How did the myth of Jesus' resurrection originate?

[xpastor]

Thanks very much. I'll check the link. Either way, either day, I don't think it diminishes my original hypothesis: temporary entombment to get past Yom Tov and Shabbat, then disentombment ASAP and interment. With all the digression, I can't recall whether you agreed or disagreed.

I am agnostic on the subject of whether Jesus' body was placed in a rock cut tomb. I appreciate that your exposition of Jewish burial law supports that conclusion. However, to me the story of Joseph of Arimethea providing his own tomb has the air of a made-up story, and even more so the posting of a Roman guard at the tomb. The latter claim probably reflects a later date when Jewish Christians were quarreling with those who retained their traditional beliefs. Something like

Jesus rose from the dead
Did not.
Did so.
Nah, he was dead. You guys stole the body.
Couldn't do that. There was a Roman guard.
etc. etc.

The Romans had ultimate authority. One alternative to the tomb story is that the Romans simply left the body up as they did with most crucifixion victims, and then buried it in the earth, in which case the tomb story was later worked up to support the resurrection claim.