Jesus, the Final Days: What Really Happened

by Craig A. Evans, N.T. Wright

What do history and archaeology have to say about Jesus death, burial, and resurrection? In this superb book, two of the world's most celebrated writers on the historical Jesus share their greatest findings. Together, Craig A. Evans and N. T. Wright concisely and compellingly dubunk popular myths about the historical Jesus and convey the true, world-shattering significance of Jesus' final days on earth.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Christian, Religion, New Testament, History

116 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Craig A. Evans (PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is a frequent contributor to scholarly journals and the author or editor of numerous publications.

Reviews

[Roman Zadorozhnii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Невелика книга (131 сторінок), де автори на основі літературних, історичних та археологічних доказів надають переконливі аргументи на користь правдивості подій останніх днів Ісуса: смерть, похорон, воскресіння

“Отже, хоча це й не рівнозначне справжньому «доказові» Ісусового воскресіння, я стверджую, дослідивши всі інші арки, які, над думку вчених, могли би поєднувати два стовпи (порожній гріб і зустрічі з Ісусом), що немає нічого, що й близько могло би пояснити ці явища, окрім подальшого припущення: Ісус із Назарету справді воскрес із мертвих третього дня, залишивши по собі порожній гріб, і воскрес у новому втіленому стані, перебувши смерть і повернувшись з того боку в нове тілесне життя після свого короткого «життя після смерти». Звісно ж, євангельські розповіді містять такі ж самі поверхневі суперечності, як в історії про «Коцюбу Вітгенштайна», але саме це й характерно для свідчень очевидців. Це не означає, що нічого не сталося. Навпаки, це означає, що події були настільки разючі й драматичні, що вони вмить витворили збуджені і, можливо, плутані перекази.”

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a relatively short book consisting of three chapters. These chapters address the questions:
1. Did Jesus die on the cross?
2 Was Jesus buried?
3. Is there historical reason to believe that Jesus was resurrected.

The chapters are well written, well documented, and thorough. Often the chapter would address a point which had never occurred to me, but was a point which scholars have raised in the past. For example, what did the word 'resurrection' mean in the 1st century.

While the book is probably too short to convince a skeptic of anything, I consider it a valuable summary to be used as reference material.

[Isaiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does it's job well as it describes it would do in the intro. Quick, simple read, on a slightly deeper level than the surface level of informative, and has sources for further reading. Cannot complain in the slightest.

[Chesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how so much scholarly discussion and meaningful info was packed into such a short book, but somehow it was done and done excellently. Three chapters discussing Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. A top-of-the-line, worthwhile study on these topics.

[Mike Wenzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvellous little book containing what is basically 3 essays (2 by Evans, and 1 by Wright) that look at the Death of Jesus, the Burial of Jesus and the Resurrection of Jesus. The Authors take a scholarly though quite readable approach, arguing quite well that the Biblical accounts of these 3 events are reasonable. A good coverage of the history of the 1st Century, as well as archaeology of the area in that period, provide good extra-Biblical support for the accounts in Scripture.

Easy to read, and I do enjoy both these authors. Plus each essay has a nice list of books for further reading, which I feel is needed in a book like this.

Highly recommended.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, short read on three of the issues of the resurrection of Jesus: the shout of death, burial, and the resurrection itself. There are two essays by Dr. Craig Evans, past author of "Christian Beginnings and the Dead Sea Scrolls," and one essay on the resurrection by Dr. N.T.Wright, Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. The scholars gave college lectures that were edited by Dr. Troy Miller into this slim volume.

All three essays use LOTS of extra-Biblical literature from Jewish and non-Jewish sources to show the authenticity of the gospel story of the death, burial and resurrection. Evans' material on Jewish and Roman burial practice at the turn of the millennium is fascinating and was all new to me. It is good to learn more what tombs were like and why the Mary(s) went to the tomb on Sunday.

N.T. Wright does a wonderful job showing how the resurrection stories of the gospels show a radical departure in resurrection stories from the other literature of the time.

This is an excellent read for anyone wanting to ask scientific and archaeological questions of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Tune in on Maundy Thursday at stthomaspres.com to see some of this material inform my short homily on the death of Christ.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one gets five stars not so much because I agree with every single aspect of it but because I learned things that I didn’t know or haven’t read elsewhere, especially on the burial of the Jewish people as it relates to Jesus‘s burial!

Burial of Jesus is an important aspect of the gospel, and yet we often quickly rush over the fact that he was buried. The gospel accounts are very careful to not overlook this aspect, though not much is made of it.

But the second chapter of this book, “The Silence of the Burial,” was not only enlightening, but provided material for future teaching on the burial of Jesus Christ as it relates to the historicity and hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The last chapter is a short introduction to Tom Wright views on the resurrection. The seven changes in Jewish views of resurrection made by Christian was very helpful as well. Wright also provides four "strange features" of the resurrection narratives.

I recommend the slim volume for anyone interested in the historicity of Jesus‘s final days and want to learn more about the facts of Jesus' burial, death burial and resurrection. While more historical and apologetic than devotional, this little book is still a good one to return to leading up to Easter.

