W. Harold Mare<\/b><\/p>\n
[W. Harold Mare, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is also presently serving as president of the Near East Archaeological Society. Dr. Mare has had a distinguished career as pastor, teacher, and author of scholarly articles in various publications. He translated the Book of Acts in the New York Bible Society\u2019s New International Bible and served as a member of the New Testament Intermediate Editorial Committee working on a number of New Testament books for the same translation.]<\/i><\/p>\n
Many Christians would like to know the location of Christ\u2019s crucifixion and burial. But inasmuch as Jerusalem fell under the crushing military might of the Romans in A. D. 70 and its landscape was altered in succeeding years, it has been difficult to make that determination.<\/p>\n
According to Hebrews 13:12, Jesus suffered \u201cwithout the gate,\u201d that is, outside the walled city of Jerusalem. The answer to the question, then, of where Jesus was crucified and buried is to be found in discovering where the walls of that time were located and which of the sites that fit these events were outside the walls. The two places considered likely by scholars are (1) the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and (2) Gordon\u2019s Calvary and the Garden Tomb\u2014both on the north side of first-century Jerusalem. A study of archaeological findings and the writings of Josephus (first century A.D.) helps determine which of the locations is more likely.<\/p>\n
A review of the historical-literary and archaeological evidence of the two ancient walls of Jerusalem existing around the time of Christ is in order, particularly in the light of recent excavations by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon. Since the wall Josephus called the \u201cSecond Wall\u201d is more crucial to the discussion, we will delay considering it until after dealing with the \u201cFirst Wall.\u201d (A \u201cThird Wall\u201d was also mentioned by Josephus but it was built after Jesus\u2019 death.)<\/p>\n
The First Wall<\/b><\/p>\n
The First Wall, called by Josephus the \u201cmost ancient\u201d wall, seems according to his description to have been in existence up to and including his own day. Josephus seemed to think that the First Wall went back, in part at least, to the time of David and Solomon <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 34<\/p>\n
First Century A.D. Jerusalem<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 35<\/p>\n
and their successors. Miss Kenyon, however, believes that its northern extremity was of Maccabean origin (that is, built sometime in the last 150 years B.C.).<\/p>\n
There is general acceptance, though without conclusive evidence, that the first \u201cold\u201d wall, the innermost north wall, crossed the Tyropoeon Valley from Herod\u2019s Towers (the Citadel) on the west, to the temple platform on the east, in a line approximately that of the present day east-west David Street (see map). This corresponds to Josephus\u2019 statements that the First Wall began on the north at the Hippicus tower and extended east until it terminated with the temple\u2019s western porches.<\/p>\n
Thus it is to be observed that both the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Gordon\u2019s Calvary lie outside the First Wall (see map). Let us now consider the Second Wall and its relation to the two proposed sites.<\/p>\n
The Second Wall<\/b><\/p>\n
Josephus wrote that the Second Wall started north from the Gennath (Garden) Gate in the First Wall and, enclosing only the northern district of the town, went up as far as the Antonia1 at the northern end of the Temple Mount (War<\/i> V, 146). At one other place (War<\/i> V, 158) Josephus remarked that the Second Wall, which he called \u201cthe middle wall,\u201d had 14 towers compared to 60 in the First Wall. The conclusion is that Josephus\u2019 Second Wall ran a relatively short distance.<\/p>\n
With its location far to the north, there is no doubt that Gordon\u2019s Calvary was outside the Second Wall. There are, however, differences of opinion among scholars as to whether or not the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was outside the Second Wall.<\/p>\n
Apart from the mention by Josephus, the Gennath Gate where the Second Wall started is unknown. It does not seem to have been located at Herod\u2019s Towers, for Josephus does not mention the Towers with the Second Wall as he does in describing the First and Third Walls. So the Gennath Gate must have been located farther east in the First Wall, somewhere along the line of the present David Street.<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 36<\/p>\n
In her excavations at Site C, located directly south of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and north of the old First Wall, Miss Kenyon uncovered evidence that indicates this area was outside the Second Wall until the second century A.D. She found evidence of quarrying in the rock bed there, over which was put a fill of dirt. This dirt fill contained enough seventh century B.C. and first and second century A.D. pottery to suggest that the fill was put there after the time of Christ\u2014probably by Hadrian in A.D. 135. She states, \u201cIt can therefore be said confidently that the area was a quarry outside the town walls in the seventh century B.C. and remained outside them until the second century A.D.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miss Kenyon then observed that though the exact location of the Gennath Gate and the northern run of the Second Wall are not known, the evidence of the quarry and pottery of Site C argues that the Gennath Gate was in the center of the First Wall and that the Second Wall thus was just east of the quarry and the present site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The area of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, therefore, appears to have been \u201cwithout the gate\u201d in Jesus\u2019 day.<\/p>\n
The Location of Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus<\/b><\/p>\n
