About the author: Joesphus (37 A.D. - 100 A.D.) was a consultant for Jerusalem rabbis at the age of thirteen and obtained a Galilean military command in 66 A.D. Josephus then deserted to the Romans. In 70 A.D. Josephus rode into Jerusalem under the Roman general Titus. He observed and wrote about the destruction of Jerusalem.
What Josephus wrote:
"Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away, [or the remission] of some sins [only,] but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness.
Now, when many others came to crowd about him, for they were greatly moved by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence of John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not to bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late." (Antiquities of the Jews, book eighteen, chapter five, paragraph two)
John the Baptist was an historical figure (Matthew 3.1-3)
John was a righteous man and was popular (Matthew 21.25-26)
Herod killed John the Baptist (Mark 6.26-29)
John baptized people with water (Mark 1.4-5)
More of what Josephus wrote:
"After the death of the procurator Festus, when Albinus was about to succeed him, the high-priest Ananius considered it a favorable opportunity to assemble the Sanhedrin. He therefore caused James the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, and several others, to appear before this hastily assembled council, and pronounced upon them the sentence of death by stoning. All the wise men and strict observers of the law who were at Jerusalem expressed their disapprobation of this act ...
Some even went to Albinus himself, who had departed to Alexandria, to bring this breach of the law under his observation, and to inform him that Ananius had acted illegally in assembling the Sanhedrin without the Roman authority."
(Antiquities of the Jews)
What the writing confirms about the bible:
Jesus was a real historical person (Matthew 1.18, 2 Peter 1.16, Acts 1.3, 1 John 1.1)
Jesus was called Christ (John 4.25-26. Romans 1.1)
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.
