Josephus on James the Just? A re-evaluation of Antiquitates Judaicae 20.9.1

Full title
Josephus on James the Just? A re-evaluation of Antiquitates Judaicae 20.9.1
Updated By
Research notes

SHS/not checked/23/06/2019 YKC/reader checked/25/03/2022

Reference type
Author(s)
Allen, Nicholas Peter Legh
Year
2017
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Journal of Early Christian History
Volume
7
Issue / Series Volume
1
Pages
1-27
Work type
Label
01/07/2019
Abstract

This article reviews the well-known (supposedly Josephan) mention of James as “the Brother of Jesus” (i.e. Antiquitates Judaicae 20.9.1.200). Here, with reference to, inter alia, the insights of Earl Doherty, Steve Mason, Peter Kirby, John Paul Meier, Nikos Kokkinos, as well as to certain key findings gleaned from critical readings of Origen’s Commentary on Matthew and Contra Celsum, I attempt to demonstrate Origen’s possible role in the creation of this long-suspected fraudulent text. In this regard, by highlighting a number of Origen’s key philosophical and theological refutations it becomes evident that apart from the unlikelihood of Josephus ever writing about James, Origen must now be considered the primary suspect for what is possibly a third century CE Christian forgery.