Is Josephus considered a reliable Historian?

[Standing Up]

He was Jewish but by that time he had gone over to the Roman side in order to save his life. He was working for Titus. However, his histories are reliable.

One wonders. Easy to speculate though. For example, as regards the timing of Passover with Jesus, he seems to 'contradict' himself.

Also wonder of others who 'began working for Titus', etc.

 

[Secundulus]

One wonders. Easy to speculate though. For example, as regards the timing of Passover with Jesus, he seems to 'contradict' himself.

Also wonder of others who 'began working for Titus', etc.

Josephus prophesied that Vespasian would become Emperor and then he did. So, by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem he was in excellent favor with Titus.

What he said about Jesus was secondary source. What he wrote about the Jewish Rebellion was as an eye witness, first as a Jewish priest and general and then as a confidant of Vespasian and Titus.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Josephus, in one of his works, complains that other historians tended to 'praise the Romans and vilify the Jews.' Then he goes on to do the same thing. And he was Jewish.

Go figure.

 

[pilgrimage]

Josephus prophesied that Vespasian would become Emperor and then he did. So, by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem he was in excellent favor with Titus.

What he said about Jesus was secondary source. What he wrote about the Jewish Rebellion was as an eye witness, first as a Jewish priest and general and then as a confidant of Vespasian and Titus.

So he was a prophet for the pagans?

 

[Secundulus]

So he was a prophet for the pagans?

Or maybe he just got lucky. But he was not a pagan.

 

[pilgrimage]

Or maybe he just got lucky. But he was not a pagan.

Yet he was a historian with pagan leanings toward the understanding given his interpreations.:o

 

[Secundulus]

Yet he was a historian with pagan leanings toward the understanding given his interpreations.:o

No, there is nothing pagan in his writings.

Isaiah and all the other OT prophets made prophesies about pagans also.

 

[Standing Up]

Yet he was a historian with pagan leanings toward the understanding given his interpreations.:o

Umm, three terms folks. Jewish, Pagan, Christian. Are they the same?

Pre-Christ Jewish or Pagan.

After Christ. Christian (Jew and Pagan under Jesus) or Jewish or Pagan.

No?

 

[pilgrimage]

Umm, three terms folks. Jewish, Pagan, Christian. Are they the same?

No, the histories don't match with the pagans that Jewish and Christians have. But the pagans can become graphted in if they adhere to the Godgiven ways that were first introduced by Jewish laws, made spiritual by christian understanding.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by pilgrimage So he was a prophet for the pagans?

Or maybe he just got lucky. But he was not a pagan.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Interesting thread!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Standing Up Umm, three terms folks. Jewish, Pagan, Christian. Are they the same?

No, the histories don't match with the pagans that Jewish and Christians have. But the pagans can become graphted in if they adhere to the Godgiven ways that were first introduced by Jewish laws, made spiritual by christian understanding.

So how does that apply to Josephus? Just curious

 

[from scratch]

Is Josephus considered a reliable historian and could YHWH have used him to record the Last Days events upon the OC Jewish Nation and Temple as described in the Olivet Discourse?

What are others views of this? Thanks.

Luke 21:22 "That days of vengeance these are, of the to be filled all-things, the having been written.
23 "Woe yet to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath on the people, these

John 11:48 "If ever we may be letting Him thus, all shall be believing into Him, and shall be coming the Romans and they shall be taking away of us and the Place and the Nation.

http://www.davieapostolicchurch.com/studies/destuct/

................The day on which Titus encompassed Jerusalem, was the feast of the Passover. At this season multitudes came up from all the surrounding country, and from distant parts, to keep the festival and the city was at this time crowded with Jewish strangers,...........

.......The Temple now presented little more than a heap of ruins

I don't really know if he is considered reliable, but his works seemed a must have to a serious Bible College student and minister in more than one denomination.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

http://www.davieapostolicchurch.com/studies/destuct/

................The day on which Titus encompassed Jerusalem, was the feast of the Passover. At this season multitudes came up from all the surrounding country, and from distant parts, to keep the festival and the city was at this time crowded with Jewish strangers,...........

I don't really know if he is considered reliable, but his works seemed a must have to a serious Bible College student and minister in more than one denomination.