[Dr.Husaim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Сонце торкнулося обрію. Час коли український народ уже має наготові кошики і всі голоті з півночі йти до церкви. А вже завтра, кожен перехожий буде вітати одне одного словами "Христос воскрес". Але чи дійсно віримо ми в слова, що будемо вимовляти? Чи це просто одна з десятка традицій, яких ми просто тримаємось?

В свой книзі Еванс та Райт "Ісус. Останні дні" розглядають всі критичні зауваження та сумніви щодо смерті, поховання та воскресіння Ісуса, щоб відповісти на питання, що ж насправді відбулося та чи маємо ми твердий фундамент?

Та викладають досить аргументів, щоб сміливо стверджувати - Ісус дійсно жив, справді був закатований і помер на хресті, був похований в камяній гробниці і за три дні справді воскрес засвідчивши своє походження як Сина Божого.

Χριστος άνέστη!!! Христос воскрес!

[Ron W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Craig A. Evans and Tom Wright examines the apologetics behind the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth-the historical man rather than the divine entity, so there is a great deal of scientific and historical insight into events described in the gospel accounts. Both authors do a stellar job in unpacking details related to Jesus's last few days on earth. I picked this book up on a 'specials' desk at a bookstore and I was surprised at the value I got at that low price. After reading it, I would have not have had buyer's remorse had I paid the full amount. Packed with historical, social, scientific, and theological information, the small book is well worth the read.

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book based on a series of three talks given by the two authors. Thus, the book contains three chapters covering the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus. All the chapters are excellent. The overall tone of the book is apologetic at a good level. The authors are not merely preaching to the choir but have good solid arguments. Thus, the book is highly satisfying, and I would recommend it.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three very good essays on the Jesus' trial, burial and resurrection. The third essay by N.T. Wright will be very familiar to anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with his writings - in fact it really is a short summary of his arguments concerning the historical grounds for belief in the resurrection. Evans' essay on Jesus' burial was, I found, the most enlightening.

[David Batten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interest, semi-scholarly investigation of what really happened at Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Picked up some interesting points, although it mostly I felt like they answered questions I wasn't asking. If the historicity of these events is a significant question for you this book is an accessible intro.

[liliana ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️ this wasn’t the worst thing i’ve read for school, but i didn’t necessarily enjoy it. definitely better than the last one i’ve had for this summer class, but just meh. i’m glad i don’t have anything else to read for this class because i’m not particularly enjoying the contents chosen by the professor.

[David Tee]

Dr. Evans is very thorough in his examination of history, the archaeological evidence surrounding this time period and communicates his thoughts and conclusions very clearly. Another well written book by this author

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great summary of Jewish burial practices and then a wonderful summary of what to make of the resurrection as only Tom Wright seems to do, cutting to the heart of the matter.

[Andrew S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intuitive, clear, succinct. A fresh approach to and new angle for Resurrection studies.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed through this.

[Orest Zadorozhnyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга дійсно корисна, особливо в час Великого Посту. Автори наводять історичні докази смерти і воскресіння Ісуса Христа, опираючись на свідчення Євангелій.

[Jack Mathias · Rating 4 out of 5]

The

[Natalie Judson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and clear, lecture-like read. An ideal annual Easter book!

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the signs of a good book is the way it leaves you wanting more rather than wishing you had not wasted time on it. This is the sort of book where one would want more, a lot more, than one gets. The work of a symposium that seeks to bridge the divide between theologians and scholars of biblical history, this is a book written for a wide and generally educated lay audience but a book that boldly enters into scholarly disputes and makes some intense criticisms of the approach of many scholars, some of whom will likely not appreciate being made to look ridiculous as they do here. Knowing the book's subject matters I was pretty sure there would be some mistakes in biblical interpretation because of the chronology and that was definitely the case here, but it surprised me just how good this book was at putting the reader within the historical context and situation of Jesus Christ and the early disciples through a close and fair-minded reading of the scriptural and non-biblical history [1]. And, considering this book is a short 113 pages, the book could easily have been double its size and still an excellent read. One wonders why the publishers were so intent on the book being so short.

The contents of this book are pretty straightforward and easy to understand. The book (and it barely qualifies as a book, I would say) is composed of three essays. The first two, by Craig A. Evans, are a discussion of the "shout of death" and the "silence of burial" with a discussion of the legal nature of Jesus' trial, who wanted him dead, and how this does not in any way justify anti-Semitism as well as a discussion of the burial practices of late Second Temple Judaism and Roman acquiescence in Jewish burial customs that mandated burial even of criminals, with suitable and grisly examples from the history of the time and place. Although the author has a faulty view of the chronology of Jesus' death, he at least gets a lot of the details right about Jewish beliefs in resurrection being feasible within the first three days (which is what made the timing of Jesus' raising of Lazarus so important), and these details make it a very worthwhile group of essays. The third essay, by N.T. Wright, is a rather pointed discussion of the surprise of resurrection and some half a dozen changes to the Jewish background of the early Church that the experience of Jesus' resurrection led to that were not paralleled within the view of contemporary heathen or even later Gnostic accounts, including the prominent role that women played as witnesses of the resurrection. Here again, the author's insistence in the Christian view of a bodily resurrection after a shadowy interim period of time in the grave is something quite congenial with the understanding that some churches have and quite distinct from the views of contemporary Hellenistic Christianity.

