastating political crisis faced by the Jews of the time seems likely to increase.

Daniel Boyarin, a professor of Talmudic culture at the University of California at Berkeley, said that the stone was part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that Jesus could be best understood through a close reading of the Jewish history of his day.

“Some Christians will find it shocking — a challenge to the uniqueness of their theology — while others will be comforted by the idea of it being a traditional part of Judaism,” Mr. Boyarin said.
__________________

I was raised Christian but haven't dedicated it because of personal reasons, including the conviction I also feel about several other religions. I vested a lot of time in getting to know Judaism and Islam better. And I can't understand why practicing Christians don't take a deeper look at and understanding of Judaism. It's historic and the basis of two other foundational religions. I think that [Western] Christianity removes the beauty of the Bible when it doesn't include the Judaic outlook (for the First Testament). I think that if followers want to better understand Christian history, they should deeply immerse in Judaic philosophy.

(Rest of article found at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)

July 5, 2008 | 9:35 PM Comments  2 comments

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ioanap Ioana
July 6, 2008 | 7:25 AM
it may be true
If it indeed was "part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time", then why did everyone consider it such an important event? Or did it gain in importance only centuries after it had happened?

That's the impression I had - that it was seen as something unusual for everyone at the time, for the Jews as well.
yockyock Paul Yox
July 6, 2008 | 8:04 AM
Debate? Oh, sure.
When scholars "debate" what this tablet says, I have a feeling they will never agree on what it says.
I agree that the Old testament is an essential part of the Bible that Christians should read, not just for the history, but also because it displays God's great power and mercy for all Jews/Christians to see.
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