Query: Why did scholars used to think Caiaphas's term began well into the 20's?
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 4:23 pm
Josephus famously reports that Pilate's predecessor, Gratus, fired Ananus as high priest, and then over the course of four successive years appointed and deposed high priests more-or-less annually, finally appointing Caiphas, who held the postion for a long time.
Received Josephus gives Gratus's term as eleven years, from about 15 CE through about 26 CE. Josephus doesn't say when in Gratus's term the four years between Ananus through Caiaphas fell. Josephus also doesn't tell about anything else Gratus did in Judea.
The current consensus seems to be that the four years came early in Gratus's term, so that Caiphas's term as high priest began in about 18 CE. However, Whiston and some 19th Century Bible reference books (e.g. Easton's Bible Dictionary 1897) apparently favor the four years coming late, so Caiphas's term was estimated to have begun in about 25 CE.
My question is what, if anything, changed? Or have I misread the consensus situation, old or current? Any information would be helpful. Thank you.
Received Josephus gives Gratus's term as eleven years, from about 15 CE through about 26 CE. Josephus doesn't say when in Gratus's term the four years between Ananus through Caiaphas fell. Josephus also doesn't tell about anything else Gratus did in Judea.
The current consensus seems to be that the four years came early in Gratus's term, so that Caiphas's term as high priest began in about 18 CE. However, Whiston and some 19th Century Bible reference books (e.g. Easton's Bible Dictionary 1897) apparently favor the four years coming late, so Caiphas's term was estimated to have begun in about 25 CE.
My question is what, if anything, changed? Or have I misread the consensus situation, old or current? Any information would be helpful. Thank you.