Century CE Christian Interpolation in Josephus' Antiquitates Judaica
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Clarifying the Scope of Pre-5th Century C.E. Christian Interpolation in Josephus’ Antiquitates Judaica (c. 94 C.E.). NPL Allen 23445653 Thesis submitted for the degree Doctor Philosophiae in Greek at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Promoter: Prof PJ Jordaan May 2015 Clarifying the Scope of Pre-5th Century C.E. Christian Interpolation in Josephus’ Antiquitates Judaica (c. 94 C.E.). Nicholas Peter Legh Allen Dip.F.A., M.F.A., M.A., D.Phil., LaureatusTech.F.A. Student Number: 23445653 Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (Greek) at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Promoter: Prof. Pierre Johan Jordaan B.A., B.A. Hons, B.D., M.A., D.Litt et Phil. October 2014 Page i of 426 Abstract This research project concerns itself with the three disputed passages of Christian import as preserved in extant manuscripts of the AJ (Ἰουδαϊκὴ Ἀρχαιολογία a.k.a. Antiquitates Judaicae), viz.: AJ, XVIII, 3, 3 / 63 (i.e. the so-called Testimonium Flavianum), AJ, XVIII, 5, 2 / 116 -119 (i.e. the references to John the Baptist) and AJ, XX, 9, 1 / 200 - 203 (i.e. the references to James the brother of Jesus). Within the context of contemporary historicity research outcomes, and employing an interpretist/constructivist episteme, a series of critical analyses was undertaken aimed at verifying to what degree the three passages in question may be deemed to be in any way authentic and/or historically reliable. The result of the investigation proves beyond reasonable doubt that no reliable extra-biblical/scriptural accounts exist to support the historical existence of, inter alia, Jesus of Nazareth, James the Just or John the Baptist. Certainly, no such accounts ever appeared in Josephus’ original texts. Furthermore, and most importantly, the three passages are confirmed to be total forgeries initiated in the first four centuries of the Common Era most likely by Origen and Eusebius respectively. Key Words Josephus Flavius, Antiquitates Judaica, Ἰουδαϊκὴ Ἀρχαιολογία, interpolation, Origen, Eusebius, historicity of Jesus of Nazareth, James the Just, John the Baptist Acknowledgements It would do well to initiate this thesis with a declaration of sincere humility and an all- encompassing apology for any possible oversight as regards accountable academic rigour. In this context, nothing that is contained in the following pages would have been even remotely possible without the enormous and tireless contributions made by the huge number of variously talented individuals over many centuries, some of whom will never be correctly acknowledged for their important contributions to this important debate. In this context, this study, which at best marks a small stage in an ever-continuing process of deliberation and review, belongs to them all. With reference to McGarry (1955: 167) one may be reminded of the celebrated confession of Bernardus Carnotensis better known as Bernard of Chartres (active 1115 – 1124 C.E.) who was quoted, as far back as 1159, by Johannes Parvus a.k.a. John of Salisbury or John the Little (c. 1120 – 1180 C.E.): Dicebat Bernardus Carnotensis nos esse quasi nanos, gigantium humeris insidentes, ut possimus plura eis et remotiora videre, non utique proprii visus acumine, aut eminentia corporis, sed quia in altum subvenimur et extollimur magnitudine gigantea. Page ii of 426 Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size. The number of individuals who played a vital role in this study are too numerous to mention without offending someone who might be inadvertently overlooked. Thus, with great fear of oversight, I would like to draw attention to but a select few of the many, who each in their own way, contributed to the completion of this research project and have earned my most grateful appreciation: My sincerest thanks go to my promoter, mentor and most excellent and erudite of sounding boards, Prof. Dr Pierre Johan Jordaan. In addition, I need to acknowledge the collective wisdom and insights of my friends and colleagues within the Faculty of Theology (Potchefstroom Campus) of the NWU (North-West University), including: Prof. Dr Marianne Dircksen, Dr Johan Steenkamp, Dr Jacobus de Bruyn and Dr At Lamprecht. I am also very appreciative of Dr Tom Larney (former Director of the NWU’s Ferdinand Postma Library) who helped me to enlarge and enrich the Faculty of Theology’s library collection with a substantial range of more contemporary Christian scholarship. Last