Ancient account of Jesus challenges centuries of scholarly doubt: ‘Totally authentic’
Scholar T.C. Schmidt argues that a disputed passage about Jesus in the ancient historian Josephus’s writings is authentic, challenging the view that Christian scribes substantially altered it. If his case is accepted, the passage would offer an early non-Christian account supporting some historical details about Jesus.
Schmidt compared versions in Greek, Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Armenian, and used linguistic and computer-assisted stylistic analysis to argue that its phrases resemble Josephus’s other writing. The passage describes Jesus as a wise man who attracted followers and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and reports that his followers believed he rose on the third day. Schmidt says Josephus reported that belief without affirming the resurrection himself; the article presents his findings, not a settled scholarly consensus.
In short
- T.C. Schmidt argues Josephus’s disputed passage about Jesus is authentic.
- His analysis compares five language traditions and Josephus’s writing style.
- The passage reports early followers’ belief in Jesus’s resurrection.
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The case for
Schmidt’s case is that the passage’s wording and style fit Josephus’s known writing, while comparisons across Greek, Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Armenian versions may help distinguish an original text from later changes. On this reading, Josephus reported what Jesus’s followers believed about the resurrection without endorsing it, and the passage could provide early evidence for some details of Jesus’s life.
The case against
The passage has long been disputed because Christian scribes may have altered Josephus’s text, making it difficult to know which wording, if any, is original. Similarity of style and comparison among later versions may not settle that question, so scholars can reasonably remain cautious about treating the passage as authentic or as independent historical evidence.