What did Josephus write in relation to Jesus?

Answer 1

AnswerAlthough the text has been altered over the centuries, it is clear that Josephus, in a famous passage now known as the Testamonium Flavinium, mentioned the Christian religion, saying that the members of that religion worshipped Jesus. In a less well-known passage, Josephus also mentioned James, the brother of Jesus. However, as with Paul's epistle, it is not clear whether 'brother' was an honorary title because of James' role as leader of the Jerusalem Church, or whether James really was the biological brother of a historical Jesus.

So, Josephus did mention Jesus indirectly in his 'Antiquities of the Jews' which was published in 93 CE, but he relied on secondary sources, probably the Christians themselves.

Many scholars now believe that later scribes interpolated passages into the writings of Josephus to give validity to the idea that Jesus not only existed but was also referred to as the Christ.

Answer 2

AnswerThere are two answers to this question. The first relates to historical material written by Josephus and used to add to the Christian story, while the second relates to mentions that Josephus makes to Jesus as a person who apparently figured in recent Jewish history.

First of all, Luke is considered to have made frequent use of the writings of Josephus to add historical substance to his Gospel and Acts of the Apostle. Even the famed reference to the census of Quirinius is thought to have come from Josephus, since Luke is unlikely to have known about it otherwise. On this, Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says, "The best explanation is that, although Luke likes to set his Christian drama in the context of well-known events from antiquity, sometimes he does so inaccurately." So, in this respect Josephus did not intentionally write about Jesus, but his works were subsequently used for that purpose.

The second connection between Josephus and Jesus is the passage now known as the Testimonium Flavianum, that most modern scholars agree that is at least partially authentic. This reference is of course second-hand, as Josephus could not have met Jesus or even someone who knew Jesus. One of the versions of the Testimonium Flavianum that have come down to us reads: Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.

Finally, there is a short reference by Josephus to James, whom he refers to as the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ. Here the reference to Jesus is somewhat derogatory, in contrast to the version of the Testimonium Flavianum shown above: As therefore Ananus was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as lawbreakers, he delivered them over to be stoned.

Answer 3

In the writings of Josephus regarding Jesus, there is only a small amount of text that is usually contested. Almost all scholars, Christian and non-Christian, agree there are comments made (especially about Jesus being divine) that do not seem to fit while there are other parts that are authentic.

Therefore, entirely omitting the comments in question, there is agreement that Josephus wrote the following about Jesus: he was regarded as a wise teacher and as a messianic figure, he was said to have performed miracles, his brother was James, Jesus was crucified by order of Pilate with involvement from Jewish leaders, and was the founder of Christianity.

Below is the text from the Testamonium with the possible interpolations as identified by scholars marked:

"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man [if indeed one ought to call him a man.] For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. [He was the Christ.] When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. [On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him.] And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."

There is also another mention in Antiquities to Jesus. this is also widely accepted as being genuine:

"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:

Answer 4

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The passage where Josephus mentions Jesus is called the Testimonium Flavianum. It is generally accepted that Josephus wrote the original version of this passage, but there are disputes about the extent to which was modified by subsequent Christian interpolators.

Whatever version of the Testimonium Flavianum we rely on, Josephus is positive about Jesus, but it should be understood that he does not suggest that he knew Jesus to have existed before his own time, just that Christians believed Jesus had existed. Josephus was a Jew and therefore saw Jesus in a very different light to Christian belief, so whatever he had heard about Jesus was not enough to change his own beliefs.

Answer 5

A:Josephus was the only non-Christian writer of the first century who makes reference to Jesus. The only significant reference he made to Jesus is both indirect and second hand, since he was born long after the time attributed to Jesus. The reference is in a disputed passage in Jewish Antiquities 18.3.3 §63, now known as the Testimonium Flavianum. There are two somewhat different version that have come down to us today. While the majority of scholars believe that Josephus probably did write the original passage, there is little agreement on what he wrote and what was added later by Christians. In the following translation, "if indeed one ought to call him a man" and "He was the Messiah" are undoubtedly later Christian interpolations, probably inserted about 200 years later. Also, the Greek words translated here as ""accept the truth gladly" can also be read as a reference to naivity, with the original intention of this clause somewhat unclear.

"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."

Answer 6

The only direct reference by Josephus to Jesus is a short passage now called the Testimonium Flavianum. One of the two main versions extant: Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day." Josephus was not a contemporary of Jesus and he was certainly a devout Jew, yet this passage could not have been written by a man who failed to embrace Christianity.

Scholars note a number of other anomalies and the remaining dispute is whether Josephus wrote any part of the Testamonium at all or whether it was entirely a fourth century forgery. At the very least, the original, if one existed, must have been amended by Christians. We are not sure what it was that Josephus actually said about Jesus.

Answer 7

There is no doubt that Josephus existed.