I've heard many Christian apologists and even some non-Christians claim that Josephus's writings confirm Jesus's existence. I can agree with them that if Josephus wrote about Jesus, then that would serve as corroborating and independent source for Jesus's existence. The problem that I run into is that looking up this topic brings up mixed results. Some sources support the claim, while others completely deny the authenticity of Josephus references to Jesus.
Here's some relevant background...Josephus makes two references to Jesus in his book called, Antiquities of the Jews.
Here are the references to Jesus:
1. "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; (64) 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."
Source: Quoted by PBS from The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3 The Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston Hendrickson Publishers, 1987
2." But this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity. 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: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king, desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrin without his consent. Whereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and wrote in anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the high priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high priest."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus#:~:text=The Testimonium Flavianum,-Testimonium Flavianum&text=About this time there lived,and many of the Greeks. Flavius Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews Book 20 Chapter 9, 1
For Debate:
What are the facts? What do the scholars in the field say about this issue? Is there a scholarly consensus?
Here's some relevant background...Josephus makes two references to Jesus in his book called, Antiquities of the Jews.
Here are the references to Jesus:
1. "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; (64) 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."
Source: Quoted by PBS from The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3 The Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston Hendrickson Publishers, 1987
2." But this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity. 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: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king, desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrin without his consent. Whereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and wrote in anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the high priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high priest."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus#:~:text=The Testimonium Flavianum,-Testimonium Flavianum&text=About this time there lived,and many of the Greeks. Flavius Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews Book 20 Chapter 9, 1
For Debate:
What are the facts? What do the scholars in the field say about this issue? Is there a scholarly consensus?
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