Query: Why did scholars used to think Caiaphas's term began well into the 20's?

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Paul the Uncertain
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Query: Why did scholars used to think Caiaphas's term began well into the 20's?

Post by Paul the Uncertain »

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.
Paul the Uncertain
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Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:25 am
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Re: Query: Why did scholars used to think Caiaphas's term began well into the 20's?

Post by Paul the Uncertain »

Maybe I should rephrase the query? :goodmorning:

Do we have a tangible reason to suppose that Caiaphas's term began in about 18 CE except for a now widely preferred interpretation of Antiquities 18.2.2?

In pertinent part (Whiston's translation, who favored a later date):
... [Tiberius] was now the third Emperor: and he sent Valerius Gratus to be procurator of Judea, and to succeed Annius Rufus. This man deprived Ananus of the High Priesthood; and appointed Ismael, the son of Phabi, to be High Priest. He also deprived him in a little time, and ordained Eleazar, the son of Ananus, who had been High Priest before, to be High Priest. Which office when he had held for a year, Gratus deprived him of it, and gave the High Priesthood to Simon, the son of Camithus. And when he had possessed that dignity no longer than a year, Joseph Caiaphas was made his successor. When Gratus had done these things, he went back to Rome; after he had tarried in Judea eleven years: when Pontius Pilate came as his successor.
now = September 14 CE
Ismael + Eleazar + Simon = + about 3 years
Thus Caipahas = about 18 CE

and not

now = September 14 CE
tarried in Judea eleven years = about 25 CE
- Simon - Eleazar - Ismael = - about 3 years
So, the priestly rotations begin around 22 CE, leaving Caiphas seated in about 25 CE.
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