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Against Apion & Discourse to the Greeks

Flavius Josephus

Flavius Josephus (c. 37-100 A.D.) is an important Jewish historian whose writings present one of the best sources for the period of the New Testament. The details of his life are to be found almost exclusively from his autobiography, Life of Flavius Josephus. Born in Jerusalem, apparently of priestly and noble lineage, well educated, he joined the sect of Pharisees as a youth. He was allowed to plead the case of the Jews in the imperial city by the procurator Felix – only to be shipwrecked before he arrived. As the revolt against Rome began in earnest, Josephus joined the Zealots, acting as a military commander in the Jewish War (66-70 A.D.). In defeat, he saved himself and was apprehended by the Romans, gradually entering into the confidence and good graces of the Emperor Vespasian. With the Emperor Titus, Josephus acted as envoy and mediator between the Jews and Romans. He returned with Titus

Josephus' apology in defense of the Jewish people.

Against Apion is Josephus' only surviving non-historical work and perhaps his finest achievement. Written some time after the Antiquities, it is a genuine Apology in defense of the Jews – their history, culture and religion. A portion of the second book is directed at a certain Apion: a Greek grammarian and teacher of rhetoric at Rome who had attacked and impugned the antiquity of the Jewish people. This admirable work, in defense of the Israelite religion and against the vagaries of paganism, was commended by Jerome and has certain features in common with the early Christian Apologists.

History & Culture

Jewish