but not least, I am most indebted to my wife, Iris Marié Allen for her moral support, encouragement and phenomenal editorial skills. Declaration I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the authorship owner thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: 29 September 2014 Page iii of 426 TABLE OF CONTENTS Topic Page Abbreviations: Abbreviations for Cited Biblical and Classical Works: vii List of Figures: xi Chapter One (Introduction) 1.1 Background to the Problem: 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem: 4 1.3 Statement of the Sub-Problems: 5 1.4 Definition of Terms: 6 1.5 Delimitations of the Research: 10 1.6 Assumptions of the Research: 12 1.7 Central Theoretical Argument: 14 1.8 The Importance of the Research: 15 1.9 Research Design / Methodology: 16 1.10 The Hypothesis of the Research: 20 1.11 Overview of the Research: 20 Chapter Two (Extra-Biblical/Scriptural References to Jesus of Nazareth and Associates) 2.1 Introduction: 22 2.2 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus a.k.a. Pliny (the Younger) (c. 62 - c.113 C.E.): 24 2.3 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus a.k.a. Suetonius (c. 69 - 140 C.E.): 41 2.4 (Publius or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus a.k.a. Tacitus (c. 56 - 117 C.E.): 50 2.5 Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis (Second Century C.E.): 54 2.6 Mara bar Serapion (fl. 73 C.E.): 69 2.7 Thallos (Θαλλός) a.k.a.Thallus (unknown dates): 78 2.8 Phlegon (Φλέγων) a.k.a. Phlegon of Tralles (fl. c. 80 C.E.) 93 2.9 Lucianus Samosatensis a.k.a. Lucian of Samosata (c. 125 - after 180 C.E.): 97 2.10 Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus a.k.a.Tertullian (c. 160 - 225 C.E.): 99 2.11 The Talmud and Tosefta: 103 2.12 Habermas’ Proof: A Case Study: 130 2.13 Chapter Two Summary: 132 Page iv of 426 Chapter Three (The Testimonium Flavianum) 3.1 Introduction: 134 3.2 Brief Historical Background: 135 3.3 Arguments For and Against Authenticity: 135 3.4 Eusebius as the Potential Forger of the TF: 233 3.5 Hata’s Proof: A Case Study: 247 3.6 Barnett‘s Proof: A Case Study: 265 3.7 Van Voorst’s Proof: A Case Study: 275 3.8 The Historical Context for Christian Forgery: 282 3.9 Chapter Three Summary: 286 Chapter Four (The James Passage) 4.1 Introduction: 291 4.2 Brief Historical Background: 292 4.3 Arguments For and Against Authenticity: 307 4.4 Meier’s Proof: A Case Study: 320 4.5 Barnett’s Proof: A Case Study: 322 4.6 The Numismatic Evidence: 323 4.7 Chapter Four Summary: 326 Chapter Five (The Baptist Passage) 5.1 Introduction: 329 5.2 Brief Historical Background: 330 5.3 Arguments For and Against Authenticity: 330 5.4 Zindler’s Proof: A Case Study: 338 5.5 R.M. Price’s Proof: A Case Study: 341 5.6 New Evidence Apropos the Herodian Dynasty: 343 5.7 Origen as Prime Suspect: 346 5.8 Chapter Five Summary: 361 Chapter Six (Conclusions) 6.1 Introduction: 363 6.2 Credible, Extra-biblical/scriptural References: 364 6.3 Leading Biblical Scholars’ Preferred Worldview: 364 6.4 Josephus’ Knowledge Apropos Jesus of Nazareth: 365 Page v of 426 6.5 Ante-Nicean Christian Need for Extra-biblical References: 369 6.6 The Identity of the Interpolators: 369 6.7 The Contribution Made by This Research Project: 370 Selected Source List: 372 Subject Index: 400 Modern Author Index 409 Ancient Author Index 416 Figure 1 Marble portrait bust of a young Roman man often idealistically claimed to be the likeness of Josephus Flavius, First Century C.E. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Denmark. Page vi of 426 ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations will be employed for all cited Biblical/Scriptural and Classical Works. For the purposes of consistency and standardisation, all abbreviations of works and authors will follow, as closely as possible, a system originally proposed by Liddell and Scott1. Πλάτων a.k.a. Plato (c. 425 – c. 347 B.C.E.) Abbreviation Title of Work R. Respublica (Πολιτεία) Lg. Leges (Νόμοι) Φίλων a.k.a. Philo Judaeus a.k.a. Philo of Alexandria a.k.a. Philo (c. 20 B.C.E. – c. 50 C.E.) Abbreviation Title of Work DVM De Vita Mosis DLG De Legatione Ad Gaium Publius Cornelius Tacitus a.k.a. Tacitus (c.55 - 117 C.E.) Abbreviation Title of Work An. Annales Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus a.k.a. Pliny the Younger a.k.a. Pliny (c. 62 - c.113 C.E.) Abbreviation Title of Work Pl.Ep. Epistulae HN Historia Naturalis Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus a.k.a. Suetonius (c.69 - 140 C.E.) Abbreviation Title of Work DVC De Vita Caesarum 1 Cf.