Which Is It?

[mercytruth]

Is our Lord Jesus Christ explaining Jewish tradition in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? Or, is Josephus, the Levite priest, explaining the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ?

ccel.org/j/josephus/works/hades.htm

 

[GEddie]

Is our Lord Jesus Christ explaining Jewish tradition in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? Or, is Josephus, the Levite priest, explaining the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ?

ccel.org/j/josephus/works/hades.htm

I’d say we can’t know. Weren’t Josephus’ writings changed by later Christian editors?

ICXC NIKA

 

[mercytruth]

I’d say we can’t know. Weren’t Josephus’ writings changed by later Christian editors?

ICXC NIKA

The earliest record of Josephus and his writings regarding James the Just, and Jesus are from Origen. Eusebius quotes the same. If these references attributed to Josephus were actually inserted by Christians interpolators, it would have taken place before the time of Origen.

As far as the Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades, the general consensus is this was originally written by Bishop Hippolytus of the third century, and not Josephus. There are some who attribute it to Justin Martyr, or to Ireneaus. Regardless, one can’t help but wonder if this document is one of the earliest references to the concept of purgatory.

One might look at the references in the NT that are mentioned in this Discourse and cross-check to see if either Hippolytus, Justin Martyr or Ireneaus quote these NT citations in their writings.

Mr. Whiston thinks that Josephus was some sort of secret believer in Christ, either as an Ebionite Jew, or a Nazarene Jew. (in his dissertation regarding Josephus and Jesus Christ).

God’s peace.