New Book Continues Trend of Academic Acceptance of Christ

In another case of academia realizing that the ancient claims of Christianity are unassailable, a new publication from Oxford University Press aims to rationalize and legitimize the claims of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, whose “Antiquities” contained a passage known as “Testimonium Flavianum,” where Josephus attests not only to the existence of the historical person of Jesus, but also to what secularists believe are the most unworldly claims about his ministry.

From Book 18, Chapter 3 of Josephus’ work:

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”

This is the oldest description of Jesus written by a non-Christian, and it is dated around 93-4 A.D. Scholars have long questioned its authenticity, but “Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ” aims to authenticate Josephus’ authorship and reveal how he was “directly familiar with those who attended the trials of Jesus’ apostles and even those who attended the trial of Jesus himself,” according to a synopsis of the book.

In today’s world, Josephus’ description is seen as a positive portrayal of Christ, which is seen as the basis of many secularists' doubt of its non-Christian authorship. 

To ancient Christians, though, the above description would have been seen as “basically mundane or even vaguely negative,” Schmidt argues, “and hence far from the pro-Christian rendering that most scholars have interpreted it to be.”

Schmidt concludes the book by describing what Josephus’ brief writings tell about the Jesus of history and how the stories of His miracles and resurrection developed.

This latest academic acceptance of Christianity’s historical arguments comes after scientists “discovered” Jesus’ tomb at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem – the site where Orthodox Christians have celebrated Pascha and received the Holy Fire for nearly two millennia. 

Schmidt’s book is set to release on August 22. For the time being, a full PDF can be found here.

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