This book that goes back to a workshop from 2022 dealing with the retrospective approach that was suggested in my Writing the History of Early Christianity (CUP, 2019) and tested again in my Resetting the Origins of Early Christianity (CUP, 2023), brings together scholars from a broad range of historiographical studies, music, natural sciences, medieval history, holocaust studies ... and, like me, they grapple with the idea of writing history not simply along the chronological time-line.
You are in for a reshaping of historiography. The book is edited by Julia Seeberger, Sabine Schmolinsky and myself:
Luke knew and used the writings of Josephus. A conference of biblical scholars moved the date of Acts to 100-150 CE with this fact in mind. This opens up new interpretative possibilities in the analysis of the Testimonium text. So far, it has been indicated that the author of the interpolation (Eusebius) used Luke's text sometime at the beginning of the 4th century CE to create the Testimonium. This conclusion was related to the convergence of the vocabulary of the Testimonium and Luke texts.
ReplyDeleteBut if Luke knew the writings of Josephus, then the statement that Luke used the text from the Testimonium sometime in the early 2nd century CE is equally valid. The transmission may have occurred from Josephus to Luke in the 2nd century and is as likely as Eusebius' alleged interpolation with Luke text in the 4th century.
The entry "he was the Christ" raises the greatest doubts because whether Josephus, as a believing Jew, could have written such a thing. Well, he could, because Josephus is, above all, an author for whom his goal as the creator of an exciting book is important. Josephus embellishes the stories he tells and constantly adds elements to them that are intended to attract the recipient's attention.
In addition, such a strong statement adds drama to this rather boring fragment. A simple literary trick intended for a general audience.
Who did Josephus write for ?– a general audience. This can be seen with every word you read. Here we have a layer of political correctness covering the desire to convey exciting stories.
Josephus is, above all, an author-showman who wants to leave his mark. People are supposed to read it first and foremost. He supports the narrator non-stop. The content has to be attractive. If the facts weren't attractive, so much the worse for the facts. Hence the prefigurations used by Josephus. An author who will sell everything he can: his intimacy, his belief, his unbelief, historical and invented tradition. His real belief is his work.
In times of Jewish defeat, he brings to the market inspirational stories with a double meaning – his Sign Prophets are, on the one hand, denied by him. At the same time, they are exalted as those who dared to oppose the Romans, injustice, and the established order.
The word Christ was mentioned next to one of the described heroes and that was the WORD. "Christ" given by a supposed group of followers and disciples. The listeners of the lector reading this fragment of Josephus liked Jesus.
People wanted to hear, above all, about Christ.
One said that Christ appeared to some Paul, whose letters he happened to have with him and that he could read something. A good, traditional idea to supplement the story with the adventures of a new hero . Earthly Jesus Cv is unknown let's introduce a new hero with heroic adventures.
Another began to expand the figure of Christ with pieces from Josephus, the LXX, romances and popular literature in which there were plenty of empty tombs, resurrections and healings. Classically calling by name – myth. Such myths were created also about rulers: they were good at governing, taxes were low, and they won battles. Back then they had proud nicknames like Soter.
And here is a hero for those who have had little success in life and a new offer of something better for them.
Luke learns about this Jesus and his group of followers after 65-70 years from Josephus. He fills the information gap with a gospel with a completely made-up narrative. According to the wishes of listeners eager for information
Simple and beautiful. This is the hardest thing to come up with. The songs are written by the authors of the lyrics and music. Hits are created from songs by producers. Ask Rick Rubin...
The question whether Josephus wrote a true account or invented it remains open.