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The Preface of the Book, in which he investigates the History of the Jewish Nation; Mention of those who began such a Work; how and from what Sources he collected his History; how he was intent upon the Truth, and what other Details the History will contain.
mind has been often
exercised in inquiring how it is that other men are very ready to
believe in God the Word, while the Jews are so incredulous, although it
was to them that instruction concerning the things of God was, from the
beginning, imparted by the prophets, who likewise made them acquainted
with the events attendant upon the coming of Christ, before they came
to pass.
Besides, Abraham, the founder of their nation and of the circumcision, was accounted worthy to be an eye-witness, and the host of the Son of God.
And Isaac, his son, was honored as the type of the sacrifice on the
cross, for he was led bound to the altar by his father and, as accurate
students of the sacred Scriptures affirm, the sufferings of Christ came
to pass in like manner. Jacob predicted that the expectation of the
nations would be for Christ, as it now is; and he likewise foretold the
time in which he came, when he said “the rulers of the Hebrews of
the tribe of Judah, the tribal leader, shall fail.”
This clearly referred to the reign of Herod, who was an
Idumean, on his father’s side, and on his mother’s, an
Arabian, and the Jewish nation was delivered to him by the Roman senate
and Augustus Cæsar. And of the rest of the prophets some declared
beforehand the birth of Christ, His ineffable conception, the mother
remaining a virgin after His birth, His people, and country.
Some predicted His divine and marvelous deeds, while others foretold
His sufferings, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into the
heavens, and the event accompanying each. But if any be ignorant of
these facts it is not difficult to know them by reading the sacred
books. Josephus, the son of Matthias, also who was a priest, and was
most distinguished among Jews and Romans, may be regarded as a
noteworthy witness to the truth concerning Christ
for he hesitates to call Him a man since He wrought marvelous works, and was a teacher of truthful doctrines, but openly calls him Christ; that He was condemned to the death of the cross, and appeared alive again the third day. Nor was Josephus ignorant of numberless other wonderful predictions uttered beforehand by the holy prophets concerning Christ. He further testifies that Christ brought over many to Himself both Greeks and Jews, who continued to love Him, and that the people named after Him had not become extinct. It appears to me that in narrating these things, he all but proclaims that Christ, by comparison of works, is God. As if struck by the miracle, he ran, somehow, a middle course, assailing in no way those who believed in Jesus, but rather agreeing with them.
When I consider this matter it seems reasonably
remarkable to me, that the Hebrews did not anticipate, and, before the
rest of men, immediately turn to Christianity; for though the Sibyl and
some oracles announced beforehand the future of events concerning
Christ we are not on this account
to attribute unbelief to all the Greeks. For they were few, who, appearing superior in education, could understand such prophecies, which were, for the most part, in verse, and were declared with more recondite words to the people. Therefore in my judgment, it was the result of the heavenly preknowledge, for the sake of the agreement in future events, that the coming facts were to be made known, not only by his own prophets, but in part also by strangers. Just as a musician, under pressure of a strange melody, may treat the superfluous tones of the chords lightly with his plectrum, or add others to those already existing.