英语短文：Brother of Jesus(耶稣的兄弟)

 　　In October 2002, the Biblical Archaeology¹ Society announced a discovery which could provide historical evidence for the existence of Jesus. An inscription² had been found on an ancient bone box (ossuary) that reads "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." If authentic³, this container provides the only new Testament-era mention of the central figure of Christianity and is the first-ever archaeological discovery to corroborate⁵ biblical references to Jesus. This June, the Discovery Channel followed the story of the unearthing⁶ in Israel of this ancient ossuary, providing viewers with new information about the discovery of this historic relic⁷ and raising questions about Jesus' family life.

　　According to one of the world's leading specialist in ancient inscriptions⁸, Andre Lemaire of the Sorbonne University in Paris, the Aramaic words etched on the box's side show a cursive form of writing used only from about 10 to 70 AD. Ancient inscriptions are typically found on royal monuments or on lavish⁹ tombs, commemorating¹⁰ rulers and other official figures. But Jesus, who was raised by a carpenter, was a man of the people, so finding documentation of his family is unexpected. The find is also significant in that it corroborates¹¹ the existence of Joseph, Jesus' father, and James, Jesus' brother and a leader of the early Christian⁴ church in Jerusalem. The family relationships contained on the ossuary helped experts uncover that the inscription very likely refers to the biblical James, brother of Jesus. Although all three names were common in ancient times, the statistical¹² probability of their appearing in that combination is extremely slim. In addition, the mention of a brother is unusual, indicating that this Jesus must have been a well-known figure.

　　耶稣的兄弟

　　2002年10月，圣经考古学会宣布一项发现，可能提供了耶稣确实存在人世的历史证据。在一个古代的藏骨柜上发现了以下的镌刻文字：“雅名，约瑟之子，耶稣的兄弟”。如果属实，这座藏骨柜将是“新约时代”首度提及这位基督世界的中心人物，也是第一个能证实圣经提及之耶稣事迹的考古发现。今年6月，Discovery频道追踪了这座古代藏骨棺在以色列的出土过程，提供观众有关发现这个历史遗物的新资讯，也对耶稣的家庭生活提出了新的疑问。

　　根据世界上首屈一指的碑铭研究家，巴黎索邦大学的李梅尔教授表示，刻在藏骨棺旁边的阿拉姆文字，是以一种仅在西元10到70年间使用的草写方式完成的。一般来说，古代铭文常在皇室纪念碑或奢华的陵墓中发现，用来纪念统治者或其他官方人物。但是耶稣生长在木匠之家，属一介平民，因此能够发现他家族的文字记载，实在出人意料。这项发现的重要性还在于它证实了耶稣的父亲约瑟以及兄弟雅各的存在，雅各也是早期耶路撒冷基督教的领袖。记载于藏骨棺上的家庭关系有助于专家确定，此铭文极可能与圣经中耶稣的兄弟雅各脱不了关系。虽然这三个名字在古时候都很普遍，但统计机率显示，三个名字同时出现于父子三人组合的机会微乎其微。此外，在铭文中提到某人的兄弟是很不寻常的，此举表示这位耶稣必然曾是一位知名人物。

　　关键词

　　inscription // n.铭文，碑文

　　authentic // adj.真实的，可靠的

　　corroborate // v.证实，确认

　　biblical // adj.圣经的，圣经中的

　　reference // n.提及，涉及

　　unearthing // n.发现，出土

　　etch // v.蚀刻

　　typically // adv.典型地，一般地

　　commemorate¹³ // v.庆祝，纪念

　　unexpected // adj.意外的，突如其来的

　　significant // adj.有意义的，重要的

　　slim // adj.渺茫的

1 archaeology   

n.考古学

参考例句：

• She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
• He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。

2 inscription   

n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文

参考例句：

• The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损，无法辨认了。
• He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。

3 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 corroborate   

v.支持，证实，确定

参考例句：

• He looked at me anxiously,as if he hoped I'd corroborate this.他神色不安地看着我，仿佛他希望我证实地的话。
• It appeared that what he said went to corroborate my account.看来他所说的和我叙述的相符。

6 unearthing   

发掘或挖出某物( unearth的现在分词 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露

参考例句：

• And unearthing the past often means literally and studying the evidence. 通常，探寻往事在字面上即意味着——刨根究底。
• The unearthing of "Peking Man" was a remarkable discovery. “北京人”的出土是个非凡的发现。

7 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

8 inscriptions   

（作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记

参考例句：

• Centuries of wind and rain had worn away the inscriptions on the gravestones. 几个世纪的风雨已磨损了墓碑上的碑文。
• The inscriptions on the stone tablet have become blurred with the passage of time. 年代久了，石碑上的字迹已经模糊了。

9 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

10 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

11 corroborates   

v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This article narrates a innovated dynamic penetration test method that mainly corroborates soil bearing capacity. 探讨了一种改进的动力触探方法，主要用于确定土的承载力。 来自互联网
• David, soon to be king of Israel, had an experience that corroborates this idea. 大卫即将成为以色列的国王之际，曾有过一次这样的经历。 来自互联网

12 statistical   

adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。

13 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。