Earthquake and matthew

[Kris]

Hello----- I was recently corresponding with a geologist who is researching the sediments in the Dead Sea. He was famous a few years ago because Discovery wrote an article the he identified an earthquake 33ad down to the day. He was pretty upset and clarified that he could only state an earthquake occurred sometime between 26 and 36. He does think that the quake was strong enough to cause light temple damage and perhaps disturb graves-- he doesn't think zombies came out though. He says that this quake could have occurred as Matthew deceived, that a quake occurred sometime around the time the Jesus story was being developed and co-opted into the story, or Matthew was using a totally allegorical quake story based on OT prophecy and it was just coincidental that there was a quake during this time. What are your thoughts on this? He is agnostic but is interested in using geology to show historical timelines etc.

[Peter Kirby]

Which other geologists have reviewed, confirmed, and endorsed his work here?

[Kris]

He has been published in scientific articles--- he does seem to be the real deal. His name is Jefferson Williams.

[MrMacSon]

... He says that this quake could have occurred as Matthew deceived, that a quake occurred sometime around the time the Jesus story was being developed ...

deceived? or perceived?

[Peter Kirby]

He has been published in scientific articles--- he does seem to be the real deal. His name is Jefferson Williams.

Right. I don't doubt it. I'm still left wondering... which other geologists have reviewed, confirmed, and endorsed his work here?

I think this is the first question we, as non-geologists, should be asking.

[Peter Kirby]

Personally, I would need at least two other geologists to put their reputations on the line in support of this idea before I'd be inclined to take it very seriously.

Do any other geologists believe that we can identify any ancient earthquakes with a margin of error of only +/- 5 years?

Jefferson Williams suggested that:

an earthquake occurred sometime between 26 and 36

Why is the range of dating centered on 31 CE, instead of 30 CE? Is this implying a very high degree of accuracy, and if so, what could that degree of accuracy be based on? Could this not be unscientific, unless there are specific reasons that allow us to pinpoint the range of dates that accurately?

Or is it not just a coincidence that this range of dates (26-36 CE) coincides with the duration of the prefecture of Pontius Pilate (26-36 CE)? What other explanation is there for this precise range of dates? Has Jefferson Williams offered one?

And if so, does this not affect our evaluation of his hypothesis, if it seems like he has lined up his 'results' to coincide with the duration of the prefecture of Pontius Pilate?

[Kris]

Sorry-in my original post! Perhaps it was a Freudian slip! I think that Jefferson used varve counting to come up with the year 31 ad. I am not sure how accurate this is but I guess he counted varves from the 31bce earthquake to this one

[Kris]

His website is www.deadseaquake.info I am just wondering if this quake had any development in the Matthew story-- and how so. Did it happen as written, which I think is the most unlikely scenario because there are no other reports of this quake in the other gospels or by other historians of the time, or had the writer of Matthew heard about quake damage that occurs in the past and incorporated into his story--or was it all just coincidence and maybe this guys dates are to incomplete to provide and tie to the crucifixion?

[Peter Kirby]

Here are the accounts of the crucifixion in the gospels and the remarkable events associated with them.

John -- no darkness, no temple curtain torn, no earthquake

Mark -- darkness, temple curtain torn, no earthquake
Luke -- darkness, temple curtain torn, no earthquake

Peter -- darkness, temple curtain torn, earthquake, but no earthquake at the resurrection

Matthew -- darkness, temple curtain torn, earthquake (and the saints raised and walked in Jerusalem), earthquake at the resurrection

Gospel of Mark

33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he[j] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Gospel of Peter

[15] But is was midday, and darkness held fast all Judea; and they were distressed and anxious lest the sun had set, since he was still living. [For] it is written for them: Let not the sun set on one put to death. [16] And someone of them said: 'Give him to drink gall with vinegary wine.' And having made a mixture, they gave to drink. [17] And they fulfilled all things and completed the sins on their own head. [18] But many went around with lamps, thinking that it was night, and they fell. [19] And the Lord screamed out, saying: 'My power, O power, you have forsaken me.' And having said this, he was taken up.
[20] And at the same hour the veil of the Jerusalem sanctuary was torn into two. [21] And they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord and placed him on the earth; and all the earth was shaken, and a great fear came about. [22] Then the sun shone, and it was found to be the ninth hour. [23] And the Jews rejoiced and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it, since he was one who had seen the many good things he did.

[35] But in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were safeguarding it two by two in every watch, there was a loud voice in heaven; [36] and they saw that the heavens were opened and that two males who had much radiance had come down from there and come near the sepulcher. [37] But that stone which had been thrust against the door, having rolled by itself, went a distance off the side; and the sepulcher opened, and both the young men entered. [38] And so those soldiers, having seen, awakened the centurion and the elders (for they too were present, safeguarding). [39] And while they were relating what they had seen, again they see three males who have come out from they sepulcher, with the two supporting the other one, and a cross following them, [40] and the head of the two reaching unto heaven, but that of the one being led out by a hand by them going beyond the heavens. [41] And they were hearing a voice from the heavens saying, 'Have you made proclamation to the fallen-asleep?' [42] And an obeisance was heard from the cross, 'Yes.' [43]

Gospel of Matthew

45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land[p] until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”[q] 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.[r] 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

Gospel of John

So they took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew[d] is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth,[e] the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew,[f] in Latin, and in Greek. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
25 And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows[g] that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

Gospel of Luke

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land[l] until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed;[m] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”[n] 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

[Tenorikuma]

Matthew's story is so bizarre. Does he think the dead were raised at the moment of Jesus' death but didn't come out of the tombs until the resurrection?