Josephus and the Bible

Abstract

Flavius Josephus's outlook was profoundly shaped by the Bible and his interpretation of current events is never devoid of biblically derived assumptions and perspectives. This chapter establishes the education in the Hebrew Bible that Josephus might have received, which with his priestly status and belief in the prophetic role of historians in the Bible as well as dream interpretation, informed his identity and self-presentation. It illustrates that Josephus's texts serve a larger purpose of creating a safe space for Jews to live peacefully within the Roman Empire while enjoying self-determination regarding their laws. The chapter urges us to read Josephus's recasting of Hebrew Scriptures in the light of his pride in his own culture and perhaps his subtle defiance of Roman culture as well. It is clear that he was a person profoundly shaped by the narrative of Israel found within the pages of the Bible.

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