With Easter right around the corner, questions about the historical existence of Jesus, the resurrection of Christ, the reliability of scripture, and even things like the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin naturally arise and capture our interest.
Interestingly, most have never even heard of The Shroud of Turin; yet, the Shroud of Turin is the most studied archaeological artifact of all time (Dr. Cheryl White, 2021) – and the reality of its existence could be a factor in whether you choose to believe in Christ, and the Resurrection, or not.
What is it?
The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth made of flax (Pedro, 2021) that appears to reveal the full-length image of a crucified man showing signs of rigor mortis (Theodora A. Pappas, 2024). It is approximately fourteen feet long, three and a half feet wide, revealing the front and back of a man approximately 6 feet tall, with the fabric “fold” being near the top of the head (Breault, 2025). Again, the shroud is the most studied archaeological artifact in the world, with nearly 200 peer-reviewed academic papers being written about it (Marino, 2021).
The imprinted image on the cloth appears to reveal a man who had significant wounds to his head, face, back, knees, and even side (Schwortz, 2025). The argument can easily be made that the wounds are consistent with a crown of thorns, scourging, crucifixion, carrying a heavy object on the shoulders, and having the side pierced as described in the Bible (Isaiah 50, Matthew 27, Mark 14, John 19, et al). The shroud has burn marks and water stains from damage due to a fire in 1532 (Little, 2020). Many repairs were done to the shroud in the Middle Ages, apparently by nuns (Mechthild Flury-Lemberg, 2023), to try and repair damage from fire. This will be an important issue later when we talk about the age of the shroud. The shroud shows the presence of AB type blood which is rare and typically of Jewish heritage (Giovanni Di Minno, 2016). This blood contains bilirubin and high levels of creatinine and ferritin – typically present in victims who have experienced severe trauma (Fanti G. , 2024). Plant pollen from Israel and other parts of the world are present (William Meacham, 1983).
Where is it?
The shroud is currently in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, and has been there since 1578 (Ostberg, 2025). There are many copies on display; however, the original was reported to be coming back on display in 2025; however, that is now in question (Deduck, 2025).
When was it found? When is it from?
Many paintings and even coins have been found from as far back as the seventh century, and possibly before (Breault, 2025), that are clearly based upon the image on the shroud (Latendresse, 2024). These artistic renderings reveal not just specific facial features found in the shroud, but even folds that are seen in the cloth itself – showing that the shroud was the “model” for these artistic endeavors (Breault, 2025). The shroud first went on display in the 1300’s. In 1988, the shroud came under the control of the Catholic church; however, before that it was mostly privately owned (Breault, 2025).
The age of the shroud is one of the most contentious arguments about its authenticity. In 1988 Carbon Dating was used to determine the age of the shroud. The results of this work revealed that the shroud was from the 13th or 14th century (Gove, January 1990) which obviously discredited the theory that it was Jesus’ burial cloth; however, after decades of petitions to get to the original data from these tests, it appears that the samples used were poorly selected, being selected from the repairs and patches that were done in medieval times – long after the shroud was used as a burial cloth (Breault, 2025). Further, it was found from the original research that the scientists doing the testing took an average of the dates found from the testing , which would be highly inappropriate for reporting these findings. These results have been largely rejected and discredited by the scientific community (Casabianca, 2019), and because of how poorly the research was done, should be considered invalid. Newer dating methodologies, called wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) by Italy’s Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council, have been used as late as 2024 to date the shroud (Liberato De Caro, 2022). This dating method analyzed the natural decay of the flax cellulose that makes up the fibers of the shroud . The results of these tests confirm that the shroud is indeed from the first century (Liberato De Caro, 2022). These fibers were then compared with other linens known to date back to the first century, and the results from the shroud were validated to be from the same time (Liberato De Caro, 2022).
How was it made?
One consistent and universally accepted truth from the testing that has been done over the past 50 years is that the image is not made with paint, dyes, or stains, or any physical or chemical method known to produce such an image (Paolo Di Lazzaro, 2020). This shroud is unique in that there is a detailed image imprinted on it, which is hard to see with the naked eye. As much as scientists have tried, there is no good explanation as to how the image got there. Many have tried to duplicate the image on linen, and all have failed (Murray, 2019). There is obvious blood remnants in the fabric (Fanti G. , 2024), with antigens found only in human blood (Kearse, 2012). This blood is soaked through to the other side of the fabric; however, the human image itself is only 1-2 fibers deep (Fanti G. , 2010). This can indicate that the image was created separately from, and after, the blood stained the fabric. The image itself is coded with 3D information meaning it was wrapped around something when the image was created. The image is not flat, as one would draw a picture. It literally is a 3D image that with the right equipment, is clearly visible (Rucker, 2022).
