Bible Discussion Thread

(Scientist names below to read on Google)

Jesus, as described in the New Testament, was most likely crucified on Friday April 3, 33 A.D.

The latest investigation, reported in the journal International Geology Review, focused on earthquake activity at the Dead Sea, located 13 miles from Jerusalem. The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 27, mentions that an earthquake coincided with the crucifixion:

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open."

To analyze earthquake activity in the region, geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea.

Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and an early first century seismic event that happened sometime between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D.

The latter period occurred during "the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained," Williams said.

"The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision," he said. But the year has been in question.

In terms of textual clues to the date of the crucifixion, Williams quoted a Nature paper authored by Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington. Williams summarized their work as follows:

* All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV,44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from 26-36 AD.

* All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.

* All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).

Interesting discovery.

I'd take issue on your claiming that "All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday." It was actually, "the Day of Preparation." Preparation for what Sabbath being that there was also Passover, a Sabbath.

There is ambiguity in Sabbath in that it us used both to describe the weekly Sabbath, the seventh day and the Passover Sabbath and the Day of Preparation.

During that era, they could do Passover on two consecutive days. Some say that Jesus' Passover meal with His disciples was the early Passover day. One of the things that we have to allow for is for the women to PREPARE spices...

"And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment." Luk 23:53-56

Some think Wednesday, others Thursday and yet others that Friday was the day of Jesus' death. I lean toward Friday but think that there's a good case for Thursday. In a sense it's academic. My trust in Jesus is not the least linked to any particular day.

Thanks for sharing this interesting discovery.

I think you're right. I found it interesting that in their searching , they tied the event to an earthquake. The whole article is weighty with digs, discoveries, collaborations, etc.

Today I thought that Passover will be soon and people ask the same questions every year. Sometimes it's good for the secular crowd to hear that scientists try to prove the Bible wrong or woefully lacking. Not true anymore. They have proven with evidence that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs by fire or starvation with plant life gone. Only little chipmunks survived it. They were underground. Cool huh?

I appreciate the Bible online forum so much. I even wish there more of them. Most are for dating and small groups. I like the variety in KJB online. Why not a Pastors Online? I tell folks there are great FM radio ministries; 24 hrs a day.

One thing I've noticed recently, is that Goodwill has very few Bibles to resale. People are buying them! Now that's good news. 5 yrs ago I took all my old Bibles and Christian textbooks to Goodwill to get them in circulation. I can't wait to see new faces in our Bible online room, teaching me things the Holy Spirit showed them! He never tires of answering our questions.

I asked God one morning just before dawn broke: why do you feed the birds and cause people to buy tree food sticks to help trees be strong? This is what He said: The trees open their branches to praise Me, First, in the morning, and the birds adorn the trees and sing praises to me. The whole planet!

I'm sad sort of because I pull up at the coffee maker first, before I go outside to pray for the day ahead for all peoples. I'm no hotshot ex-evangelist. The birds and trees beat us to it every morning. The the moon says, no, I sat with God all night long. Round the clock, God is praised. :D

Let's turn up the Praise guys. We'll be with Him real soon.