Replies

He also wrote in the "Testimonium Flavianum", "About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many of the Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amaong us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to lovehim, did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he returned to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."

| Unfortunately, that passage was either heavily doctored or outright forged by a later Christian author. No observant Jew, as Josephus was, would have referred to Jesus as the Christ. Furthermore, Origen, a later Christian author, said that Josephus did not believe Jesus was the Christ.

Scholars argue about whether this passage is partially or entirely forged, but almost no one believes it's fully genuine.

No observant Jew, as Josephus was, would have referred to Jesus as the Christ.

Excepth Josepuhus was not writing for the Jews, he was writing for the Romans and as such his writings would be informing Romans that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ to Christians.

Furthermore, Origen, a later Christian author, said that Josephus did not believe Jesus was the Christ.

True, but dispositive of nothing vis a vis the Josephus quote.

Actually most Jewish and Christian scholars believe that the passage as a whole is authentic, although there may be some interpolations. For eaxmple, , "He was the Christ...". However, "For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many Greeks." is generally considered authentic. Even without the interpolations the passage corraborates important information about Jesus that he was the martyred leader of the church in Jerusalem and that he was a wise teacher who had established a wise and lasting following, despite the fact that he had been crucified under Pilate at the instigation of some of the Jewish leaders.