The best known historian of jewish affairs in the greek language is the palestinian josephus, properly joseph, the son of matthias, a priest of jerusalem. The works of flavius josephus antiquities of the jews book 2 chapter 9. It was common practice for historians to shape or add details to make a good story. Jan 01, 20 to read josephus correctly, we need to keep in mind that he was a product of his times. One might think that the obvious approach would be to begin at the beginning, with abraham, who, in the book of genesis, is called by god to be the father of. Josephus says sarah was abrahams niece, not 12 sister.
This book portrays the role of abraham in the history, theology and contemporary thought in judaism, christianity and islam. Why jewish history is so hard to write the new yorker. It was released by the church to help explain how it can be possible that joseph smiths translation of the book of abraham does not match what we now know egyptian to mean, and how it can still be the word of god when even the church itself admits in this essay that the. Josephus avoids these problems by omitting this difficult statement altogether and. What about all those other problems with the book of abraham. Chapter 9 the works of flavius josephus bible study tools. He put him in mind, that when abraham was come alone out of mesopotamia into canaan, he had been made happy, not only in other respects, but that when his wife was at first barren, she was afterwards by him enabled to conceive seed, and bare him sons. Chapter 8 the works of flavius josephus bible study tools. Josephus, being a classical historian, need not subscribe to the school of naturalists. Readers in firstcentury rome had different expectations than we do today. Flavius josephus, a jewishroman historian from the first century, tells the story like this. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian papyri that joseph smith obtained in kirtland in 1835. Jan 24, 2017 just this last week, the church reemphasized the importance of its new essays in addressing thorny doctrinal topics.
The book of josephus was known to joseph smith and it is likely that he. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased. During the jewishroman war, he was among a band of 41 jewish rebels trapped in a cave by the romans. The book of abraham has many historical anachronisms and misconstructions of history. The complete works of flavius josephus legendary jewish.
I return herewith, under separate cover, the pearl of great price. Flavius josephus encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Copy freely war of the jews antiquities of the jews autobiography concerning hades against apion josephus was born joseph ben mattathias in. In the beginning god created the heaven and the earth. The life of flavius josephus autobiography josephuss discourse to the greeks concerning hades flavius josephus against apion. Lucy mack smith, joseph s mother, charged tourists a quarter to view the egyptian antiquities. My template revealed a number of problems with the book of mormon and the person of joseph smith, but the evidence related to the book of abraham papyri left only one reasonable inference. Illuminate your understanding of the new testament. Flavius josephus of the antiquities of the jews book i.
Steve mason in his 1991 book argued that josephus was not a pharisee but an orthodox aristocratpriest who became part of the temple establishment as a matter of. Enochs pillar, as mentioned by josephus, is upon the same scroll. Josephus and genesis chapter ten answers in genesis. The works of flavius josephus ultimate bible reference library. What evidence does the book of abraham demonstrate to. The complete works of flavius josephus legendary jewish historian and his chronicle of ancient history translation by william whiston on. Discussion in religious debates started by shermana, oct 24.
Joseph also originally published the book of abraham in the times and seasons newspaper which he owned in different parts. The complete works of flavius josephus legendary jewish historian and his chronicle of ancient history. Yes, there are a variety of other attacks that critics have thrown at the book of abraham. Nov 18, 2009 the writings of the historian josephus provide interesting insights into the table of nations in genesis 10. Flavius josephus was a famous historian of the first century. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. An open response to an apologists explanation of the book. It is no way probable that josephus would call bacchidoa, that bitter and bloody enemy of the jews, as our present copies have it, a man good, or kind, and gentle, what the author of the first book of maccabees, whom josephus here follows, instead of that character, says of him, is, that he was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to his. Book of abraham mormon stories mormon stories podcast. Feb 05, 2014 the book of abraham has many historical anachronisms and misconstructions of history. Josephus also talks about abraham coming from ur of the chaldees, as does the. It has also been shown to have been composed of early 19thcentury books and notions, such as philosophy of a future state and josephus some portions of which are even quoted verbatim in the.