The facecloth or headcloth connected with the shroud, and referenced twice in the Bible (John 11 and John 20), does not include an image on it, but presumably, the cloth would have been wrapped around the head like a “tooth cloth” or jaw band to keep the mouth closed after death. It would have been on top of the shroud, and blood stains found on the cloth coincide with the shroud.
From a scientific perspective, there is not a conclusive answer for how the image was created; however, based on what we can see through various types of imagery, fiber analysis, and other data collection, while dismissing the “standard” ways you would create an image on cloth like paint or stain, the image seems to have been made by some sort of radiation, energy, or electromagnetic burst (Ball, 2015). Along those lines, many critics have referenced how long the fingers are of the man in the image, declaring them to be too long; however, if you were to overlay the x-ray of a hand, the finger length is in alignment with the size and proportions of the shroud image (UPI Archives, 1982). This may actually give us a clue as to the nature of the energy that must have created the image. This also can tell us that the energy source was coming out of the body and into the fabric, as opposed to the energy going down into the body from some other source (Fanti G. , 2010).
Who is it?
This is the ultimate question! Millions of people (and scientists) believe it to be the image of Jesus Christ, who was crucified, wrapped in this very linen cloth, buried in a tomb, then resurrected on the third day. In the Bible, the book of Mark chapter 15 verse 46 tells us Jesus was indeed taken down from the cross and wrapped in a linen cloth, then placed in the tomb.
Since we know the image is not paint, but is an image of a deceased man somehow imprinted on the fabric, is it probable to suppose that someone other than Jesus was crucified, had a crown of thorns placed on his head, speared in the right side, had no broken bones, had abrasions on his shoulders likely from carrying a cross, whipped all over his body resulting in hundreds of injuries, was missing part of his beard, wrapped in a cloth that contains blood, mineral, and pollen evidence of the area Jesus lived and died in, and dated to the first century by the latest dating methods? It would be rather unique and unlikely to have someone other than Jesus buried in this cloth. Can science definitively prove with 100% certainty that this Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ? No, but am I convinced? Yes. There is enough evidence to believe this was and is the burial cloth of Jesus referenced in scripture. The scientific data is consistent, in every respect, with this conclusion.
Why does it matter?
That depends on who you are.
For this writer, it doesn’t actually matter very much at all. The question of Christ being who He said He was – God in the flesh, being born of a virgin, living a perfect life, dying on a cross for my sins, and being raised from the dead, was settled long ago. The evidence for God as Creator, the existence of the historical Jesus as a real man (and as God), the testimony of Jesus’ death, burial and even resurrection is plenteous and overwhelming. The shroud is just one more piece of evidence that shows that the story IS true! His story is truly indisputable, although many have tried. If the shroud were proven to be a fake tomorrow, this writer’s faith is not harmed in any way. Ralph Waldo Emerson got it right when he said, “all I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen”. I will say, that before I began this project of writing on the shroud I was highly skeptical of it; however, since reading some of the research as I’ve discussed in this article (weeks, days and hours of reading and study only scratch the surface of the data out there), I have changed my mind. I’m no longer skeptical, even though as a “scientist” and “theologian”, I can’t say that it is 100% authentic. No one can. Yet, I do believe that the image on the shroud captures the very moment of the Resurrection of Christ. And for this reason, it is worthy of our attention.
If you don’t believe in Christ, or if you are skeptical, the shroud should be one more piece of evidence that can help you get over the hurdle of disbelief. Consider the advice of former Atheist and Philosopher Antony Flew, “Follow the evidence wherever it leads” (Gag, 2008). In John chapter 20, verses 4-9 of the Bible, we see the disciples in a foot race to the tomb to see for themselves that Jesus was indeed gone. It says, “Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” Even after walking and talking with Jesus for three years, after seeing the miracles, and experiencing everything Jesus showed them, when does it say they believed? After they saw the face cloth and shroud, and no body in them. Perhaps you can “see” the shroud for yourself, and believe? The evidence is there, and you CAN believe in Christ – not just as a good teacher, or prophet, or good man, but as God in the flesh, who came, died, and rose from the grave, which gives us hope for life forever with Him!
Here’s the real question: If the shroud is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus, and just one more piece of evidence of the resurrection of Christ (there are many) (Strobel, 2014), what will you do about it? We can’t worship the shroud. We can’t ignore it either. An appropriate response can’t be to just say, “that’s cool” or “that’s nice”; rather, the response should be to believe that Jesus was and is who He said He was – and to worship Him…that is to declare that He is the most worthy of all worthy things. If you believe this for the first time, find a good bible believing church, one who believes Jesus was and is God, be baptized through immersion – symbolizing death, burial, and resurrection – that is the death of your old self, and beginning of the new you in Christ with a new identity, and then live for Him! My hope is that you can celebrate Easter, or better yet Resurrection Sunday, with a newfound faith and appreciation for what the resurrection of Christ means to you and the world!
