The Gospel Truth About Jesus’ Tomb?

According to most modern English gospel translations, including the New Revised Standard Version (below), when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at Jesus’ tomb, the stone protecting the entrance had been “rolled away.” But archaeology suggests this might not be the best translation of the original Greek term, kulio, which can also mean “moved” or “dislodged.”

Author Amos Kloner suggests that if we replace the term “rolled away” or “rolled back” with “moved” or “pulled back” in the following passages, we will come closer to understanding the scene that confronted the two Marys.

According to Matthew

“He [Joseph of Arimathea] went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away” (Matthew 27:58–60). “After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 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” (Matthew 28:1–2).