He is the principal source for jewish history between 100 b. Extrabiblical details in the book of abraham compared. Its reconciling that with history thats problematic. Aggregating resources on the book of abraham and my. The book of abraham expands upon the nature of the priesthood in the latter day saint movement, and it is suggested in the work that those who are foreordained to the priesthood earned this right by valor or nobility in the premortal life.
Tuland chicago, illinois josephus and his sources the writings of josephus furnish important source material for the history of the jewish people, and thus also for the postexilic period. Flavius josephus, antiquities of the jews, book 20, whiston. All three faiths claim abraham as their own, and they all assert to be the correct modern day representative of the abrahamic religious tradition. Recent archeological discoveries at qumran and masada have indicated that the account of josephus is remarkably accurate and ranks him high as a topographer. Chapter 12 the works of flavius josephus bible study tools. The book of abraham issues translation problems mormonthink. One might think that the obvious approach would be to begin at the beginning, with abraham, who, in the book of genesis, is called by god to be the father of a great nation. Its puzzling that the churchs essay not only omits the most important evidence bearing on the papyris relation to the book of abraham, but also propounds the above misleading and easilyrefuted arguments. Looking at the manuscripts to clarify book of abraham issues.
Works of flavius josephus translated by william whiston 1737 this work is in the public domain. Copy freely war of the jews antiquities of the jews autobiography concerning hades against apion josephus was born joseph ben mattathias in 37 c. Description of the book josephus the complete works. I have studied a lot of relief society history this year and one thing that was interesting is that when they did the old testament course of study in 1916 i think that was the year, each sister was expected to have her own copy of the works of josephus to suppliment her readings. It was released by the church to help explain how it can be possible that joseph smiths translation of the book of abraham does not match what we now know egyptian to mean, and how it can still be the word of god when even the church itself admits in this. We may seasonably note here, that josephus wrote his seven books of the. But then as robert points out that runs into problems with traditional dating of abraham. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints embraces the book of abraham as scripture. Perhaps the biggest apologetic difficulty for those following the mormon faith is that surrounding one particular canonical book supposedly. Dec 02, 2018 but then as robert points out that runs into problems with traditional dating of abraham. Steve mason in his 1991 book argued that josephus was not a pharisee but an.
Josephus also spoke of the greek writer hecataeus who prepared an entire book about the accomplishments of the abraham of the bible. Just this last week, the church reemphasized the importance of its new essays in addressing thorny doctrinal topics. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Hellenistic culture and society, 27 flavius josephus has long been famous for his. Josephus tells us in two places he was using the hebrew bible as his primary source text for. Aggregating resources on the book of abraham and my personal issues with the book of jasher close. Sep 01, 2002 this book portrays the role of abraham in the history, theology and contemporary thought in judaism, christianity and islam.
Now not every detail of the abraham story that joseph came up with is in josephus and the bible, but those details can be. Now, after this, when a famine had invaded the land of canaan, and abram had discovered that the egyptians were in a flourishing condition, he was disposed to go down to them, both to partake of the plenty they enjoyed, and to become an auditor of their priests, and to know what they said concerning the gods. A journey to the heart of three faiths by bruce feiler. Josephus, antiquities book i early jewish writings. Josephus gives a famous account of the last stand of the jews atop masada. Egyptologists study the three facsimiles included in the book of abraham as well as joseph. Sometime between 1818 and 1822, antonio lebolo, who was working as superintendent of the archaeological excavations for bernardino drovetti in upper egypt, discovered many mummies in a tomb in thebes. For many, the book of abraham is problematic, a real shelfbreaker. Youll be able to understand the background of the bible like never before. Josephus, wars, book 6, chapter 5, section 3 the preterist.
