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A
Tribute to the Late Dr. Ernest L. Martin
April
20, 1932 - January 16, 2002
Dr.
Ernest L. Martin, Biblical scholar and personal friend, died
this morning at his home in Portland, OR. I just got off the
telephone with his wife Ramona. He had suffered a heart
attack on January 4th, came home thereafter, and seemed to be
doing well. We all had hopes for his recovery, but this
morning he suffered a second massive seizure. He was working at
his computer when he died. His death is a great loss.
His bio would fill many pages, but Ernest would not want anyone
to praise him for his accomplishments, in life or in death.
He always felt that his research, and anything he could
contribute, was all through the gifts and inspiration of God. I
don't know of any human being I have ever met who believed more
firmly in the absolute Grace and Providence of God.
Ernest
was a pioneering researcher in the area of Biblical studies, and
often his discoveries and conclusions were starkly different
from the mainstream. The three that touched most in my own field
of New Testament and Christian Origins were his work on the Star
of Bethlehem (now accepted by most planetariums in the world,
and also featured as the best solution to the "Christmas
story" in Jack Finegan's definitive Handbook
of Biblical Chronology), his research on the site of
Golgotha being the Mt. of Olives, and his most startling
conclusion--that BOTH of the Jewish Temples were located south
of the so-called Temple Mount and Western Wall, in the city of
David over the Gihon Springs. I suppose if Ernest turns out to
be right on that one it will be the most startling revision in
the history of biblical archaeology (not to mention the
political repercussions).
Ernest
and I disagreed on many theological topics. In fact, he often
joked with me that he was "Paul" and I was
"James," in the current spectrum of things, but that
there was room for both of us in the quest for the historical
Jesus and the significance of his teachings through the ages.
Ernest was THE fundamental inspiration for the greatest project
I have ever undertaken, the Original
Bible Project, over
which I have labored now for nearly a decade.
I
will sadly and sincerely miss Ernest L. Martin. I saw him
in Denver, CO in November and we had a long and very warm
conversation together at the annual 
meeting of the AAR/SBL. He was in fine form, quintessential
Ernest L. Martin, as I will always remember him.
His
website, www.askelm.com,
is active and contains information on most of his research, and
will soon post updates about his death and events to follow.
My
heart and prayers are with his family, especially his dear son
Samuel, one of my best friends, who was recently married, and
now lives in Jerusalem.
Sadly,
James
D. Tabor
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I
have four children and three grandchildren who reside nearby. I am
an avid tennis player and
collect classic model cars, antique radios and phonographs.
