VOLUME XXII  March 7, 1999  Number 9

HOSPITAL/SICK NEWS:  Mary Kirkland is scheduled to return to Birmingham for further tests Tuesday (3-2).  We continue to remember Doran and Norma Deal; Tammy Moss; Callie Kilgore; Clarice Turk; Bertha Johnson; Tressie Farmer; Crosher Whitehead's Son-in-law; and others of our number who have been sick lately.

SYMPATHY:  Our deepest sympathy is expressed to Jesse Brown and family in the passing of his brother in Kentucky.  We pray also for their safe return.

MEN'S MEETINGS SCHEDULED:  In a men's business meeting held Sunday, February 28 at 5:00 P.M. the men in attendance decided to have regular business meetings to be held at 5:00 P.M. on the last Sunday of every other month.  In the absence of elders, these meetings will be used to conduct the regular business of the church and attend to any special concerns as may present themselves.  Mark the date of Sunday, April 25 at 5:00 P.M. for the next meeting.

HOMECOMING AND GOSPEL MEETING:  Bobby Gayton has been asked to preach in our annual homecoming this year.  It is scheduled for July 18-23.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?  Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17), Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6), Repent of Sins (Acts 2:38), Confess Faith in Christ (Acts 8:37), be baptized (Acts 22:16), and remain faithful, even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).  May we assist you in becoming a faithful Christian?

JOSEPHUS AND THE BIBLE  Installment #4

Josephus also mentions Jesus, though there is much controversy as to just how it was that he viewed Him.  The passage in question is found in ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, Book 20, Chapter 9, 1, and reads as follows:  "And now Cæsar, upon hearing of the death of Festus, sent Albinus into Judea as procurator; but the king deprived Joseph of the high priesthood, and bestowed the succession to that dignity on the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus.  Now the report goes, that this elder Ananus proved a most fortunate man; for he had five sons, who had all performed the office of a high priest to God, and he had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly, which had never happened to any other of our high priests; but this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who were very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity [to exercise his authority.]  Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of the judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or some of his companions;] and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned:  but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa,] desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified:  nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without his consent:  --whereupon Albinus complied with what they had said, and wrote in anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the high priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high priest."  There is no dispute about the passage being legitimate, but there is much debate as to how we are to take it.  Notice that Joseph spoke of James as the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.  This seems to indicate, not that Josephus was a believer in Jesus as the Christ, but that Josephus was aware of Him and that some did indeed call Him Christ.  This is no great revelation, for the abundance of evidence attesting to this from secular sources is great; but it does indicate the knowledge of Josephus, one familiar with Jerusalem and Rome, and that he was comfortable enough that the general opinion of the followers of Jesus was that He was the Christ to so record the matter.  Further, it indicates the nature of the fame of Jesus, for in identifying someone who outlived him he referred to Jesus, thus indicating that Jesus was of great importance in the religious world and remained famous long after His crucifixion.
Another passage from Josephus which concerns Jesus is found in ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, Book 18, Chapter 3, 3:  "Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, -- a teacher of such men   as receive the truth with pleasure.  He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles.  He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."  I find it very difficult to believe that Josephus herein confesses his faith in Jesus, for in the same passage as he indicated that He was a doer of great and wonderful works and was the object of prophecy he also referred to the church in a removed and distant fashion, calling it "the tribe of Christians".  It has been suggested that we are to take these words as somewhat sarcastic, Josephus speaking down to the beliefs of the followers of Jesus.  Others suggest that the passage is a later Christian addition, but if it was later it was not very much so, for Origen and Eusebius, two other early historians, were familiar with it.  We accept the legitimacy of the passage in question, and we accept what Origen says about Josephus and the fact that he did not accept Jesus as the Christ.  These two things being true, what are we to conclude?  Josephus seems to have been saying that this Jesus, indeed a wise man (in that His teachings were incontrovertible when considered in the light of reason and fact); and then he proceeds to poke fun at the assertions of His followers, "if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works", and etc.   But his lack of faith notwithstanding, we see that the belief was held then that Jesus lived, that He did many wonderful works, and that He claimed to be more than a man, but rather, God in human flesh.  We further see that He was a great teacher, that He appeared before Pilate at the suggestion of the leaders of the Jews, that He was convicted and crucified on the cross.  Josephus agrees further with the biblical records (which were not at his disposal when writing these words) in saying that the followers of Jesus did not totally forsake Him after the crucifixion, and that they held that He appeared alive again on the third day after the crucifixion.  Josephus was aware of the claims by the Lord that He was the object of prophecy, and of the Church as a distinct and separate entity from Judaism. He also places the date of Jesus and His crucifixion properly,  and in the above cited reference correctly identifies his brother, James.  Though unintentional, he agrees in the essentials with the Gospel writers.

