The item has led to heated debate among historians

New evidence has come to light surrounding a bone box believed by some to belong to one of Jesus Christ’s brothers.

In 1976, antiques collector Oded Golan came into the possession of a limestone bone box and a rather exciting inscription on the outside.

The inscription

The phrase ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus,’ was inscribed on the outside of the bone box. In the Bible, the names of Jesus’ brothers are mentioned several times, including James, Jude, Simon and Joses.

Nicknamed the James Ossuary, the box subsequently stirred up questions as to whether it once held the bones of one of Jesus Christ’s brothers inside.

After the discovery was made public in 2002, it was slammed by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) which dubbed the inscription as being a forgery, as per Live Science.

There’s been much debate over the authenticity of the inscription (Drew Cunningham/Getty Images)

Doubt over its authenticity

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) appointed a committee of scholars to study the ‘brother of Jesus’ inscription and reported that its findings and it was concluded the inscription was a forgery, Biblical Archaeology says.

However, Dutch scholar Pieter van der Horst accused the IAA of only appointing committee members who had already exhibited skepticism.

After seven years, the trial concluded clearing Golan and anyone else of any forgery.

Although, Bible scholar at the Asbury Theological Seminary Dr Ben Witherington III told The Daily Mail in November this year: “The likelihood of that particular combination of those three names not referring to the famous James the Just, and his father Joseph, and his brother Jesus are slim to none.

“If it were true that the crucifixion was the end of Jesus’ story, no one would be bragging about being related to him on an ossuary.”

Although, new evidence has seemingly suggested the box may hold a genuine connection to Christ.

New analysis has reportedly been performed on the box (Drew Cunningham/Getty Images)

New analysis

Earlier this month, Golan told Crosswalk.com it’s ‘almost sure’ that the ossuary ‘belonged to James, the brother of Jesus’.

Why? Well, he says ‘several chemical tests’ were performed on the box and ‘especially to the inscription itself’ – ‘the more important element’.

And the tests allegedly ‘proved that the whole inscription is authentic’, with Golan adding: “It was engraved several thousand years ago.”

He resolved: “If you put all those elements together, we are really facing one of the most, most important items ever found, not only in Israel, I think, but in history. …I think now there is no question about the authenticity of it.”