Or both Paul and Jesus being based [in part, at least] on Josephus?maryhelena wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:46 pmJesus story based upon Josephus ? Then how about Paul's story also being based on Josephus ?Giuseppe wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 10:20 pmAfter three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers
(Luke 2:46-47)
...was based on Josephus's Life 2:
...and I made mighty proficiency in the improvements of my learning; and appeared to have both a great memory, and understanding. Moreover, when I was a child, and about fourteen years of age, I was commended by all for the love I had to learning; on which account the High Priests, and principal men of the city came then frequently to me together, in order to know my opinion about the accurate understanding of points of the law. And when I was about sixteen years old [A.D. 53], I had a mind to make trial of the several sects that were among us...the Pharisees; the Sadducees; and the Essenes ... I contented myself with hard fare; and underwent great difficulties; and went through them all ... I imitated Banus who lived in the desert ... https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/autobiog.html
Apostle Paul Flavius Josephus Roman citizen Roman citizen. Life. 77 Shipwreck on way to Rome Shipwreck on way to Rome Time in Rome Time in Rome Trade: tent maker Trade: soldier and writer An educated man An educated man A Pharisee A Pharisee Not an original apostle, post the gospel crucifixion story. Born around 37 c.e. Pilate removed. Hence after gospel crucifixion dating. Original Name is Saul of Tarsus Original Name is Joseph ben Matityahu Tribe of Benjamin. The tribe designated to stay with the Aaronic Priesthood and the tribe of David after the nation split in two. Descended from priests and royal Hasmonean blood. A former persecutor of Christians Josephus had been an enemy of Rome Circumcision not required of gentiles. Nor Jews living among Jews. Acts 21.21. Maintains circumcision not required of gentiles to stay among Jews. Life: 23 Paul was caught away to the third heaven Josephus had prophetic dreams made defence before Agrippa II appealed to Agrippa II re his history had a friend named Epaphroditus had a friend named Epaphroditus
4. [A.D. 63.] ... there were a great many very much elevated in hopes of a revolt from the Romans. I therefore endeavoured to put a stop to these tumultuous persons, and persuaded them to change their minds...and desired them not rashly, and after the most foolish manner, to bring on the dangers of the most terrible mischiefs upon their country, upon their families, and upon themselves. And this I said with vehement exhortations ...
7. ... all Galilee had not yet revolted from the Romans ... they sent me, and two others of the Priests, who were men of excellent characters, Joazar, and Judas, in order to persuade the ill men there to lay down their arms and to teach them ...that it were better to have those arms reserved for the most courageous men ...
8. When I had therefore received these instructions, I came into Galilee and found the people of Sepphoris in no small agony about their country; by reason that the Galileans had resolved to plunder it on account of the friendship they had with the Romans ... But I delivered them all out of the fear they were in and persuaded the multitude to deal kindly with them ...
9. There were three factions in this city. The first was composed of men of worth and gravity...Julius Capellus was the head. ... the second faction was composed of the most ignoble persons, and was determined for war ... Justus, the son of Pistus, who was the head of the third faction...was really desirous of innovation, as supposing that he should gain power to himself by the change of affairs...to provoke the people to a revolt...prevailed with the citizens of Tiberias to take arms; nay, and had forced a great many so to do against their wills; he went out, and set the villages on fire that belonged to Gadara and Hippos...situated on the borders of Tiberias, and of the region of Scythopolis ...
12. Now as soon as I was come into Galilee, and had learned this state of things, by the information of such as told me of them, I wrote to the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem about them and required their direction what I should do. Their direction was, that I should continue there; and that, if my fellow legates were willing, I should join with them in the care of Galilee. But those my fellow legates having gotten great riches, from those tythes which, as priests, were their dues, and were given to them; determined to return to their own country. Yet when I desired them to stay so long that we might first settle the public affairs, they complied with me ... I sent messengers to the senate of Tiberias; and desired that the principal men of the city would come to me. And when they were come, Justus himself being also with them, I told them, that I was sent to them by the people of Jerusalem, as a legate, together with these other priests, in order to persuade them to demolish that house which Herod the tetrarch had built there; and which had the figures of living creatures in it, although our laws have forbidden us to make any such figures. And I desired, that they would give us leave so to do immediately ...
13. ... I and my fellow legates went to Gischala, to John, as desirous to know his intentions. And soon saw that he was for innovations and had a mind to the principality. For he desired me to give him authority to carry off that corn which belonged to Cæsar and lay in the villages of upper Galilee: and he pretended that he would expend what it came to in building the walls of his own city. But when I perceived what he endeavoured at, and what he had in his mind, I said, I would not permit him so to do. For that I thought either to keep it for the Romans or for myself. Now I was intrusted with the public affairs there by the people of Jerusalem. But when he was not able to prevail with me, he betook himself to my fellow legates ... he said, that those Jews who inhabited Cesarea Philippi, shut up by the order of the King’s deputy there, had sent to him to desire him, that, since they had no oil that was pure for their use, he would provide a sufficient quantity of such oil for them: lest they should be forced to make use of oil that came from the Greeks, and thereby transgress their own laws. Now this was said by John; not out of his regard to religion, but out of his most flagrant desire of gain ... I permitted this to be done by John [only out of fear of the multitude, since, if I had forbidden him, I should have been stoned by them].
14. ... my first care was to keep Galilee in peace ...
15 ... I subdued John, who often laid treacherous snares for me; I did not punish [with death] either him or any of the people forenamed .... on this account I suppose it was that God...delivered me still out of the hands of these my enemies; and afterward preserved me ...
16. Now the multitude of the Galileans had that great kindness for me, and fidelity to me; that when their cities were taken by force, and their wives and children carried into slavery, they did not so deeply lament for their own calamities, as they were solicitous for my preservation ...
17 ... a messenger had come to me from Silas, whom I had made governor of Tiberias, as I have said already [War II.21.6], and had told me of the inclinations of the people of Tiberias; and advised me to make haste thither: for that, if I made any delay, the city would come under another’s jurisdiction. Upon the receipt of this letter of Silas’s, I took two hundred men along with me, and travelled all night: having sent before a messenger to let the people of Tiberias know, that I was coming to them. When I came near to the city, which was early in the morning, the multitude came out to meet me: and John came with them and saluted me, but in a most disturbed manner; as being afraid that my coming was to call him to an account ... I attempted to make a speech to the multitude of the people of Tiberias; and, standing on a certain elevated place, I intreated them not to be so hasty in their revolt ...
18. But, before I had spoken all I designed, I heard one of my own domestics bidding me come down: for that it was not a proper time to take care of retaining the good will of the people of Tiberias, but to provide for my own safety, and escape my enemies there. For John had chosen the most trusty of those armed men that were about him, out of those thousand that he had with him, and had given them orders, when he sent them, to kill me. Having learned that I was alone, excepting some of my domestics. So those that were sent came as they were ordered; and they had executed what they came about, had I not leaped down from the elevation I stood on, and, with one of my guards, whose name was James, been carried [out of the crowd] upon the back of one Herod of Tiberias, and guided by him down to the lake. Where I seized a ship, and got into it, and escaped my enemies unexpectedly ...
19. ... the people of Tiberias, they were greatly provoked at them. So they snatched up their arms and desired me to be their leader against them. For they said, they would avenge their commanders cause upon them. They also carried the report of what had been done to me to all the Galileans ...
