Flavius Josephus

 

What is a Non-Biblical Source?

 

A Non-Biblical source is a person or group of people who have a written a document that is not part of the bible. Although, specifically, in Christian Apologetics, a Non-Biblical source is a person or group of people who wrote a document concerning Jesus, early christianity, the Jews before Jesus, or the Bible. This source would not be a part of the Bible but would be important to Corroberate what it is saying.

 

Why do Non-Biblical Sources Matter?

 

Non-Biblical Sources are important for a few reasons. In apologetics, they attest to Jesus's existence, the existence of his followers, and collaberate with the Bible in showing how it is accurate in what it says occured. Both positive Non-Biblical sources and negative Non-Biblical sources towards christianity; do corruborate these things. Also, there is a misconception that the bible is less trustworthy than these Non-Biblical sources. Despite this not being true, people who hold this misconception will have a higher appreciation seeing Non-Biblical Sources attesting to the intellectual credibilty of christianity.

 

Who was he?

 

Born in AD 37. He was a Jewish historian who became a pharisee at the age of 19. In AD 66 he was the commander of Jewish forces in Galilee. After being captured, he was attached to the Roman headquarters. He had many writings related to Jesus.

 

His writings related to Jesus:

 

 Antiquities. Xviii.33: “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 among 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 on 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”.

 

The above writing is highly debated among scholars.

 

The Arabic text of the above is this: “At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and (He) was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned Him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that He had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, He was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders”.

 

Antiquities XX 9:1: “ But the younger Ananus who, as we said, received the high priesthood, was of a bold disposition and exceptionally daring; he followed the party of the Sadducees, who are severe in judgement above all the Jews, as we have already shown. As therefore Ananus was of such disposition, he thought he had a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought it before the brother of Jesus the so called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law breakers, he delivered them over to be stoned”.

 

Source: Josh McDowell