Flavius Josephus (c. 37-100 AD) was a Jewish military leader
and historian who was roughly a contemporary of the apostle Paul. Modern historians have found the writings of
Josephus to be an invaluable source for understanding the religion and history
of Israel during Biblical times. In his
work titled The Jewish Wars, for
example, Josephus provides a vivid eyewitness description of the destruction of
Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans in 70 AD.
In an apologetic work titled Against Apion, Josephus defends the Jewish people and religion
against its pagan critics. As part of
that defense, Josephus describes the meticulous care which the Jews of his day
gave to the handling and transmission of the Old Testament Scriptures:
We have given practical proof of our
reverence for our own Scriptures. For,
although such long ages have now passed, no one ventured either to add, or to
remove or to alter a syllable; and it is an instinct with every Jew, from the
day of his birth, to regard them as the decrees of God, to abide by them, and,
if need be, cheerfully to die for them. Time
and again ere now the sight has been witnessed of prisoners enduring tortures
and death in every form in the theatres, rather than utter a single word
against the laws and the allied documents (Against
Apion, I.8).
Since Jesus himself and the apostles were Jews, we can
imagine that they shared a similar sentiment regarding the Scriptures. This same spirit is evidenced when Jesus said
things like: “For verily I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17).
Such statements provide the vital Biblical proofs which support the
doctrine of the providential preservation of God’s Word.
We can rely on the faithfulness of God’s Word, because God
has been faithful to keep it.
Grace and peace, Pastor
Jeff Riddle
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