Terminology Tuesday: Testimonium Flavianum

Testimonium Flavianum: The reference in Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 of Josephus’ Antiquities to the execution of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. The general scholarly view is that while the Testimonium Flavianum is most likely not authentic in its entirety, it is broadly agreed upon that it originally consisted of an authentic nucleus with a reference to the execution of Jesus by Pilate which was then subject to Christian interpolation.

Without any interpolations, the original passage would have read like:

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.1

1. For more information, see Josephus on Jesus on Wikipedia or this interview with historian Paul L. Maier.