So, even though this collection of essays is extremely short and contains a few errors because of the backgrounds of the authors in churches that have an inaccurate view of three days and three nights, the book is an immensely worthwhile one in the way that the authors seek to overcome their own background and the weight of corrupt tradition and deal with the Bible and the history of the time seriously. In addition, the authors are to be praised for bringing a rigorous attention to fact to discussions of faith and doctrine, something that is not done nearly often enough given the false dilemma that often exists between faith and evidence in the minds of some. Overall, this is a powerful if all-too-brief collection of essays from some thinkers and scholars worthy of attention and considerable praise. Given the way that the introduction speaks of there being more where this came from, one wants to see it in books like this one.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книгата е съвсем кратка и се състои от 3 есета, свързани, както показва заглавието, с последните дни от земния живот на Исус. Първите две са написани от Крейг Евънс (мой преподавател по new testament background, от когото съм запазил чудесни впечатления)и разглеждат съответно смъртта и погребението на Исус, а в последното Н.Т. Райт говори за възкресението. Както може да се очаква от имена като Евънс и Райт зад материалът стои много солидно изследване. Авторите представят фактите по един едновременно научен и апологетичен начин и добре обосновават изводите, до които достигат - с други думи книгата няма нищо общо с наивните и леовати опити за апологетика, които за съжаление се срещат много по-често отколкото е здравословно за християнството.
На хора, кото се интересуват сериозно от темата книгата едва ли ще даде нещо радикално ново. В същото време тя е написана едновременно достатъчно задълбочено и четливо, за да бъде полезна за много широк кръг читатели.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book to read with a study group through Lent. It's a short one, but filled with very helpful guidance as to why Jesus died and why his death was and is important.

We studied this book in pursuit / guidance for the questions: "Why did Jesus die?" and "Why did Jesus have to die?" (Note the nuance between dying and the necessity of his death.)

I feel this little book helped us explore the answers to that question. And, it sums up like this:

Jesus, the crucified one, is also the resurrected one. In crucifixion, our king (Jesus) goes to battle against death, sin, and the Accuser. And then he rises:

"Jesus is raised," they say, "therefore he is the Messiah; he is the true Lord of the whole world; therefore we, his followers, have a job to do: we must act as his heralds, announcing his lordship to the entire world." (Chapter 3)

[David Campton · Rating 3 out of 5]

At little over 100 pages this is a relatively slim volume, but contains a lot of scholarship within its few pages. It's essentially 3 lectures looking at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, with Craig Evans covering the first 2 and Tom Wright dealing with the third (does anyone else write about the resurrection from an evangelical perspective these days, and indeed, does Tom Wright write about anything else without bringing the implications of the resurrection into it?) Whilst the scholarship is rigorous, the writing style is accessible and, especially with Wright's section, engaging. Should be on every preacher's shelf, and will probably provide the material for Good Friday/Easter sermons for a generation.

[Jeff McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed aspects of this book. The history behind death, crucifixion and burial was of great interest. Wright's sections on resurrection, while mainly a recap from his massively work on the topic, was a great little condensed view of the more thorough book, and fit well in the confines of this overall topic. Offering much insight for those modern day church goers who have not looked just a little more deeply than the Sunday school lessons, this is a very good, short eye-opening view at what lies below the surface of biblical theology.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The editor combines the writings of Biblical scholars Craig Evans and N.T. Wright in this book that searches the scriptures to answer the question, what really happened? Though often heavy reading for me, but it was a good book for the Lenten season. I learned things from the scripture that I had never recognized before.
"...the line of thought within the Gospels themselves is, 'Jesus is raised, therefore God's new world has begun, and therefore we, you, and everybody else are invited to be not only beneficiaries of that new world but participants in making it happen.'"

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read for Holy Week. Only 128 pages in three chapters, New Testament scholars, Craig Evans and N.T. Wright look at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus from a historical perspective. Lots of helpful background information dealing with the Roman practice of crucifixion and 1st century Jewish burial custom. Wright's chapter on the resurrection is superb, focusing on how the Christian understanding of resurrection, based on Jesus' own, is an unexpected and otherwise inexplicable development on earlier Jewish expectations of resurrection.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three good essays, two by Evans on the death and burial of Jesus and a third by Wright on his resurrection. Wright's essay covers his usual bases and if you've read "The Resurrection of the Son of God" or "Surprised by Hope" there's nothing new here. Evans' essays on Jesus' death and burial are very helpful and bring to light a lot of background evidence from ancient sources and archaeology that give greater insight into the Gospel accounts.

[Eric Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully short book for the interested layman which details the historical evidence for the passion and resurrection of Jesus. Passages from biblical, second temple, and other late antiquity sources abound. Great book for anyone wanting a brief but substance discussion on the historicity of the core of the New Testament.