Antiquities of the jews book xi internet sacred text archive. In addition to josephus, the book of 1 maccabees second century bc, writings by the first century ad philosopher philo, and traditions preserved in seder olam and the talmud ancient commentaries all testify to a fixed canon since the time of ezra. In a paper written by the jewish historian josephus, he states this. The roman general titus had given josephus a gift of the complete ot scrolls josephus, the life, 75. Genesis 1 exodus 1 leviticus 1 numbers 1 deuteronomy 1 the 5 books of moses joshua 1 judges and ruth, folded together on one scroll as they were in josephus time 1 1 and 2 samuel also considered one book in josephus. We may seasonably note here, that josephus wrote his seven books of the jewish war long before he wrote these his antiquities. I should note that josephus does not tell us which books he includes, leaving scholars to debate whether his 22. Evidence from josephus ad 7599 the jewish historian josephus only confirms our canon. The works of flavius josephus antiquities of the jews book 2 chapter 15.
The book, which dates from 180 bce and is not included in the jewish canon, includes a list of names of biblical figures in the same order as is found in the torah and the neviim prophets, and which includes the names of some men mentioned in the ketuvim writings. Christian ot and the jewish tanakh bibles, wheels, and. An extract out of josephuss discourse to the greeks concerning hades. Dec 15, 2014 it strikes me that anybody arguing from josephus for a 39 book old testament is relying on some very sketchy statements. According to the jewish historian josephus, the thirtynine books of the old testament were brought together during the life of ezra neh. By the time of christ, the old testament canon was firmly established. Theres nothing in his statements that supports a canon list of 39 books. His major books are history of the jewish war 7579, the antiquities of the jews 93, and against apion early life. The books of the old testament, the canon, the tanakh. For josephus, at least, the ot canon seems quite settled. The jewish canon, also called the hebrew canon, was only 24 books. When josephus says 22 books, he is referring to 22 books in this order.
The jewish canon numbers 24 books because 1 and 2 samuel were treated as a single book, also the same case with 1 and 2 kings, 1 and 2 chronicles, and ezra and nehemiah. Of course, lim will not say that philo has a canon since he considers the term anachronistic for philo. The books laid up in the temple not james whites blog. For example, the famous jewish historian, josephus, claims that the real old testament is the 22 book jewish old testament like our 39 book old testament. This book is worth the price for the story of the fall of jerusalem alone. He said that the jews held as sacred only twentytwo books which include exactly the same as our present thirtynine books of the old testament. Josephus also fills in details about the tetrarchy of philip. Josephus is the earliest writer to give us a summary of the books of the old testament. His complete writings, books, and antiquities were translated by william whiston. Still, lim restricts philos authoritative scripture to the greek pentateuch and contrasts this with josephuss 22book canon.
The task timothy lim sets for himself in the formation of the jewish canon is to examine how that jewish canon came about. The most famous canon is the list of books that make up the bible. The canon of old testament is till the reign of artaxerxes as mentioned by josephus above in against apion book 1, paragraph 8. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another, as the greeks have, but only twentytwo books, which contain the records of all the past times. Sirach provides evidence of a collection of sacred scripture similar to portions of the hebrew bible. Jun 22, 2008 the number 22 is first attested in josephus ca 1. He does, however, refer to the canon as being reckoned as 22 books. Since there are 24 books in the current jewish canon instead of the 22 mentioned by josephus, some scholars who. Nov 18, 20 still, lim restricts philos authoritative scripture to the greek pentateuch and contrasts this with josephuss 22book canon.
Flavius josephus, original name joseph ben matthias, born ad 3738, jerusalemdied ad 100, rome, jewish priest, scholar, and historian who wrote valuable works on the jewish revolt of 6670 and on earlier jewish history. Dec 15, 2014 josephus was a pharisee and in all likelihood presents a 22 book list because his sect of judaism supported a 22 book list. It strikes me that anybody arguing from josephus for a 39 book old testament is relying on some very sketchy statements. Flavius josephus jewish priest, scholar, and historian. A canon is a list of books considered an authority by a group of people, a list to which no more books may be added and from which none may be. Early christian citations of the 22 book jewish canon melito 170 ad, cited in eusebius ecclesiastical history, 4. The manner in which josephus mentions the divine books. Now they took their journey by letopolis, a place at that time deserted, but where babylon was built afterwards.
Josephus, a 1stcenturyce jewish historian, and some of the church fathers, such as origen the great 3rdcentury alexandrian theologian, appear to have had a 22 book canon. This theory attempted to explain how the christian megacodices of the fourth and fifth centuries ce came from alexandrian jewish groups and had more books than the narrower palestinian jewish canon of josephus ag. For although such long ages have now passed, no one has ventured neither to add, or to remove, or to alter a. Josephus and the new testament is one of a number of books and articles written by steve mason regarding the writings of flavius josephus, a 1st century jewish historian.
The shorter canon that certain protestant groups hold to really does not have its roots in history. Josephus on the canon jason engwer and i have been appealing to josephus as a wellplaced, 1c witness to the ot canon. So the hebrews went out of egypt, while the egyptians wept, and repented that they had treated them so hardly. Now they took their journey by letopolis, a place at that time deserted, but where babylon was built afterwards, when cambyses laid egypt waste. The clearest testimony of the extent of the hebrew canon comes from the first century writer flavius josephus a. The firstcentury jewish historian josephus offers a list of 22 ot books accepted by the jews which appears to match our current 39 book collection against apion, 1. The dead sea scrolls and protestant canon christianity. In the case of the jewish bible, the canon contains 22 books. Protestant apologists propose two objections from this text. Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy 5 books. Rather than simply counting texts, each communicates ideologies and values. In taking issue with our appeal, jimmy referred to steve mason on josephusas well as referencing the canon debate, edited by lee mcdonald.
