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podcast 38 – Dr. Craig Evans on the burial and empty tomb traditions

ArimatheaIn How Jesus Became God, Dr. Bart Ehrman argues that we should doubt the New Testament reports that Jesus was buried in a tomb, and that this tomb was found empty on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion. (Dr. Ehrman and I discussed this briefly in episode 35.)

In this episode, I discuss Ehrman’s arguments on this with Dr. Craig Evans, who wrote a chapter about these arguments in the response book How God Became Jesus. Dr. Evans brings to bear some fascinating historical and archaeological evidence.

Comparing the two, it seems to me that Dr. Evans has the stronger case. Do you agree? Why or why not?

You can also listen to this episode on youtube.

Some relevant links for this episode:

2 thoughts on “podcast 38 – Dr. Craig Evans on the burial and empty tomb traditions”

  1. Hi! Love your podcasts, for a future podcast it would be really interesting to hear your opinions about the Eastern Orthodox form of trinitarianism as expressed by, for example, John Zizioulas, John Behr or by this talk by Thomas Hopko: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/the_holy_trinity#2140

    This seems, to me, like a doctrine of the trinity that is more in line with the Bible – and it SEEMS to place more weight on the three persons as selves and at the Father as the One God proper (the “Monarch” and “font” of the trinity) while at the same time confirming that both Father, Son and Spirit are true God and in this sense one and the same by being in the Fathers divine nature. What problems do you see with this view? Is it subordinationist, or maybe tritheism, as the East often have been accused of by the West (with the East at the same time accusing the West of modalism)?

    It would be really interesting to hear your opinions on this kind of trinitarianism in a future podcast! 🙂

    All the best!

  2. to be fair I don’t feel satisfied either Craig or Ehrman have answered any of my questions. I am agnostic and don’t have a dog in the hunt. just want evidence so I can make up my own mind on this matter. ?
    10,000 individuals were crucified under Roman Rule. What percentage had a proper burial. 50/50 90/10 etc? If you simply asked for a burial did Roman authority comply, or was it case by case.? what are the historic sources for this? where do I find evidence of Roman law in the first century??

    I enjoy religious studies as a hobby and find this topic very intriguing

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