The author referred to: Little is known of Thallus except from the quotes from others. Some date the writings of Thallus to 52 A.D., others to the end of the first century or early second century.
The author: Julius Africanus, an early church father, writing around 221 A.D. commented on what Thallus had said.
About the writing: Africanus correctly points out that the darkness at the time of crucifixion could not have been as a result of a solar eclipse, as the crucifixion took place at Passover, which always occurs during a full moon. During a full moon, a solar eclipse can not occur.
What Julius Africanus wrote:
""Thallus, in the third book of his history explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun, unreasonably as it seems to me." (Africanus, Chronography, 18:1, Roberts, Alexander and Donaldson, James, editors. The Ante Nicene Fathers. Wm Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1973 American Reprint of Edinburg edition, Grand Rapids, MI)
Thallus was not denying the darkness at the crucifixion. He was simply trying to explain the darkness as a natural event not a supernatural event.
What the writing confirms about the bible:
Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical person
The occurrence of the crucifixion of Jesus
The fact that the darkness occurred during the crucifixion of Jesus
Reference “He Walked Among Us”, Josh McDowell, Here’s Life Publisher, San Bernardino, Third Printing 1989. This book is full of excellent information with regards to the historical accuracy of the bible.
