Empty tomb

The empty tomb is the Christian tradition that the tomb of Jesus was found empty after his crucifixion.^[1] The canonical gospels each describe the visit of women to Jesus' tomb. Although Jesus' body had been laid out in the tomb after crucifixion and death, the tomb is found to be empty, the body gone, and the women are told by angels (or a "young man [...] dressed in a white robe") that he has risen.

In the Jewish, Greek, and Roman context, beliefs about resurrection varied, and early Christians were aware of other resurrection or “assumption” stories, yet positioned Jesus’ resurrection as unique and salvific. The composition and classification of the empty tomb as an "assumption" or "translation" story have been the subject of considerable debate. Scholars debate its historicity, with some suggesting Mark invented or adapted it, while others argue independent attestations in Mark and John point to an early shared tradition. Scholars disagree on whether the empty tomb by itself substantiates the resurrection; some connect it to post-resurrection appearances, while others, such as Bart D. Ehrman, view it as a theological narrative crafted to highlight Jesus’ bodily resurrection.