/
Source Image
Loading...
English
THE SON OF GOD, THE LEADER OF LIFE, JESUS CHRIST,
THE JUST, THE TRUE, THE HIGH PRIEST,
Original: "Justum, Veracem, Sacerdotem Summum." This refers to the "Testimonium Flavianum," a passage in Josephus's Antiquities (Book 18) where he mentions Jesus. Scholars have long debated its authenticity.
THE WALLS OF HIS FATHERLAND ADORE HIM, THOUGH THEY LIE PROSTRATE;
THE HOLY ALTARS SIGNIFY HIM, THOUGH THEY ARE OVERTURNED;
THE TEMPLE RECOGNIZES HIM AS LORD, THOUGH IT IS DESTROYED;
BY THE ENEMY, BY HIS OWN PEOPLE, AND BY HEAVEN ITSELF.
AMIDST THE FLAMES CRACKLING IN THE PORTICOS AND THE INNER SHRINES,
Original: "Adytis." The adytum was the innermost sanctuary of a temple, restricted to priests.
A CLEAR LIGHT ARISES FOR THE GOSPEL.
JOSEPHUS THE HERALD.
WHETHER WRITING AS A JEW OR A CHRISTIAN,
IT MATTERS LITTLE.
Havercamp suggests that Josephus's testimony about Christ is valuable regardless of the author's personal faith, as his "herald" role for the Gospel serves as historical evidence.
THE REPUTATION OF TRUTH STANDS FIRM, EVEN WHEN CONFIRMED BY AN ENEMY.
THIS GREAT AUTHOR,
NOBLE, LEARNED, ELOQUENT, AND USEFUL,
THE PRINTING TYPES HAVE OFTEN RECALLED TO THE PRESS,
YET NOT SHINING ACCORDING TO HIS TRUE MERIT.
MANY LEARNED MEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAD ATTEMPTED THIS TASK,
YET ALL WERE AFFLICTED BY AN UNLUCKY STAR.
Original: "Infausto... sidere." A metaphor for bad luck or scholarly misfortune, suggesting previous editors died before finishing or produced flawed editions.
HE WHOSE MOURNFUL RUINS THE NOURISHER OF HEROES RECENTLY BURIED,
WHERE THE NEW ATHENS FLOURISHES,
Original: "Novae Athenae." A common scholarly epithet for Oxford University in the 18th century.
THE ENGLISH NATION—THE GREAT HUDSON,
John Hudson (1662–1719) was an English classicist and head of the Bodleian Library. His posthumously published edition of Josephus (1720) was a primary source for Havercamp.
WHO GAVE HIM ALSO A PURER LATIN FORM.
Original: "Latio... puriorem." This refers to the Latin translation accompanying the Greek text, which Hudson refined for clarity and style.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigateSwipe left/right to navigate·Produced by SourceLibrary.org in Amsterdam, 2026