So much more could be written about these matters, as this but touches the hem of the garment, but it was not our purpose to offer an exhaustive review of Josephus and his history, but rather to merely touch a few of the areas wherein his works duplicate subject matter dealt with in the Bible.  Whenever the Bible differs with the narrative of Josephus we stay with the Bible.  We are able to learn of the thinking and faith of non-Christians through Josephus' writing, and we find confirmation of many biblical statements in his works.  I hope that you have enjoyed this, and profited by it.
TIM SMITH  1272 Enon Road,  Webb, AL 36376  (334) 899-8131

"I APPEAL UNTO CÆSAR" Part 1

The source of the words whence comes our title was Paul as he stood before Festus, being accused by the Jews and rejecting an offer to be transported to Jerusalem to stand trial before them, he appealed unto Cæsar, perfectly within his rights as a Roman citizen (cf., Acts 25:1-12).  It is generally thought that this Cæsar to whom Paul appealed was Tiberius Nero Cæsar, commonly known to modern man as "Nero".  Thanks to the writings of Suetonius, Tacitus, and a few others of antiquity we know a great deal about this man; his character and some of his deeds make him very unattractive to us, but not nearly so unattractive as he must have been to those who lived under his despotic rule.  Let us consider Nero with a view to better understanding the background of a great part of the New Testament.  It is not necessary to know about Rome or any other nation of antiquity to be saved, but I believe that the more we can know about such as this the better able we are to appreciate the difficulties faced by the church in the First Century, and thereby we are encouraged all the more to face our comparatively small troubles in the present day.
As indicated above, his full name was Tiberius Nero Cæsar, and he was the recipient of a royal and impressive lineage.  Suetonius tells us that his family had long been among the Roman aristocracy, having amassed 28 consulates, 5 dictatorships, 7 censorships, 6 triumphs and 2 ovations (SUETONIUS:  THE LIVES OF THE TWELVE CÆSARS, the translation by PHILEMON HOLLAND, The Heritage Press, 1965, page 153).  Suetonius also admits early on that many of his family were filled with faults and did amiss.  These words are a fitting prologue to the life of this, one of the most wicked and vile of men.  He ascended the throne in AD 54, having been adopted by Claudius as his rightful heir.  Before coming to the throne he met with great success in many political and military endeavors, whether by luck or skill it is hard to tell for sure.  He was not the first choice of Augustus, but as we shall presently notice the untimely deaths of those who were preferred before him enabled his ascension to the throne.  Upon the death of Augustus he returned to Rome and called together the Senate, and began to make a speech to them but  stopped, so as to imply that he was overcome with grief at the death of his benefactor.  Suetonius said:  "all of a sudden, as if unable to master his grief, he fell into a fit of sighing and groaning; yea he wished that not only his voice but his vital breath might also fail him, and therewith gave the book [containing the will of Augustus] unto his son Drusus to read it out.  After this, when the last will and testament of Augustus was brought in...he caused it to be read and pronounced...  The will began in this manner:  'Forasmuch as sinister fortune has bereft me of Gaius and Lucius, my sons, I will that Tiberius Cæsar be mine heir" (Suetonius, pages 172-173).  After pausing for some time before entering into his duties as ruler, he began his work "after a civil sort", a disposition that would soon leave him.  Of the few things we may say in his favor we find that early on he accepted but few of the honors and gifts offered to him as king, and even forbad any temples being built in his name or priests to be ordained for him.  His birthday fell during the famous plebein games and he would not so much as allow the people to honor him, lest the glory of the games be diminished.  Too much time has passed to know for sure his motives, but such is the account given by Suetonius.  He is said to have "detested flattery and obsequious compliments".  In the face of much and violent hatred and evil sayings he is reported to have said in the senate, of an adversary who had assailed him:  "If so be that he speak otherwise of me than well, I will endeavor to give an account of my deeds and words; but in case he continue so still, I will hate him for it in turn".  Somehow I tend to identify the latter sentiment with this ruler more than the former.**He went to great lengths both in speeches and letters and even actions to assert his allegiance to and love for the senate, but as in most Cæsars, this tended more to be words than lasting actions.

Though the Romans were well known for religious tolerance, Nero banished all foreign religious ceremonies, including those of the Egyptians and the Jews.  He commanded that all caught practicing such should be arrested and that the utensils and furniture used in such worship should be burned.  He even outlawed sorcery and astrology, (and in this we have no ill to say of him).  This law outlawing foreign religions would be vigorously prosecuted with respect to the church, as we shall later on see, marking one of the darkest hours for the Chosen People of New Testament fame.  In connection with this we often read words such as "atrocity" and "cruelty" used to describe Nero's actions.  He had within his power the ability to greatly improve or worsen the conditions of the world in which he lived, and with but few exceptions he demonstrates that he was totally ignorant of the good way of life, choosing rather to debase himself and all those under his power and influence.  His will be a terrible life punctuated with evil and difficulties and then ended in shame. (Space is gone for now, but we plan to take these matters up next week.)
Tim Smith  1272 Enon Road  Webb, AL 36376  (334) 899-8131