Josephus also provides insight and background to several other figures or institutions as seen in the new testament. Another closely related argument says that we need to study what other noncanonical literature claims about the canon. Josephus and the old testament scriptures of the jewish. The list of canonical books, canon 60, sometimes attributed to the synod of laodicea is a later addition according to most scholars and has a 22 book ot and 26book nt excludes revelation.
He does not name the separate books, but he tells us that they were twentytwo in number the number of the letters of the hebrew alphabet, and gives us. May 29, 2012 the clearest testimony of the extent of the hebrew canon comes from the first century writer flavius josephus a. In the antiquities of the jews book 20, chapter 9, 1 josephus refers to the stoning of james the brother of jesus james the just by order of ananus ben ananus, a herodianera high priest. The 22 books mentioned by josephus correspond to the books of our old testamentnormally. It is true our history hath been written since artaxerxes very particularly, but hath. The common christian tradition since the first century, when it was stated in the fourth book of ezra 14. In debates about the socalled deuterocanonicals or apocrypha, dr white makes much emphasis that the protestant canon was that which was laid up in the temple. The reason is that josephus treated jeremiah and lamentations as a single book, and also judges and ruth as one book only.
The james referred to in this passage is most likely the james to whom the epistle of james has been attributed. In view of these facts, the silence of the writers of the new testament concerning canticles, ecclesiastes, esther, and ezra has no bearing on the question whether these writings were or were not included in the canon see strack, l. Here josephus uses the very word koinophagia eating things common, for eating things unclean. This abridged version gets right to the heart of what you are looking for. But josephus denies a line of prophets from the time of ezra to his day, thus excluding jesus, the apostles, and john the baptist as well as the prophets mentioned in saint lukes gospel in the first two chapters. Dec 29, 20 the shorter canon that certain protestant groups hold to really does not have its roots in history. Josephus was a pharisee and in all likelihood presents a 22 book list because his sect of judaism supported a 22 book list. He speaks about the jewish religious sects of the pharisees, sadducees and the essenes war 2. Professor doctor mason, at the time of writing, is the distinguished professor of ancient mediterranean religions and cultures at the university of groningen in holland.
For example, the famous jewish historian, josephus, claims that the real old testament is the 22book jewish old testament like our 39book old testament. The formation of the jewish canon biblical archaeology. Jesus and the new testament writes never once quote the apocrypha, although there are hundreds of quotes and references to almost the entire book of the old testament. Charles argued for its presence already in jubilees about 2. Leiman has argued for the probability that josephus coupled judges with ruth and joined lamentations to jeremiah and that his twentytwo book canon comprised all twentyfour books of what would become the rabbinic canon, organized in as many numbers twentytwo as the hebrew alphabet has letters. This epaphroditus was certainly alive in the third year of trajan, a. Josephus writings and their relation to the new testament. Reformed theological college, australia 20040603a welcome addition to the tools which provide understanding for both the ot, the intertestamental period and the nt. There is also evidence of a widely disseminated belief that a world ruler would appear in the east, although in extant writings this belief cannot be shown to have been current until about a. Hilary of poitiers 360 ad, tractate on psalms, prologue 15. With that in mind, let us count together to reach a plausible assessment of josephus 22 books. A common historical figure brought up to support the shorter canon is josephus.
Hudson here takes notice, out of seneca, epistle v. Flavius josephus was a famous jewish historian, priest, and scholar. Lim the anchor yale bible reference library new haven and london. Therefore, he is an especially credible witness on the hebrew canon because he had the actual temple scrolls in his possession. Josephus does not mention the official tripartite divisions of the old testament in his account concerning the divine scriptures. English bibles list 39 books for the old testament because of the practice of bisecting samuel, kings, and chronicles and of counting ezra, nehemiah, and the 12 minor. Josephus and the new testament jewish tradition that a star would appear two years before the birth of the messiah 1. The christian bible is the product of countless steps taken by humble men and women both jews and christians who served the lord with all. Leiman has argued for the probability that josephus coupled judges with ruth and joined lamentations to jeremiah and that his twentytwobook canon comprised all twentyfour books of what would become the rabbinic canon, organized in as many numbers twentytwo as the hebrew alphabet has letters.
The remaining four books contain hymns to god, and precepts for the conduct of human life. Biblical literature old testament canon, texts, and versions. Whether the term canon is used or not, it sure does sound like philos got one. Josephus, a first century jewish writer, mentioned that the old testament is consists of 22 books.
Maier does not leave out any pertinent information and where something has been omitted he informs the reader. Josephus, a 1stcenturyce jewish historian, and some of the church fathers, such as origen the great 3rdcentury alexandrian theologian, appear to have had a 22book canon. The word canon originally meant a measuring rod or standard of measure. However this is not different from the 39 books canon. Mar 03, 2008 josephus on the canon jason engwer and i have been appealing to josephus as a wellplaced, 1c witness to the ot canon. Cyril of jerusalem, 386 ad, catechetical lectures 2, 4. It was applied to the old testament as jewish leaders determined which books should or should not be viewed as scripture. There are a number of problems with this arguments.