Josephus

Josephus (c. 37 – c. 100), who introduced himself as "Joseph, son of Matthias, , a priest from Jerusalem" (cf. War I.3), giving the Greek form I?s?pos Matthiou pais of his name in Hebrew Yosef Ben-Matityahu (יוסף בן מתתיהו), is also known as Flavius Josephus. He was a 1st century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and royal ancestry who survived and recorded the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 and later settled in Rome.

Significance to scholarship

The works of Josephus provide crucial information about the First Jewish-Roman War. They are also important literary source for understanding the context of the Dead Sea Scrolls and post-Second Temple Judaism.

Related Topics:
Dead Sea Scrolls - Second Temple

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Josephus offers information about individuals, groups, customs and geographical places. He makes references to the Sadducees, Jewish High Priests of the time, Pharisees and Essenes, the Herodian Temple, Quirinius's census, and to such figures as Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, Agrippa I and II, John the Baptist, James (the brother of Jesus) and a brief and highly disputed reference to Jesus himself. Along with Philo of Alexandria, he is an important source for studies of immediate post-Temple Judaism and early Christianity.

Related Topics:
Sadducee - High Priest - Pharisees - Essenes - Herod - Quirinius - Pontius Pilate - Herod the Great - Agrippa I - II - John the Baptist - James - Jesus - Reference to Jesus - Philo of Alexandria

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See also the "Testimonium Flavianum"

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