The next ancient, non-biblical source, like yesterday, comes from a Jewish source as well. However, this Jewish source is not considered very reliable, but it is being included to show that at least one item of information contained in other ancient sources lived on for several centuries after the event of the empty tomb.
The Toledoth Jesu is a Jewish document that refers to both Jesus and his body after he had died and was buried in Joseph's tomb. According to the document, a gardener named Juda knew of the plot by the disciples to steal Jesus' body from the tomb. Rather than allow this to happen, he went and dug a new grave in his garden, retrieved Jesus' body from Joseph's tomb, and reburied him in his newly dug grave. When the disciples showed up at Joseph's tomb and discovered it empty, they declared that Jesus had been resurrected. When the Jewish leaders investigated and saw that the tomb was empty, Juda took them to the grave he had buried Jesus in and dug up the body for them. Then Juda sold Jesus' dead body to the Jewish leaders for thirty pieces of silver and the Jewish leaders dragged Jesus' body through the streets of Jerusalem.
It is important to keep in mind that this document was compiled around the fifth century AD, though Jewish scholars do not find this document reliable. However, it does trace at least one early tradition dating back to Matthew's gospel (70-85 A.D.)[1]: the claim that the disciples stole the body.
The claim that the disciples stole the body as an explanation for the Jewish leaders does show their active and persistent concern that they attempt to provide an alternate explanation for what happened to the body. Around 150 A.D., Justin Martyr wrote that the Jewish leaders had certain men trained to travel around the Mediterranean world and Rome giving this explanation for the empty tomb. Tertullian confirms this around 200 A.D.[2]
If nothing else, then at least the following information can be taken from this late, unreliable story:
- Jesus died and was buried in Joseph's tomb.
- The Jewish leaders taught that the disciples had stolen his body.
- Matthew 28:11-15
- Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 205-206.