Josephus’ Greek and Jewish Learning

Josephus

Jewish Antiquities 20.262–263

93–94

I indeed may say, encouraged by the consummation of the work I set out to accomplish, that no other person—were he a Jew or foreigner, however so inclined—could so accurately deliver these accounts to the Greeks as is done in these books. For among those of my own nation, it is freely acknowledged that I far exceed them in Jewish learning. I have also exerted great labor toward obtaining the learning of the Greeks and to understanding the elements of the Greek language, although I have so long accustomed myself to speaking in our native tongue that I cannot pronounce Greek with sufficient precision.

Translated by William Whiston, adapted by Aaron Samuels.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

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