The Nazareth Inscription is a 24" x 15" marble tablet with
a 14-line "Edict of Caesar" proscribing capital punishment for
tomb-breakers, allegedly acquired by the Frohner Collection in
1878 from Nazareth.
The following translation from the Greek-based Nazareth
Inscription is by Clyde E. Billington:
- EDICT OF CAESAR
- It is my decision [concerning] graves and tombs--whoever has made
- them for the religious observances of parents, or children, or household
- members--that these remain undistrubed forever. But if anyone legally
- charges that another person has destroyed, or has in any manner extracted
- those who have been buried, or has moved with wicked intent those who
- have been buried to other places, committing a crime against them, or has
- moved sepulcher-sealing stones, against such a person, I order that a
- judicial tribunal be created, just as [is done] concerning the gods in
- human religious observances, even more so will it be obligatory to treat
- with honor those who have been entombed. You are absolutely not to
- allow anyone to move [those who have been entombed]. But if
- [someone does], I wish that [violator] to suffer capital punishment under
- the title of tomb-breaker.
Since its original publication in 1930 by M. Franz Cumont, no scholar
has published evidence to disprove its authenticity.
Clyde Billington of Northwestern College has dated it to A.D. 41
and interpreted it as evidence for the historicity of Christians
preaching the resurrection of Jesus within a decade of His
crucifixion.
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