Josephus Definition
Jewish historian named Josephus Flavius, author of four major extra-biblical texts of Jewish life and culture. Born to a preistly family about the time of Jesus' death, he died approximately 100 AD; he was a Galilean commander in the First Jewish Revolt. Trapped in the doomed city of Jotapata, Josephus convinced the other survivors to commit suicide, arranging that he would be the last one alive. He surrendered to the Roman commander Vespian and prophesied that Vespian would become emperor. Vespian made Josephus a scribe and a member of his own family; he became a Roman citizen. He write extensively about the First Jewish Revolt and Jewish history, and confirmed that New Testament descriptions of life and culture were accurate.
