Writings About Jesus

Josephus (c. 37–100 CE), a 1st-century Jewish historian, is traditionally cited as having mentioned Jesus in two passages of his work Antiquities of the Jews (c. 93–94 CE). The primary passage is known as the Testimonium Flavianum, found in Antiquities 18.3.3 (18:63–64). A second, shorter mention of Jesus appears in Antiquities 20.9.1 (20:200).

1. The Testimonium Flavianum (Antiquities 18.3.3 (18.63–64))

• Traditional Version:\ "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. 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."

Issues of Authenticity:

• Scholars widely agree that this passage has Christian interpolations (later edits by Christian scribes) because phrases like "He was the Christ" and "he appeared to them alive again the third day" are unlikely to have been written by Josephus, a Jewish historian.