In 1980 archaeologists unearthed a tomb near Jerusalem that contained a family's ossuaries inscribed with some familiar New Testament names, including Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. In 2007 the Discovery Channel produced and broadcast a documentary called The Lost Tomb of Jesus, raising interest — and controversy -- among the public and specialists alike. Could this actually be the tomb of Jesus and his family? In January of 2008 a group of internationally renowned scholars from a broad range of disciplines met in Jerusalem to discuss that very question. Covering the archaeological facts about the discovery, Jewish burial customs during the late Second Temple period, first-century inscriptions, the Talpiot tomb, the James ossuary, the Holy Sepulcher, and more,this volume presents their expert perspectives on a much-publicized topic. Contributors:Mordechai AviamWolfgang E. KrumbeinJames H. CharlesworthAndré LemaireClaude Cohen-MatlofskyLee Martin McDonaldApril D. DeConickCharles PellegrinoCasey D. ElledgeStephen PfannMark ElliottPetr PokornýHoward R. FeldmanJonathan J. PriceJoseph A. FitzmyerChristopher A. RollstonCamil FuchsAmnon RosenfeldShimon GibsonJane SchabergRachel HachliliAndrew V. SillsEldad KeynanMark SpigelmanKevin KiltyJames D. TaborAmos KlonerKonstantinos Th. Zarras Watch an interview with James H. Charlesworth below:

This investigative work explores the Eastern legend that upon crucifixion, Jesus did not in fact die on the cross but was taken secretly to India, where he lived to a ripe old age and eventually died. Two other important Eastern legends are also examined: the shroud of Turin and the holy miracle light of Jerusalem.

The Jesus Family Tomb tells the story of what may be the greatest archaeological find of all time—the discovery of the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth The Jesus Family Tomb includes: A gripping real-life detective story that combines history, archaeology and cutting-edge science, and reveals the truth behind 2,000 years of mystery Scientific details about the Jesus family tomb ossuaries Results from DNA tests performed on human residue taken out of the Jesus ossuary and the Mary Magdalene ossuary

Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator. Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.

Jesus: His Story in Stone is a reflection on still-existing stone objects that Jesus would have known, seen, or even touched. Each of the seventy short chapters is accompanied by a photograph taken on location in Israel. Arranged chronologically, the one-page meditations compose a portrait of Christ as seen through the significant stones in His life, from the cave where He was born to the rock of Calvary. While packed with historical and archaeological detail, the book’s main thrust is devotional, leading the reader both spiritually and physically closer to Jesus.

A veteran archaeologist sheds light on the biblical text by examining archaeological discoveries.

Based on a true story, Jerusalem Diary: Searching for the Tomb and House of Jesus is an adventurous journey of intrigue and discovery in the Holy Land. After finishing her PhD, Joanna joins two Australian men who claim to discover new sites that could be Jesus home in Nazareth and his tomb in Jerusalem. As they travel through Israel, Joanna challenges conventional ideas about the life of Jesus. Relying on Gnostic Gospels, Joanna deconstructs the dogmatic images of suffering Christ and creates an alternative picture of Yeshua (Jesus) as a young, rebellious, inspiring teacher. Recent Reviews: This engaging book has everything the passionate-thinking person desires: intensity, intrigue, controversy. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking. A book for all seekers. Mark Manolopoulos, adjunct research associate, Monash University Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, and author of If Creation Is a Gift. In Jerusalem Diary, Joanna affectionately traces the life of the human side of Jesus. She beautifully weaves her own spiritual quest for truth in this well-researched, deeply passionate journey, accounting for typical historical gaps in the life and teachings of the Great Soul. The outcome is a refreshing and unusual tale in which Joanna elegantly contrasts and reconciles the Christ on the Cross of the Church with Yeshua, the revered realised Master of the East. A must-read for every sincere seeker of the Self. Karthyeni Purushothaman, lecturer in business management, Monash University

The Book of Martyrs by John Foxe written in the 16th century has long been the go-to source for studying the lives and martyrdom of the apostles. Whilst other scholars have written individual treatments on the more prominent apostles such as Peter, Paul, John, and James, there is little published information on the other apostles. In The Fate of the Apostles, Sean McDowell offers a comprehensive, reasoned, historical analysis of the fate of the twelve disciples of Jesus along with the apostles Paul, and James. McDowell assesses the evidence for each apostle’s martyrdom as well as determining its significance to the reliability of their testimony. The question of the fate of the apostles also gets to the heart of the reliability of the kerygma: did the apostles really believe Jesus appeared to them after his death, or did they fabricate the entire story? How reliable are the resurrection accounts? The willingness of the apostles to die for their faith is a popular argument in resurrection studies and McDowell offers insightful scholarly analysis of this argument to break new ground within the spheres of New Testament studies, Church History, and apologetics.

The Open Tomb re-examines the historical record about Jesus, and discovers his political motives for faking his death and resurrection. Taken directly from the Gospels, the Dead Sea Scrolls and First Century historians, the book sheds new light on the historical Jesus and, for the first time in two millennia, strips away Christian tradition, and exposes the truth.