The first scientific tests on what are believed to be the remains of the Apostle Paul, the Roman Catholic saint, “seem to conclude” that they belong to him, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday.
The first scientific tests on what are believed to be the remains of the Apostle Paul, the Roman Catholic saint, “seem to conclude” that they belong to him, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday.
I suppose the lack of comments here means we all exhausted ourselves working this over at Stand Firm.
I am glad to see scientific investigation give support to the ancient oral history. St. Paul is indeed most likely buried in St. Paul’s tomb.
I’m sorry, was Paul the only person to “seems” to have died in the first or second century?
This is alll news to me. Is there any actual evidence that it is Paul therein? Otherwise, these are just bones, aren’t they? LM
To summarize a very long thread at StandFirm, which went from historical information into icons, idolatry, and veneration of saints and relics: The Roman church authorities have dug up the sarcophagus under the altar in the church of St. Paul’s-Outside-the-Walls, the traditional burial place of St. Paul outside the ancient Roman walls. Carbon 14 tests on the bones therein confirm that they belonged to the right time frame. Therefore, based on the general reliability of ancient oral history and the C14 tests, they conclude that this probably is really the grave of St. Paul. I agree, and I think it’s historically interesting.
Katherine, is it a whole skeleton? You know, if so, one might determne that “disease” that Paul said had plagued him for so long. And if such evidence were found, this would provide corroboration that the bones were Paul’s. Larry
Hi Larry, no, the news reports make it sound like it’s not a whole skeleton.