This work done by the loeb classical libary is a must for anyone from serious historical scholar to the causal history buff. In the former book, most honored epaphroditus, i have demonstrated our antiquity, and confirmed the truth of what i have said, from the writings of the phoenicians, and chaldeans, and egyptians. For although he was born at oasis in egypt, he pretends to be, as a man may say. The original aramaic has been lost, but the extant greek version was prepared under josephus personal direction. For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another, as the greeks have, but only twentytwo books, 8 which contain the records of all the past times. Flavius josephus, against apion william whiston, a. Against apion cites josephus earlier work antiquities of the jews, so can be dated after c. The complete works of flavius josephus flavius josephus. Against apion flavius josephus josephus, soldier, statesman, historian, was a jew born at jerusalem about 37 ce.
Flavius josephus, against apion, book ii, whiston section 26. 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 the life of flavius josephus autobiography josephus s discourse to the greeks concerning hades flavius josephus against apion book i book ii. I suppose that by my books of the antiquity of the jews, most excellent epaphroditus, 2 have made it evident to those who peruse them, that our jewish nation is of very great antiquity, and had a distinct subsistence of its own originally. History of the jewish war, in seven books the loeb edition. Josephus, soldier, statesman, historian, was a jew born at jerusalem about 37 ce. The lore of birthdays new york, 1952 by ralph and adelin. Antiquities of the jews book ii reluctant messenger. The former part of this second book is written against the calumnies of apion, and then, more briefly, against the like calumnies of apollonius molo. Rtl barclay this volume contains a fresh english translation of josephus apologetic treatise against apion, based on the new critical text established by h. To satiate this point, notice also the record of the first century historian josephus. A man of high descent, he early became learned in jewish law and greek literature. Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children flavius josephus, against apion, book ii, section 26. These fifteen days for finishing such vast buildings at babylon, in josephus s copy of berosus, would seem too absurd to be supposed to be the true number, were it not for the same testimony extant also in the first book against apion, sect. Josephus, against apion book ii early jewish writings.
The jews in the messiahs day knew yehovahs attitude toward birthday celebrations, nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children flavius josephus, against apion, book ii. Book ii 161 but now it is proper to satisfy the inquiry of those. The works of flavius josephus ultimate bible reference. See the note on the first book against apion, sect. Against apion 2, the judean constitution and laws 2. Apion had composed a treatise against the jews in the midst of the crisis which arose in the capital of egypt, alexandria, in the first third of that century.
War of the jews antiquities of the jews autobiography concerning hades against apion josephus was born joseph ben mattathias in 37 c. 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. Flavius josephus, against apion, book i, whiston section 22. In the second book, josephus defends the historicity of the jewish bible against accusations made by apion who josephus states is not greek, arguing that apion in fact rehashes material of manethos, though there was apparently some confusion between manethos references to. It is not written against apion, as is the first part of the second book, but against those greeks in general who would not believe josephuss former accounts of the very ancient state of the jewish nation, in his 20 books of antiquities. Against apion is a polemical work written by flavius josephus as a defense of judaism as a classical religion and philosophy against criticism by apion, stressing its antiquity against what he perceived as more recent traditions of the greeks. After pleading in rome the cause of some jewish priests he returned to jerusalem and. Christmas is a sin tradition, mystic, prophet, pope. A man of high descent, he early became learned in jewish law and greek literature and was a pharisee. In the former book, most honoured epaphroditus, i have. Against apion loeb classical library 9780674992054. Consult, therefore, and correct hence our ordinary copies, exodus 1.
The life against apion is josephus attempt to refute the virulent antisemetic felling that was ever present in the roman empire during the first century ad. The jews in christs day knew alahayims attitude toward birthday celebrations, nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children josephus, against apion, ii. Josephus treatise against apion apologetics in the. The lore of birthdays new york, 1952 by ralph and adelin linton originally the idea of birthday greetings and wishes for happiness was rooted in magic. For it is very truly affirmed of this pythagoras, that he took a great many of the laws of the jews into his own philosophy. Now one of these ambassadors from the people of alexandria was apion, who uttered many blasphemies against the jews. History of the jewish war, in seven books, from 170.
Flavius josephus against apion book ii christians unite. And this was the end of apion s life, and this shall be the conclusion of our discourse about him. His second major work, the antiquities of the jews, was completed in 93 c. Josephus flavius josephus the life against apion the. Moreover, since this apollonius does not do like apion, and lay a continued accusation against us, but does it only by starts, and up and clown his discourse, while he sometimes reproaches us as atheists, and manhaters, and sometimes hits us in the teeth with our want of courage, and yet sometimes, on the contrary, accuses us of too great boldness and madness in our conduct. Antiquities of the jews book xiii reluctant messenger. Buy access help about contact us cookies anglais francais deutsch encyclopedias text editions.
But after that, josephus leaves off any more particular reply to those adversaries of the jews, and gives us a large and excellent description and vindication of that theocracy which was settled for the jewish nation by moses, their great legislator. Even assuming that the mosaic law actually did have such a prohibition, the church is not under the mosaic law and doesnt have to follow the ritualistic rules that were given to israel. The jewish war, books iii loeb classical library no. It was most likely written in the early second century. I have, moreover, produced many of the grecian writers as witnesses thereto. The work in two books preserved in greek in part only in latin in the manuscripts of josephus writings and commonly known by the title against apion contains much explicit apologetic, and the authors numerous references to his own aims and techniques make this skilfully planned, wellwritten and clever treatise a fine test case of the. Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess. Even after the legitimate relations of husband and wife ablutions are required.
For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another, as the greeks have, but only twentytwo books, 8. Against apion project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. After pleading in rome the cause of some jewish priests he returned to jerusalem and in 66 tried to prevent revolt against rome. The first century judean historian josephus wrote against apion to combat the antijewish tract written by the roman grammarian and homeric commentator, apion of egyptian origin. It thence indeed appears that josephus s copy of berosus had this small number. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. Flavius josephus, against apion, book i, whiston section 8. Josephus first work, bellum judaicum history of the jewish war, was written in seven books between ad 75 and 79, toward the end of vespasians reign. Reading options 3,041 words josephus presents the final segment of the treatise 2. However, our admirable author, apion, hath before told us, that they came to judea in six days time. Vespasian commissioned josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 c. Also by him are an autobiographical life and a treatise against apion.
Now men of good tempers ought to observe their own laws concerning religion accurately, and to persevere therein, but not presently to abuse the laws of other nations, while this apion deserted his own laws, and told lies about ours. Now, then, all such as ever saw the construction of our temple, of what nature it was, know well enough how the purity of it was never to be profaned. He excelled in his studies of jewish law and studied with the sadducees, pharisees, and the essenes, eventually aligning himself with the pharisees. Jews, jewish christians, and old testament birthdays. Antiquities of the jews book x reluctant messenger.
Against apion contra apionem or in apionem was a polemical work written by flavius josephus as a defense of judaism as a classical religion and philosophy, stressing its antiquity against what. In footnote 21 below, whiston notes that some of moses laws that josephus describes are not in the pentateuch. Chaeremons version, he was born in a cave after his. Josephus is clear that these midwives were egyptians, and not israelites, as in our other copies. The first century judahite historian josephus noted that judahite families did not celebrate birthdays. The following large accounts also of the laws of moses, seem to me to show a regard to the higher.
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