Is it really true they have found the skeletal remains of the Apostle Paul?
While the prospect of a find of this kind is stimulating, I would be careful to claim the bones of Paul have been found. According to published reports, the current Pope, Benedict XVI, has said scientific tests on bones fragments discovered in an underground chamber at the Church of St. Paul, are those of the Apostle.
Church tradition has Paul buried in a catacomb on the Via Appia, an ancient Roman road leading out of the city. Later, a basilica was erected on the place believed to be the burial site. On the altar is the Latin inscription Paulo Apostolo Mart - “Paul, apostle and martyr.”
In 2006, a sarcophagus was discovered after nearly four years of excavations. It took another three years to subject it to the first scientific testing. Inside they found traces of a purple linen cloth laminated with gold and a blue textile with filaments of linen. They also found traces of incense, protein, and limestone.
The small shard of bone was subjected to Carbon 14 testing and determined to be from the 1st or 2nd Century. It is a stretch for me to think that "proves" the contents of the sarcophagus to be the bones of Paul.
While the prospect of a find of this kind is stimulating, I would be careful to claim the bones of Paul have been found. According to published reports, the current Pope, Benedict XVI, has said scientific tests on bones fragments discovered in an underground chamber at the Church of St. Paul, are those of the Apostle.
Church tradition has Paul buried in a catacomb on the Via Appia, an ancient Roman road leading out of the city. Later, a basilica was erected on the place believed to be the burial site. On the altar is the Latin inscription Paulo Apostolo Mart - “Paul, apostle and martyr.”
In 2006, a sarcophagus was discovered after nearly four years of excavations. It took another three years to subject it to the first scientific testing. Inside they found traces of a purple linen cloth laminated with gold and a blue textile with filaments of linen. They also found traces of incense, protein, and limestone.
The small shard of bone was subjected to Carbon 14 testing and determined to be from the 1st or 2nd Century. It is a stretch for me to think that "proves" the contents of the sarcophagus to be the bones of Paul.
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