I just noticed that was an outdated link [it is no longer up].
Here is a more recent one

http://www.bible.ca/pre-destruction70AD-george-holford-1805AD.htm

"I consider the Prophecy relative to the destruction of the Jewish nation,
if there were nothing else to support Christianity, as absolutely irresistible."
(Mr. Erskine's Speech, at the Trial of Williams, for publishing Paine's Age of Reason)

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I believe he is considered reliable. An archeologist followed his writings to determine where the tomb of King Herod was and the tomb was found.

Scroll down about seven paragraphs

BBC NEWS | Middle East | King Herod's ancient tomb 'found'

Which brings to mind the demise of him

NKJV] Acts 12:21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

 

[brinny]

Which brings to mind the demise of him

NKJV] Acts 12:21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

Whoa! what a way to die. And in front of EV'RYBODY....

 

[brinny]

Sheesh! I've been searching online for "Josephus" so i could buy it to really study it, cuz he's a historian, and there are sooooooo many that recommend reading it...it be HARD to find. I even checked Youtube to see if someone is reading it online....nuffin'

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I don't really know if he is considered reliable, but his works seemed a must have to a serious Bible College student and minister in more than one denomination.

Sheesh! I've been searching online for "Josephus" so i could buy it to really study it, cuz he's a historian, and there are sooooooo many that recommend reading it...it be HARD to find. I even checked Youtube to see if someone is reading it online....nuffin'

This is a rather interesting site [which I used to help harmonize Daniel/Olivet Discourse and book of Revelation with]....FASCINATING!

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

"I consider the Prophecy relative to the destruction of the Jewish nation, if there were nothing else to support Christianity, as absolutely irresistible."(Mr. Erskine's Speech, at the Trial of Williams, for publishing Paine's Age of Reason)

...........Our Lord proceeded, "And fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." [6]-
Josephus has collected the chief of these portents together, and introduces his account by a reflection on the strangeness of that infatuation, which could induce his countrymen to give credit to impostors, and unfounded reports, whilst they disregarded the divine admonitions, confirmed, as he asserts they Were, by the following extraordinary signs :.........

Luke 19:41 And as He nears being aware the City He laments upon Her
42 saying "that if thou knew and thou even indeed in the day, this, the toward Peace of thee, now yet it was Hid from thy eyes.
43 That shall be arriving days upon thee and thy enemies shall be casting up a siege-work to thee and shall be encompassing thee and pressing thee every which place.

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

..............The day on which Titus encompassed Jerusalem, was the feast of the Passover.............
　
.......The Temple now presented little more than a heap of ruins............

 

[brinny]

This is a rather interesting site [which I used to help harmonize Daniel/Olivet Discourse and book of Revelation with]....FASCINATING!

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

"I consider the Prophecy relative to the destruction of the Jewish nation, if there were nothing else to support Christianity, as absolutely irresistible."(Mr. Erskine's Speech, at the Trial of Williams, for publishing Paine's Age of Reason)

...........Our Lord proceeded, "And fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." [6]-
Josephus has collected the chief of these portents together, and introduces his account by a reflection on the strangeness of that infatuation, which could induce his countrymen to give credit to impostors, and unfounded reports, whilst they disregarded the divine admonitions, confirmed, as he asserts they Were, by the following extraordinary signs :.........

Luke 19:41 And as He nears being aware the City He laments upon Her
42 saying "that if thou knew and thou even indeed in the day, this, the toward Peace of thee, now yet it was Hid from thy eyes.
43 That shall be arriving days upon thee and thy enemies shall be casting up a siege-work to thee and shall be encompassing thee and pressing thee every which place.

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

..............The day on which Titus encompassed Jerusalem, was the feast of the Passover.............
　
.......The Temple now presented little more than a heap of ruins............

Thanks!

Still marveling at how Herod died

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Thanks!

Still marveling at how Herod died

Yeah.....couldn't have happened to a "nicer" guy ehehe

This is a post from another thread and I didn't know there was a site just on Josephus.

If you are interested in the works of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, go to this website:

Josephus.org - The Flavius Josephus Home Page

From their website, “For centuries Josephus' works were more widely read in Europe than any book other than the Bible. They are an invaluable eye-witness to a momentous turning point in Judaism, Christianity, and Western civilization.”