Josephus

-return to blog- • -return to wiki-

Josephus Flavius

37-100 A.D.

A Romano-Jewish historian and military leader best known for The Jewish War.

(Origin of the Bible handout by my small group leader, February 8, 2023. Summarized from Wikipedia. Page 4.)

Life

He was born in Jerusalem (part of Roman Judea) to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry.

He fought against the Romans during the First Jewish-Roman War as head of Jewish forces in Galilee until surrendering in 67 A.D. to Roman forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Yodfat. Josephus claimed the Jewish Messianic prophecies that initiated the First Jewish-Roman War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response, Vespasian kept Josephus as a slave and presumably an interpreter. After Vespasian became Emperor in 69 A.D., he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius.

Flavius Josephus fully defected to the Roman side and was granted Roman citizenship. He became an advisor and friend of Vespasian's son Titus, serving as his translator when Titus led the siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Since the siege proved ineffective at stopping the Jewish revolt, the city's pillaging and looting and destruction of Herod's Temple (Second Temple) soon followed.

(Origin of the Bible handout by my small group leader, February 8, 2023. Summarized from Wikipedia. Page 4.)

Works

Josephus recorded the First Jewish-Roman War (66-70 A.D), including the siege of Masada. His most important works were The Jewish War (circa 75) and Antiquities of the Jews (circa 94). These works provide valuable insight into first century Judaism and the background of Early Christianity. Josephus's works are the chief source next to the Bible for the history and antiquity of ancient Israel and provide a significant and independent extra-biblical account of Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, John the Baptist, James the Just, and possibly Jesus of Nazareth.

(Origin of the Bible handout by my small group leader, February 8, 2023. Summarized from Wikipedia. Page 4.)