Who are Scholars who proposed that Josephus was Christian?

[ABuddhist]

Valliant floats the idea that Josephus was a Christian, and there I cannot think of a single Josephan scholar of the last century or more who agree with him. His authority is William Whiston's 18th century translation of Josephus with appendixes.

The interesting thing about that approach to the TF is that it (1) pretty much admits that the TF is a christian text and (2) gives up the only first century non-Christian witness to the historicity of Jesus, because he turns out to be a Christian after all.

Best,

Ken

So, who are the other scholars who proposed this?

[Giuseppe]

I know a Catholic journalist who thinks that Josephus knew that Jesus was risen but, even so, he didn't consider it a sufficient reason to become a Christian.

[Steven Avery]

Jone Jones (ala Ben David)

A reply to two deistical works, entitled 'The new trial of the witnesses .(1824)
By John Jones
https://books.google.com/books?id=LdIGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA88

Possibly David Martin or Franz Knittel.

[MrMacSon]

Joseph Atwell, author of Caesars Messiah ?

Those who think Christianity was created by Arrius Calpurnius Piso and his family ?

• No doubt Arrius Calpurnius Piso is related to Gaius Calpurnius Piso, the Roman senator who was the focal figure in the Pisonian conspiracy of AD 65, the most famous and wide-ranging plot against Nero.

I was gonna say Henry Davis, author of Creating Christianity: A Weapon of Ancient Rome, but it seems he thinks Josephus never existed: see https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J46545B/re ... MA6WNPGVHF -

Using valuable feedback from Cambridge and Oxford University professors, Henry Davis explains why the supposed Jewish Historian, Flavius Josephus, never existed, how the Book of Revelation presents the name of the Piso family member who oversaw the creation of the Christian scripture, and the reason the number 666 was changed to 616. Davis also explains the facts behind the personal and political reasons that led to the Roman and Jewish royal families creating a new religion, and how the Piso family used the literary techniques of the aristocracy to insert their names into the scriptures.

[Steven Avery]

Jone Jones (ala Ben David)

A reply to two deistical works, entitled 'The new trial of the witnesses .(1824)
By John Jones
https://books.google.com/books?id=LdIGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA88

Possibly David Martin or Franz Knittel.

More on John Jones:

Ecclesiastical researches: or Philo and Josephus proved to be Historians and Apologists of Christ, of His Followers, and of the Gospel (1812)
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=rcoCAAAAQAAJ

Sequel to Ecclesiastical Researches, in which the origin of the introductory chapters in Matthew and Luke is brought to light from Josephus, etc - (LL.D., Unitarian Minister.) (1813)
https://books.google.com/books?id=o_deAAAAcAAJ

Reviews

The Monthly Repository of Theology (1824)
http://books.google.com/books?id=mOEaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA612

The Monthly Repository of Theology (1825)
http://books.google.com/books?id=DX4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA85
http://books.google.com/books?id=DX4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA207

[DCHindley]

Hmmm,

Well, the early translator Wm Whiston was of the opinion that Josephus was at the very least a closet Christian. W flourished in the 18th century, when critical scholarship was in its infancy, but seems to not have practiced it himself.

There is a long (and boring) introduction and several lengthy dissertations of various subjects at the end of Whiston's translation of Josephus' works. I remember reading several statements that Josephus MUST have been a Christian. I am pretty sure he justified his belief somewhere, hopefully citing earlier "scholars."

[Ken Olson]

Here are three pages from William Whiston's Dissertation I in which he argues, in sections IV and V, that Josephus was a Christian. Whiston began his translation of the works of Josephus in 1734 and completed it in 1737. I do not know when Whiston's six dissertations on Josephus, which are found in many modern editions of his translation, were first published. He died in 1752.

Best,

Ken

Whiston Dissertation 1.4.png (301.4 KiB) Viewed 2252 times

Whiston Dissertation 1.5.png (290.58 KiB) Viewed 2252 times

Whiston Dissertation 1.6.png (297.71 KiB) Viewed 2252 times

[John T]

Hmmm,

Well, the early translator Wm Whiston was of the opinion that Josephus was at the very least a closet Christian. W flourished in the 18th century, when critical scholarship was in its infancy, but seems to not have practiced it himself.

There is a long (and boring) introduction and several lengthy dissertations of various subjects at the end of Whiston's translation of Josephus' works. I remember reading several statements that Josephus MUST have been a Christian. I am pretty sure he justified his belief somewhere, hopefully citing earlier "scholars."

What was Josephus suppose to say? I was a military commander in the Jewish revolt and turned traitor to my people, but I still want to be seen as one who still supports their hopeless cause?

No, you say you are no longer the extremist Jew but hint you were always more like those pacifist Jews, i.e. Christian Jews. The, I was only following orders excuse.

[Ken Olson]

Apparently Whiston's six dissertation were published in the completed edition of 1734-1737 (the contents of which were published serially for subscribers). Near the bottom of the fist page of Dissertation I, Section IV (p. 373 image in my previous post) Whiston refers to having proved elsewhere that Josephus was a Nazrene or Jewish Ebionite Christian. That earlier publication was in A collection of authentick records belonging to the Old and New Testament (2 vols with continuous pagination; 1728-29) 2.959-960:

Whiston Authentick 2.959.png (358.53 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Whiston Authentick 2.960.png (328.1 KiB) Viewed 2226 times

Best,

Ken

PS It appears that work has not been reprinted quite so often as Whiston's translation of Josephus

[Steven Avery]

Whiston, William on Josephus - Six dissertations: I. The testimonies of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ, ... II. The copy of the Old Testament made use of by Josephus ... III. A reply to Dr. Sykes's defence of his dissertation on the eclipse mentioned by Phlegon. IV. The chronology of the sacred scriptures, and the truth of their predictions confirmed by eclipses ... V. Remarks on Sir Isaac Newton's observations upon the prophecies of Daniel ... VI. A demonstration that our Saviour's ministry continued at least four years
https://books.google.com/books?id=2I5AA ... P5&lpg=PP5

1734 Six Dissertations, two on Josephus