The Turin Shroud
The Shroud is considered as the most intensely studied ancient artifact. It is 4.4m x 1.1m (approximately 10 (Hebrew) cubits x 1 cubit and made from woven flax. The corpse would have been laid down upon the cloth, with the feet at one end. The cloth was then folded over the head and down over the face, chest and knees.
Below are the views of various researches regarding the Shroud with several possible hypotheses are to be considered here:
(i) Pointers towards the image’s authenticity:
(a) How the photographic-like image was produced cannot be replicated even with today’s modern physical, chemical and technological procedures. There are no indicators that any paint, dye or pigment material was used.
(b) The image when processed by a VP-8 topographical developer shows a 3-dimensional characteristic. The cloth was draped over the corpse touching only the high spots (forehead, nose, chest knees, feet etc.) yet the image clearly shows all the body in detail. This method of image reproduction was created in the mid-1970’s.
(c) The image is only located in the top-most fibral or 2% of the surface microfibres of the material.
(d) The possible production of the image by an intense radioactive burst of 3 billion kilowatts, coming from inside the body.
(e) The image has no directionalality usually associated with large images.
(f) Of all the known burial garments, none show any similar imagery.
(g) Of all known cruciarii, none have been recorded to have any form of crowning.
Although this is not definitive proof that the image is of the Master, its almost supernatural production cannot be otherwise scientifically determined.
(ii) Pointers towards the cloth’s authenticity:
(a) Wide Angle X-ray Scatter (WAXS) analysis measures the amount of natural fibre degradation. This is then compared to samples of cloth of known age, although the age is usually found by Carbon-14 dating, giving an age of 2000 years.
(b) Pollen particles embedded in the material found only on the immediate Yerushalayim environs.
(c) The cloth is made from a particular herringbone weave of the 1st. Century C.E. Jewish culture, but would have been very expensive to produce.
However, the WAXS analysis is a relatively new procedure and its limitations are not yet fully understood. Although Carbon-14 dating has been shown to have its own limitations, these are well documented and are considered in any investigation.
Further limitations are placed upon WAXS in the very small number of samples of material to which the Shroud may be compared. There are no known WAXS tests carried out to the soudarion.
The cloth may well have originated in the Yerushalayim area of the 1st. Century C.E., but may have been subsequently purchased by a rich knight, particularly if he had died during any of the Crusades, and his body repatriated for interment.
(iii) Pointers towards the Shroud’s authenticity as a burial garment:
(a) There are copious amounts of type AB blood staining.
(b) Blood samples contain creatin and bilirubin enzymes that keep blood red, indicative of mass trauma prior to death.
(iv) Pointers towards the image is that of a cruciarius:
(a) The blood stain analyses of the head, hands and feet indicate that the image is comparable to that of a crucified man.
(b) The blood analysis shows the presence of creatin and bilirubin, indicating that the image is that of a man having undergone severe body trauma prior to death.
(v) Pointers towards the image not being that of the Master Yahusha:
(a) The facial image is one of a well-groomed medieval man of approximately fifty years of age, not of a thirty- something year old having experienced a double flogging and crucifixion (Psa. 22:15(14)).
(b) The reconstructed body shows multiple lacerations of approximately 50-75mm in length. These are more indicative of puncture wounds and not the large areas of flesh that would have been torn away by the flagrum/plumbatae (Psa. 129: 2-4).
(c)The facial image shows a barbered beard around the mouth, not of a full beard that has been ripped off the face (Isa. 50:6).
(d) The head does not show signs of blunt-force trauma that would have been caused by being beaten with a vitis (Mic. 4:14b(5:1b)-5:4a(5:5a)).
(e) The shroud is a one-piece cloth covering the body and head contrary to Scripture that states that the head clothes were separate from the body.
(vi) Pointers towards the image as a fake:
(a) There is only anecdotal evidence of a mystical image, not made by hands, as far back as 574 C.E. and documentary evidence from 1300’s.
(b) The Sudarium (Gk. σουδάριον soudarion) of Oviedo is considered as the head cloth has a separate provenance to the Shroud. This only goes back as far as 570 C.E. Although the soudarion shows multiple corresponding wound stains to that of the Shroud, it would seem strange that these would not have been kept together.
(c) John 20:6, 7 clearly states that there was more than one burial cloth as well as the soudarion.
(d) The soudarion has no image imprinted into the cloth as with the Shroud. As this would have been placed over the face prior to covering with a larger burial cloth, the absence of any image is problematic.
(e) The copious amounts of blood present would not have been that expected of a cadaver of a few hours.
(f) Much is made of the position of the knees in what would have been expected of crucifixion. However, the legs would have been straightened out upon interment. Although it has been suggested that the knees came up as a muscular memory of their last hours, this would be contrary to the onset of rigor mortis. If this was the case, then the arms that supported the Master for those same hours are shown as relaxed with no similar muscle memory.
(g) Scripture clearly prohibits the making of any image that may be worshipped.
Although it has been said that if it was a miraculously made image the prohibitions of Exod. 20:4 and Rom. 1:25 are not applicable. This is obviously not the case as exhibited by the veneration the Shroud and Sudarium receive from worshippers.
Yahuah bless you and keep you,
Yahuah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
All glory be to Yahuah,
Ameyn.
References and Credits
In using these references, it is in no way agreeing to or condoning the theological viewpoint of the authors.
For further information as regards to the above discussion, more details can be obtained from:
Dr. Taylor Marshall – Shroud of Turin is REAL! Unveiling the Burial Shroud of Jesus by Dr Taylor Marshall #1123 (youtube.com)
Dr. Jermiah Johnson – Shroud of Turin SHOCKING New Evidence Leaves Scientists SPEECHLESS | Stakelbeck Tonight (youtube.com)
Russ Breault – Shroud Of Turin PROVEN Real? Expert Analysis On New X-ray Evidence (youtube.com)
Dr. Gary Habermas – The SHROUD of TURIN – JESUS’ PHOTOGRAPH? – Gary Habermas (youtube.com)
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First Generation Assembly 