Gordon\u2019s Calvary and the Garden Tomb are located a short distance north of the present Damascus Gate, just east of Nablus Road. In 1885 General Charles Gordon, following the proposal made by Otto Thenius of Dresden in 1842, argued that a rocky hill there, 250 yards northeast of the Damascus Gate, was Calvary. The identification was based on several arguments: It was presumed to be a Jewish place of stoning, it lay outside the city wall, and what looked like the face of a skull could be seen in the rocky hillside.<\/p>\n
As to location, Gordon\u2019s Calvary fits the biblical requirements of being outside the gate. Although the side of the hill looks like the face of a skull, this may be due to man-made cuttings in the hill. The biblical reference to Calvary as the place of a skull (Matthew 24:33, etc.), may mean that it was shaped like a skull, or simply that skulls of crucified criminals could be found there.<\/p>\n
The nearby rock-hewn Garden Tomb, though aesthetically satisfying, is not of the first century A.D. It contains a Byzantine (fourth to sixth centuries A.D.) trough-type burial place, and two Byzantine crosses were found painted on one wall.<\/p>\n
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, besides being outside the walls of Jerusalem in Jesus\u2019 time, has other supportive evidence. It <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 37<\/p>\n
Gordon\u2019s Calvary, looking at the cliff where the shape of a skull can be seen just to the left of the Garden Tomb sign<\/i><\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n
marks the traditional site where Emperor Constantine built church structures about A.D. 335 over the sites believed to be those of Christ\u2019s crucifixion and burial. A large hill of rock under the Church is the traditional mount of Calvary. The presence within the Church of ancient Jewish tombs known as the family tomb of Nicodemus agrees with the biblical statement of John 19:41, which indicates the close proximity of the tomb to Calvary. The tombs also argue for the area at that time being outside the city walls\u2014certainly a cemetery would not be located within the city walls.<\/p>\n
Early Christian tradition in the witness of Jerome, Eusebius and others also bears testimony to this Church being the site of the cross and tomb. It was evidently this strong tradition that persuaded Queen Helena, along with Constantine, to locate the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the early fourth century A.D. on this very site. In contrast to Hebrews 13:12, the site was then within the walls of the city\u2014a fact they would not have known was not also true in the time of Christ.<\/p>\n
There is one other consideration that needs to be made\u2014that of the location of Calvary with respect to the place where Jesus was judged.<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 38<\/p>\n
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher as seen across the rooftops of Old Jerusalem<\/i><\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Pavement<\/b><\/p>\n
The location of the praetorium (Matthew 27:27, etc.\u2014the \u201ccommon hall\u201d in the KJV) and the pavement (John 19:13) where Pilate judged Jesus has been argued as being either at Herod\u2019s Palace at the west wall of the city, or at the Antonia on the northwest corner of the temple area.<\/p>\n
Magen Broshi, excavator in 1971 of the area of Herod\u2019s old palace, believes the square that was in front of the palace was the place of the praetorium. (See Bible and Spade,<\/i> Spring 1973, p. 48.)<\/p>\n
Biblical scholar Jack Finegan argues quite effectively for the fortress palace of Antonia on the basis of its large paved courtyard of striated stones (cf. the pavement of John 19:13) and Josephus\u2019 testimony (War,<\/i> V, 244; II, 224\u2013227; Antiquities,<\/i> XX, 106\u2013112) that a Roman unit was permanently stationed there and military precautions were taken in the area at festival times (The Archaeology of the New Testament<\/i>; pp. 156-158). Such a place for the Roman governor\u2019s military force would be logical in case of upheaval at the temple area (cf. Acts 21:30\u201337).<\/p>\n
At any rate, whether the pavement and praetorium are to be located at the Antonia or Herod\u2019s palace, the distance for Christ to <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 39<\/p>\n
have gone to Calvary at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher would not have been too great.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
The available literary and archaeological evidence indicates that the Church of the Holy Sepulcher more nearly meets the biblical description and physical requirements for the place of the crucifixion than does any other site proposed thus far. Although, with our present knowledge, we cannot be dogmatic as to the exact location of Christ\u2019s crucifixion and burial, we rejoice in the solid historical fact that \u201cChrist died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).<\/p>\n
Editorial Note: For further details on the problem of the three walls of Jerusalem and Christ\u2019s crucifixion place and tomb, see the expanded article by W. Harold Mare, \u201cThe Problem of the Three Walls of Jerusalem\u201d published in The Bulletin Series of the Near East Archaeological Society,<\/i> New Series, No. 3, 1973. This may be obtained by writing to Mr. Wilbur Fields, Near East Archaeological Society Treasurer, 2313 East Twentieth Street, Joplin, Missouri 64801.<\/p>\n
It was there from the beginning; we have heard it; we have seen it with our own eyes; we looked upon it, and felt it with our own hands; and it is of this we tell. Our theme is the word of life. This life was made visible; we have seen it and bear our testimony; we here declare to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you and we together may share a common life, that life which we share with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. And we write this in order that the joy of us all may be complete. (I John 1:1\u20134, N.E.B.)<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1974) p. 40<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
W. Harold Mare [W. Harold Mare, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is also presently serving as president of the Near East Archaeological Society. Dr. Mare has had a distinguished career as pastor, teacher, and author of scholarly articles in various publications. He translated the Book of … Continue reading “THE
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