Spencer Dunlap has a Biology Degree from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, and a Seminary Degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He is a retired pastor and church planter, and revenue operations specialist for Sandpaper Marketing in Navarre, Florida.
Works Cited
Ball, P. (2015, June 19). BBC News – Magazine. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33164668#:~:text=Italian%20chemist%20Giulio%20Fanti%20of,emanating%20from%20the%20body%20itself.
Breault, R. (2025). https://shroudencounter.com. Retrieved from Shroud Encounter: https://shroudencounter.com/what-is-the-shroud-of-turin/
Casabianca, T. (2019). Radiocarbon Dating of the Turin Shroud: New Evidence from Raw Date. Archaeometry.
Deduck, N. (2025, January 22). https://thebestofturin.com/shroud-of-turin-display. Retrieved from thebestofturin.com: https://thebestofturin.com/shroud-of-turin-display/#:~:text=Although%20the%20Shroud%20of%20Turin,me%2C%20it’s%20a%20unique%20experience.
Dr. Cheryl White, R. B. (2021). Shroud of Mystery: The World’s Most Analyzed Artifact. Museum of the Bible. Washington.
Fanti, G. (2010). Microscopic and Macroscopic Characteristics of the. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, 1-8.
Fanti, G. (2024). New Insights on Blood Evidence from the Turin Shroud Consistent with Jesus Christ’s Tortures. Archives of Hematology Case Reports and Reviews, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padua, Italy.
Gag, L. P. (2008). Where the Evidence Leads. Discovery Institute.
Giovanni Di Minno, R. S. (2016). Blood stains of the Turin Shroud 2015: beyond personal hopes and limitations of techniques. PubMed: NIH National Library of Medicine, 507-516.
Gove, H. E. (January 1990). Dating the Turin Shroud—An Assessment. ResearchGate.
Kearse, K. P. (2012). Empirical evidence that the blood on the Shroud of Turin is of human origin: Is the current data sufficient? . Shroud.com.
Latendresse, M. (2024). Sindonology: Shroud of Turin. Retrieved from Sindonology.org: https://www.sindonology.org/byzantineCoins/coins.shtml
Liberato De Caro, T. S. (2022). X-ray Dating of a Turin Shroud’s Linen Sample. MDPI, 860-870.
Little, B. (2020, March 18). History. Retrieved from History.com: https://www.history.com/articles/shroud-turin-facts
Marino, J. (2021). academia.edu. Retrieved from Academia: https://www.academia.edu/50115220/Peer_Reviewed_Papers_on_the_Shroud_of_Turin_a_Bibliography
Mechthild Flury-Lemberg, P. (2023, April 21). Secrest of the Dead: Shroud of Christ? Season 4, Episode 3. Turin, Italy.
Murray, R. (2019, January 10). Daily News. Retrieved from Daily News Evening Edition: https://www.nydailynews.com/2011/12/22/shroud-of-turin-cant-be-a-fake-researchers-say-scientists-unable-to-replicate-cloths-christ-like-image/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20double%20image%20(front%20and%20back)%20of,obtain%20today%20in%20a%20laboratory%2C%E2%80%
Ostberg, R. (2025, March 18). Britannica.com/topic/Shroud-of-Turin. Retrieved from www.britannica.com: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shroud-of-Turin
Paolo Di Lazzaro, A. C. (2020). Statistical and Proactive Analysis of an Inter-Laboratory Comparison: The Radiocarbon Dating of the Shroud of Turin. PMC: PubMed Central / National Library of Medicine.
Pedro, D. (2021, September 13). slmedia.org/blog. Retrieved from slmedia.org: https://slmedia.org/blog/deacon-structing-the-shroud-of-turin-the-facts
Rucker, R. (2022). The Mysteries of the Shroud of Turin. The American Society for Nondestructive Testing.
Schwortz, B. (2025). Shroud of Turin Website. Retrieved from Shroud of Turin Website.
Strobel, L. (2014). The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Theodora A. Pappas, e. (2024). Beyond Imagination: Evidence of Rigor Mortis and Cadaveric Spasm on the Shroud of Turin. Medical & Clinical Case Reports Journal, 603-616.
UPI Archives. (1982, September 15). Retrieved from United Press International: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/09/15/Researcher-says-X-rays-caused-shroud-impression/6552400910400/
William Meacham, J. E. (1983). The Authentication of the Turin Shroud: An Issue in Archaeological Epistemology. University of Chicago Press Journals, 283-311.