The Age of the Peshitta

[SteveCaruso]

Second, he points out the importance of his blood in his autobiography "The Life of Josephus." By his mother, he is related to Hasmonean family. Jewish Priest Josephus also has descended all along from priests.

So I was correct about this.

Third, Aramaic was the dominant language even outside of first century Israel. Like Josephus points out, Greek was an unaccustomed language to Jews in first century AD (Antiquities of Jews Book 1, Preface). Jews knowing Greek were extremely rare (Antiquities of Jews XX XI).

So Alexandrian and other Greek-speaking Jews were not Jews? Greek inscriptions on Jewish ossuaries far outnumber Aramaic and Hebrew inscriptions and were put there either by engravers of the ossuaries themselves or scribbled on as graffiti by the families of the deceased for their own reference. The same goes for synagogue inscriptions in the 1st century (the majority are in Greek with fewer in Aramaic and even fewer in Hebrew). I vaguely remember you claim that the Romans had something to do with it, but I hope I am mistaken as that idea is unsubstantiated.

With this, I'm only saying that the linguistic landscape of Jews (given the whole of archeological evidence; the ossuaries are there) is much more complex and nuanced than Josephus' apparent understanding, where you seem to be insisting that it's all one color despite the writing (literally) on the walls.

Fourth, the position of Josephus is extremely important aside from being a Jewish Priest. Josephus's Jewish Wars strengthens the prophecy of Jesus Christ about the destruction of Jerusalem which occured in 70 AD. Josephus "historically" testifies the existence of Jesus Christ in his book "Antiquities of Jews 20.9.1."

I didn't even touch Christian theology vis a vis Josephus at all. I'm not sure how this is relevant to what I have said. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/huh.gif" alt="" title="Huh" /><!-- s -->