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Historical Record

Josephus Names Jesus Twice

The Jewish historian Josephus, writing in the 90s AD, twice mentions Jesus: once in Antiquities 20.9.1 as "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James," and once in Antiquities 18.3.3 in a longer passage that most scholars regard as containing later Christian additions.

The evidence

Josephus (c. 37–100 AD) was a Jewish priest and historian who documented the period surrounding the Jewish revolt of 66–70 AD. Writing his Antiquities of the Jews in the 90s AD, he made two references to Jesus of Nazareth and his family.

The shorter reference appears in book 20, chapter 9, section 1, where Josephus describes the high priest Ananus executing a man "James the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ." This passage is widely accepted by scholars as authentic, as it fits naturally into Josephus's account of events in the 60s AD and does not contain Christian formulaic language. The reference identifies Jesus by his messianic title and connects him to James, who was a leading figure in the Jerusalem church.

A second, longer passage appears in book 18, chapter 3, section 3, known to scholars as the Testimonium Flavianum. This passage praises Jesus in language that is distinctly Christian in tone and theology. Most scholars, including John P. Meier and Louis H. Feldman in their major studies of Josephus, hold that this passage contains Christian interpolations—additions or revisions made by later Christian copyists. The passage likely contained some reference to Jesus originally, but the extent and precise wording of authentic material remain disputed.

Both passages place Jesus within the historical record of first-century Judea and connect him to figures mentioned in early Christian literature, including his brother James. The authentic reference in Antiquities 20.9.1 corroborates the mention of James as Jesus's brother found in the New Testament, though Josephus does not elaborate on Jesus's teachings or resurrection claims.

Sources
  1. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 20.9.1 and 18.3.3, Loeb Classical Library editionPrimary source
  2. John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, vol. 1 (1991)Book
  3. Louis H. Feldman, Josephus and Modern Scholarship (1984)Book
What this shows

Josephus, an independent Jewish historian of the late first century, corroborates the existence of Jesus and James as his brother, figures also named in the New Testament. His reference to James is widely regarded as historically authentic and places the early church leadership in Jerusalem within documented first-century history.

What this does not prove

Josephus's mentions do not prove Jesus's divinity, resurrection, or the truth of Christian theological claims. The longer Testimonium passage is disputed and likely contains Christian editorial additions; only the briefer reference to James is regarded by mainstream scholarship as certainly authentic to Josephus's original text.

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