Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-11-11
ANCIENT TESTIMONIES
concerning Jesus Of Nazareth, &c.-NO.VIII.
FROM THE GAZE.

NOV. TIN.
The famous clause in this testimony Of Josephus
concerning Christ. q This aoas Chrisr' or . tie
ChJi' clearly points out, that this JeSus was dis
tinga ished from all Others Of that name, Of which
there were many and that this person was no other
than he, whom all the werld at that time, knew by
the name Of Jesus Christ, and his followers by the
name OF christians; Otherwise he would moi have
added the mans Of Christ, in his account Of him.
Though Josephus does not design here to de-
clare himself openly christian, yet he could moi
possibly believe all that he says concerning Jesus
Christ, unless he were SO far christian as the
Jewish Nazareens or Ebionities, thea were, who
believed Jesus of Nazareth to be the true M essah
without believing he was more than q man; who
also believed the necessity Of the observation Of the
ceremonial law of Moses in order to the salvation
OF all mankind. These were the two main points
of the Jewish christians faith, though in oppos-
aon 20 all the apostles of Jesus Christ in the FIRST
century, and in opposition to the whole Catholic
Church of Christ in the succeeding centuries. On
the whole, then, it seems, that Josephus was
Nagarene or Ebionite Jewish christian and it is
observable, that bis entire testimony, and all that
lie says CT John the Baptist, and James, his entire
silence about NIL the,rest of the Apostles exactly
agrees with him in that character, and no other
Ii is admitted by divines that the thousands Of Jews
who believed in Christ, in the FIRST century were
all jealous of the ceremonial law ;and consequent.
y il there is any season to believe that Josephus
was in any sense q believer or christian, as from
his testimonies there are very great ones all these
and all other conspre fully to assure us, he
was no other than a Nazarene or Ebionite chris
tian.
In answer to The enquiry, why Josephus did not
openly declare himself christian and give more
full and perfect account of our Saviour observe,
that Josephus al the ii ne he wrote his Antiquities
was prisoner at Rome, aud doubtless would BE-
careful to write nothing which would be obnoxious
TO that nation, provided he could omit it consist
emily with the character Of true historian. He
wrote his Antiquities for the use of the Greeks
and Romans, and not for the Jews or Christians /;
the two former of these nations knew nothing of
the Great Messiah of the Hebrews; the anoiated
of God, who was TO perform the Office of hing
priest and prophet but they knew very well that
eminent person living in Judea, whose name
was Jesus Christ. had founded new sect no cal
led themselves Christians therefore, the prudent
manner in which Josephus mentions him, would
not offend them, But had he openly declared himself
a christian and believer in Jesus as the Messiah
such declaration would not have recommended
him, bis nation or his writings with either the
Greeks or Romans; with both which nations tie is
known &c be greatly socltous 10 maiftain high
reputation.
mere IS diSU OHS III ldVUuT Vi Tue du-
thentcity of this testimony, belonging TO all the
past ages, which has commonly been overlooked by
the learned, though il may be considered an i'm
portant one--that u.s. the contempt, all the unbe-
lieyng Jews have ever shewn for Josephus, tbe
best historian beyond dispute, which their nation
ever produced, after the sacred ones. What car
be the reason of this contempt ofthe genuine Greek
j. sephus What can be the Foundation of that alas
cious pI etencr, that tie Hebrew jose bus no.
the genuine Josephus, unless il be, the testimonies
now under consideration & especially that concern
ing Jesus Christ, which bears SO hard on the unbe-
lieving Jewish nation could not be by them en-
dursd This must appear to the impartial world the
principal cause sor their rejecting this amiable aud
excellent author: in short, it is difficult to assign
any other probable cause, for this contempt and
rejection which If admitted to be the true reason,
the authenticity Of these testimonies, particularly
that concerning Christ, will Of course be admitted
to be wholly undeniable i only add, on the au-
shorty ofItgus and Doc Cave, that when this
testimony bad been inserted in manuscript OF Jo-
sepbus i'm Hebrew version of his Antiquities, OF
a later epitome in Hebrew, some Jews were SC ex-
asperated that they caused il to be erased out OF
il thereby evncing their determined hostility to
every historical fact, concerning Jesus OF Naza-
reth