Editing Josephus on Jesus (section)

==== Exclusion of three divisive elements ====
[[Craig Blomberg]] states that if the three elements "lawful to call him a man", "he was the Christ" and the reference to the resurrection are removed from the ''{{lang|la|Testimonium}}'' the rest of the passage flows smoothly within the context, fits the style of Josephus and is likely to be authentic.<ref name=Blomberg434>''Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey'' by Craig L. Blomberg 2009 {{ISBN|0-8054-4482-3}} pp. 434–435</ref> Blomberg adds that after the removal of these three elements (which are likely interpolations) from the Greek versions the remaining passage fits well with the Arabic version and supports the authenticity of the reference to the execution of Jesus by Pilate.<ref name=Blomberg434 /> [[Joel B. Green]] also states that the removal of some elements from the ''{{lang|la|Testimonium}}'' produces a passage that is likely to be an authentic reference to the death of Jesus.<ref name="Joel B">[[Joel B. Green]] "Crucifixion" in the ''Cambridge Companion to Jesus'' edited by Markus N. A. Bockmuehl 2001 {{ISBN|0-521-79678-4}}, p. 89.</ref>

In the estimation of [[James Dunn (theologian)|James Dunn]], there is "broad consensus" among scholars regarding what the ''{{lang|la|Testimonium}}'' would look like without the interpolations.{{sfn|Dunn|2003|p=141}} According to Dunn's reconstruction, the original passage likely read:{{sfn|Dunn|2003|p=141}}<ref name="Joel B" />{{quote box|align=left|Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and many of Greek origin. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.}}

In this passage, which is based on [[John P. Meier]]'s reconstruction, Jesus is called a "wise man", but "lawful to call him a man" and "he was the Christ" are removed, as is the reference to the resurrection.{{sfn|Dunn|2003|p=141}}<ref name="Joel B" /> According to [[Bart D. Ehrman]], Meier's reconstruction is currently the most accepted among scholars.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ehrman |first=Bart D. |date=March 10, 2019 |title=Do Any Ancient Jewish Sources Mention Jesus? Weekly Mailbag |url=https://ehrmanblog.org/do-any-ancient-jewish-sources-mention-jesus-weekly-mailbag/ |website=The Bart Ehrman Blog |language=en-US |quote=If this is something Josephus wrote, as most scholars continue to think, then it indicates that Jesus was a wise man and a teacher who performed startling deeds and as a consequence found a following among both Jews and Greeks; it states that he was accused by Jewish leaders before Pilate, who condemned him to be crucified; and it points out that his followers remained devoted to him even afterward (Ant. 18.3.3).}}</ref>

[[Géza Vermes]] has performed a detailed analysis of the ''{{lang|la|Testimonium}}'' and modified it to remove what he considers the interpolations.<ref name=Henry185 /><ref name=Geza35 /> In Vermes' reconstruction "there was Jesus, a wise man" is retained, but the reference to "he was the Christ" is changed to "he was called the Christ" and the resurrection reference is omitted.<ref name=Geza35 /> Vermes states that the ''{{lang|la|Testimonium}}'' provides Josephus' authentic portrayal of Jesus, depicting him as a wise teacher and miracle worker with an enthusiastic group of followers who remained faithful to him after his crucifixion by Pilate, up to the time of Josephus.<ref name=Geza35 /> Vermes's version reads:<blockquote>Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man. For he was a doer of startling deeds, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. And he gained a following both among many Jews and many of Greek origin. He was called the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-14 |title=Jesus in the Eyes of Josephus |url=https://standpointmag.co.uk/jesus-in-the-eyes-of-josephus-features-jan-10-geza-vermes/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Standpoint |language=english |archive-date=2021-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918163503/https://standpointmag.co.uk/jesus-in-the-eyes-of-josephus-features-jan-10-geza-vermes/}}</ref></blockquote>