The Turin Shroud has been the subject of much controversy for many years. Those for and against its authenticity have trotted out scientific information to support their viewpoint, but is this the best course for Christians to take?
I will state right from the outset that I’m no expert on the Turin Shroud or carbon dating etc., but I do feel that we can refer the the Bible, which, after all, ought to be our authority on all things related to the Lord Jesus Christ. So let’s see what’s written in the Bible.

Firstly, the Bible says that the body of Jesus was wrapped in Linen (Luke 23:53). Wrapping may suggest something similar to mummification, where strips of linen are wrapped round the body.

Secondly, we read in the next chapter:
Luke 24:12 “Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.” This suggests strongly, that there was more than one piece of cloth.This is confirmed in the following verse: John 19:40 “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

Thus we have already, a clear indication that this one single shroud is not what Jesus was buried in. John 20:5-7 “And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”

As we continue in the account of John, we see here the mention of a “napkin”, a separate piece of cloth, which was “about his head”. The Turin Shroud is a single piece, more like a sheet.

This proves conclusively that the Shroud does not fit with Bible accounts. Whatever the Turin Shroud is, it is NOT what Jesus was wrapped in at death.

Andrew Longman