Who is historian josephus

This collection has been reviewed by Ryan Nelson at Faithlife:. Leading Josephus scholars Louis H. Feldman and John R. Levison contributed to this collection. Studies in Josephus' Rewritten Bible is a collection of 30 years of studies by renowned scholar Louis H.

Feldman on numerous topics of interest in Antiquities of the Jews. The essays also consider instances where Josephus radically changes the presentation of particular biblical characters such as Ahab, Hezekiah, and Zedekiah. The collection is edited by leading Josephus scholars Louis H. Feldman and Gohei Hata. These courses are also available in the seven-course The Gospels and History Bundle. Bible Software. Books and Courses. Does Logos offer payment plans? Download Logos. Who Was Josephus?

Engraving of Josephus from William Whiston's translation of his works. The below will answer these questions: Who was Josephus? Why is Josephus important for biblical studies? What did Josephus write? Where can I learn more about Josephus? His reference to Jesus in Antiquities of the Jews is referred to as the Testimonium Flavianum: About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.

There are four primary resources for reading Josephus:. Flavii Josephi opera Berlin: — by Benedict Niese Flavii Josephi opera Berlin: — is the critical edition upon which the famous Loeb series was based. This edition in Greek with apparatus is available in Logos, morphologically tagged and cross-referenced. The Loeb edition of Josephus The Loeb edition of Josephus is a reputable translation that includes both Greek and English on facing pages in the standard Loeb format, and was translated through the combined efforts of such eminent scholars as H.

The complete Loeb volumes are not yet available in electronic form, although Logos offers an eight-volume set including Against Apion and The Jewish War.

Flavius Josephus: Translation and Commentary is a world-class critical commentary project under the auspices of Brill. The completed translations now supersede the Loeb editions, and these commentaries should be foremost in any serious study of Josephus. Volumes currently in publication include some of which are available in Logos : Judean War 2, Vol. Translated by Steve Mason. Leiden: Brill, Judean Antiquities 1—4. Translated by Louis H. Judean Antiquities 5—7. Translated by Christopher T.

Judean Antiquities 8— Begg and Paul Spilsbury. Judean Antiquities Translated by J. Life of Josephus. Against Apion. Translated by John M. The completed volumes in the Brill series are also available online. He was well educated, knowing both Jewish texts and the Greek language although his Greek grammar was faulty.

When the Roman army overcame his forces, Josephus and 40 compatriots fled to a cave. They agreed to commit suicide. Josephus fixed the lots so that his name would come out last. After the others killed themselves, Josephus convinced the remaining fighter to surrender with him. As a prisoner of the Romans , Josephus volunteered to write the history of the Great Revolt. General later Emperor Vespasian agreed. It must be emphasized that Josephus was writing for Vespasian - he was also writing from Rome - so his work is definitely biased.

He mentions several times in his Greek writings that he created an Aramaic version of the events as well, but unfortunately, it is not extant. Josephus' second major work, Jewish Antiquities , described the entire history of the Jews. It included a great deal of material from the time of Alexander the Great to the destruction of the Second Temple.

However, because of Josephus' proclivity to depend on hearsay and legend, scholars are never sure what to accept as fact. The Greco-Roman period involved the most changes in Judaism. It is also the most obscure to historians. Our sources are few.