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Letter-to-Christian-Scholars

« Biblical History and Science Nicene Creed »

Josephus and Jesus

Central Question:

Should I base any of my faith in Christ on Josephus’s works?

Why this is important to me:

Even non-Christians believe that Jesus existed on this earth. The main reason for this is from the works of Josephus. Josephus references Jesus two times.

If Jesus was truly important, there should be significant information relayed by Josephus. From other sections in this letter we have to accept that the 4 Gospels are not important records of Christs works. If that is the case, we must fall on Josephus

Josephus wrote 60+ years after Christ’s death

His works are written around 90-100 AD. In fact, Josephus was born in 37 AD which would be after Jesus died.

In other words, Josephus’s works cannot be considered 1st person accounts

Josephus Talks of Jesus 2 times

Specifically this is in “Antiquities Book 18” and “Antiquities Book 20”

There is also a discussion of John the Baptist in Book 18. While Jesus is not referenced in the John the Baptist section, it is important to note

The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews, written by the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus around 93–94 AD, contain two references to Jesus of Nazareth and one reference to John the Baptist.^[1][2]

The most valuable reference of Jesus is a forgery

The first and most extensive reference to Jesus in the Antiquities, found in Book 18, states that Jesus was the Messiah and a wise teacher who was crucified by Pontius Pilate. It is commonly called the Testimonium Flavianum.^[1][3][4] Almost all modern scholars reject the authenticity of this passage in its present form. Most believe this to be a forgery. This specific sentece written by Josephus looks and feels different than anything else he wrote. When looking at historical references to Josephus’s work, they were not considered important to Jesus’s legacy until the 9th century. Nobody knows when the forgery happened but basically all unbiased opinions consider this a forgery. ^[11][12]

The second acknowledges that some called him Christ

Modern scholarship has largely acknowledged the authenticity of the second reference to Jesus in the Antiquities, found in Book 20, Chapter 9. During the time of this writing a couple of the Gospels were being written:

Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done

Although authentic, this reference only denotes that a group of people called Jesus the Christ. A historian of our day can say the same thing about David Koresh of Waco. Some called him the Christ.