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'''Josephus on Jesus''' is the collection of the historical testimonies of the first century Jewish historian [[Josephus]] on the Life, Death, Miracles, Prophecies and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That Josephus spoke of the Lord Jesus is attested by ancient Church Fathers like [[Saint Ambrose|St. Ambrose]] and [[Jerome|St. Jerome.]]
'''Josephus on Jesus''' is the collection of the historical testimonies of the first century Jewish historian [[Josephus]] on the Life, Death, Miracles, Prophecies and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That Josephus spoke of the Lord Jesus is attested by ancient Church Fathers like [[Saint Ambrose|St. Ambrose]], Saint Isidore and [[Jerome|St. Jerome.]]
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==Josephus on Jesus==
==Josephus on Jesus==
St. Jerome wrote: "Josephus, the son of Matthias, priest of Jerusalem, taken prisoner by Vespasian and his son Titus, was banished. Coming to Rome he presented to the emperors, father and son, seven books On the captivity of the Jews, which were deposited in the public library and, on account of his genius, was found worthy of a statue at Rome. He wrote also twenty books of Antiquities, from the beginning of the world until the fourteenth year of Domitian Cæsar, and two of Antiquities against Appion, the grammarian of Alexandria who, under Caligula, sent as legate on the part of the Gentiles against Philo, wrote also a book containing a vituperation of the Jewish nation. Another book of his entitled, On all ruling wisdom, in which the martyr deaths of the Maccabeans are related is highly esteemed. In the eighth book of his Antiquities he most openly acknowledges that Christ was slain by the Pharisees on account of the greatness of his miracles, that John the Baptist was truly a prophet, and that Jerusalem was destroyed because of the murder of James the Apostle. He wrote also concerning the Lord after this fashion: “In this same time was Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be lawful to call him man. For he was a worker of wonderful miracles, and a teacher of those who freely receive the truth. He had very many adherents also, both of the Jews and of the Gentiles, and was believed to be Christ, and when through the envy of our chief men Pilate had crucified him, nevertheless those who had loved him at first continued to the end, for he appeared to them the third day alive. Many things, both these and other wonderful things are in the songs of the prophets who prophesied concerning him and the sect of Christians, so named from Him, exists to the present day." <ref>De Viris Illustribus. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2708.htm</ref>
St. Jerome wrote: "Josephus, the son of Matthias, priest of Jerusalem, taken prisoner by Vespasian and his son Titus, was banished. Coming to Rome he presented to the emperors, father and son, seven books On the captivity of the Jews, which were deposited in the public library and, on account of his genius, was found worthy of a statue at Rome. He wrote also twenty books of Antiquities, from the beginning of the world until the fourteenth year of Domitian Cæsar, and two of Antiquities against Appion, the grammarian of Alexandria who, under Caligula, sent as legate on the part of the Gentiles against Philo, wrote also a book containing a vituperation of the Jewish nation. Another book of his entitled, On all ruling wisdom, in which the martyr deaths of the Maccabeans are related is highly esteemed. In the eighth book of his Antiquities he most openly acknowledges that Christ was slain by the Pharisees on account of the greatness of his miracles, that John the Baptist was truly a prophet, and that Jerusalem was destroyed because of the murder of James the Apostle. He wrote also concerning the Lord after this fashion: “In this same time was Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be lawful to call him man. For he was a worker of wonderful miracles, and a teacher of those who freely receive the truth. He had very many adherents also, both of the Jews and of the Gentiles, and was believed to be Christ, and when through the envy of our chief men Pilate had crucified him, nevertheless those who had loved him at first continued to the end, for he appeared to them the third day alive. Many things, both these and other wonderful things are in the songs of the prophets who prophesied concerning him and the sect of Christians, so named from Him, exists to the present day." <ref>De Viris Illustribus. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2708.htm</ref>
St. Isidore testified: "There was one Josephus, a Jew of the greatest reputation, and one that was zealous of the law ; one also that paraphrased the Old Testament with truth, and acted valiantly for the Jews, and had shown that their settlement was nobler than can be described by words. Now since he made their interest give place to truth, for he would not support the opinion of impious men, I think it necessary to set down his words. What then does he say? “Now there was about that 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 received 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, those that loved him at first did not forsake him, for He appeared to them alive again the third day, for the divine prophets had foretold these, and a vast number of other wonderful things concerning Him; and the tribe of Christians, so named after Him, are not extinct at this day”. Now I cannot but wonder greatly at this man’s love of truth in many things but chiefly where he says, “Jesus was a teacher of men who received the truth with pleasure.” <ref>https://onepeterfive.com/josephus-objections/</ref>
Sozomen likewise wrote in Ecclesiastical History: "But if any be ignorant of these facts it is not difficult to know them by reading the sacred books. Josephus, the son of Matthias, also who was a priest, and was most distinguished among Jews and Romans, may be regarded as a noteworthy witness to the truth concerning Christ; for he hesitates to call Him a man since He wrought marvelous works, and was a teacher of truthful doctrines, but openly calls him Christ; that He was condemned to the death of the cross, and appeared alive again the third day. Nor was Josephus ignorant of numberless other wonderful predictions uttered beforehand by the holy prophets concerning Christ. He further testifies that Christ brought over many to Himself both Greeks and Jews, who continued to love Him, and that the people named after Him had not become extinct. It appears to me that in narrating these things, he all but proclaims that Christ, by comparison of works, is God. As if struck by the miracle, he ran, somehow, a middle course, assailing in no way those who believed in Jesus, but rather agreeing with them."<ref>Ecclesiastical History, Book I, Chapter 1 (around 440 A.D.)</ref>.
==References==
==References==