Survey And 'New' Thesis On The Bones Of Peter
GRAYDON F. SNYDER
The statemcnt by Pope Paul VI on June 26, 1968, that the bones of
Peter had been convincingly identified came as a shock to both sides of a
controversy that has been fuming euer since the announcement of a new
set of bones was made in 1965. For whatever reasons the Pope made this
statement — be it the appropriateness of the 19th centennial or sheer political
sagacity—the effect will be to suffocate onc of the most intriguing questions
in biblical archaeology. In this article I would like to clarify the nature of
the problem and indicate what new evidence will likely change the nature
of the entire question.
The problem of the bones of Peter is of relatively reccnt origin. It
Bethany Theological Seminary
was assumed they were under St. Peter's Church. Caius, as recorded by
Eusebius, said: "But I can point out the trophies of the Apostles, for if you
will go to the Vatican or to the Ostian Way you will find die trophies of
those who founded this Church." (Ecclesiastical History II. 25. 7). If we
can associate trophies with the graves of the two apostles then we have
Outside-the-Walls, stand over the traditional location of the respective tombs.
Nevertheless, even before the twentieth century the church was aware
of some discrepancy. The Roman liturgical calendar for June 29 reads as
little rcason to cloubt that the two churches, St. Peter's and St. Pauls
follows: "To Peter in Catacumbas and to Paul on the Via Ostiense, Tuscus
and Bassus being consuls." While this date may pull together two originally
separate dates to make one major festival, and this synthesis may well have
Einband leicht berieben, sonst ordentlich und gut erhalten
- Verlag:
- published by the American Schools of oriental Research 126 Inman Street Cambridge, mass.
- Heft, 32 Seiten
- Artikelnummer:
- B00056474
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- 400 gr