It is sometime before AD 50. A Roman emperor orders an edict – those caught robbing tombs and extracting bodies will be put to death. Strange, is it not? Found in Nazareth of all places, it comes to be known as the Nazareth Inscription. Its unique and uncanny characteristics make the edict an interesting puzzle piece that fits perfectly in a post-resurrection context – a very human response traceable to the initial Jewish position on Jesus’ resurrection and the Roman insecurity about the potential rise of a king who could have challenged the empire.

Tomb violation (Violatio sepulchri) was already a crime under Roman law at least as far back as 43 BCI. However, the Nazareth Inscription appears to have been something slightly different. Because of the brevity of the inscription, it is generally thought to be a redacted replica and not an original. Still, what it tells us is quite intriguing...

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