The works of flavius josephus ultimate bible reference. Enochs pillar, as mentioned by josephus, is upon the same roll. An open response to an apologists explanation of the book of. Joseph smith used the papyri that he claimed related to the book of abraham to earn his family money. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. It has also been shown to have been composed of early 19thcentury books and notions, such as philosophy of a future state and josephus. Mar 26, 2020 the book of abraham contains some of our most profound doctrines and is deeply connected to our most sacred and inspiring ordinances. In 1912, a letter about the book of abraham was published by arthur cruttenden mace, assistant curator in the department of egyptian art in new yorks metropolitan museum of art. Now abram having no son of his own, adopted lot, his brother harans son, and his wife. Aggregating resources on the book of abraham and my personal issues with the book of jasher. This book, a record of the biblical prophet and patriarch.
Complete and unabridged, new updated edition ancient greek hardcover unabridged, september 1, 1980. The churchs essay on this topic attempts to reconcile the problematic nature of the book of abrahams origin with the doctrinal importance of its contents. Gospel topics essay, translation and historicity of the book of abraham at lds church official website. Josephus left us the earliest independent accounts of the lives of jesus, john the encounter the world and traditions that jesus knew. Oct 31, 2016 flavius josephus, a jewishroman historian from the first century, tells the story like this. Some of these are addressed on part 2 of my book of abraham pages. Antiquities of the jews contains an account of history of the jewish.
Book vi from the great extremity to which the jews were reduced to the taking of jerusalem by titus book vii from the taking of jerusalem by titus to the sedition of the jews at cyrene. Bill reel provides a fantastic visual summary of book of abraham challenges. General areas of contribution josephus was born in jerusalem in a. I personally think the canaanite based movement into egypt makes much more sense relative to the text of the book of abraham. Extrabiblical details in the book of abraham compared with. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled translation and historicity of the book of abraham. The works of flavius josephus antiquities of the jews book 1 chapter 8. He abram communicated to them arithmetic, and delivered to them the science of astronomy. Josephus says sarah was abraham s niece, not 12 sister. Josephus was a firstcentury jewish historian with an intriguing history of his own. Now, after this, when a famine had invaded the land of canaan, and abram had discovered that the egyptians were in a flourishing condition, he was disposed to go down to them, both to partake of the plenty they enjoyed, and to.
Abraham himself also, most agree, was bred up in extrabiblical details in the book of abraham compared with parallels in published sources available to joseph smith in early 19th century america adapted and expanded from an unpublished paper by the late wesley p. This organization, as did the much larger utah mormon church and many smaller divisions, developed as a direct result. A company of 40 soldiers, along with josephus himself, were trapped in a cave by roman soldiers during. In the process, josephus provides substantial firsthand corroboration of the biblical record. Flavius josephus, antiquities of the jews, book 20. He served as governor of galilee, fought against rome in the first century, and was eventually captured. Antiquities of the jews book xii internet sacred text archive. Despite the efforts of mormons to restore the reliability of the book of abraham, it appears to be a demonstrably false book, errantly translated and. Feldman, yeshiva university abstract because moses was the onefigure in the jewish tradition who was well known to the pagan world and because he had been reviled by several antijewish writers, josephus can be assumed to have felt a special need to paint afavorable picture of him. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based. Preferring suicide to capture, the rebels decided to form a circle and to kill every third remaining person until no one was left. Christian cites concludes that josephus dead sea scrolls diss english essenes evidence fact that josephus flavius josephus flusser fourth philosophy galilee geschichte gottingen greek. The author of this paper was born into a family which belonged to the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints with headquarters in independence, missouri. Anyone urging us to remove the book of abraham from our canon does not have the best interests of the church at heart and is working against our spiritual welfare.
Other issues are addressed at fairlds and other sites listed below. Most importantly, youll meet the historical jesus in josephus writings, as well as john the baptist and other familiar faces. Josephus writings and their relation to the new testament. Encounter the world and traditions that jesus knew. In his book about jewish history, the antiquity of the jews specifically chapter 6, which is reprinted in the appendix of this article, josephus gave christians a brilliant steppingstone to the genealogies in genesis 10. Josephus left us the earliest independent accounts of the lives of jesus, john. But this is only the beginning of the proof of history. Other historical sources also say abraham was a famous scholar in his day. Abraham now removed to gerar of palestine, leading sarah along with him, under the notion of his sister, using the like dissimulation that he had used before, and this out of fear.
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