The Original TF embedded in the Slavonic?

This is an experimental post, and I have shown in previous posts, the Slavonic dropping Jesus’s name shows that it used a source that came from a Greek examplar before Eusebian tampering. I show that in many posts eg here and here.

The Russian chronographer who wrote the Slavonic translated and adapted Josephus War book. It was not a strict translation, he was known to expand especially when it came to battles and fighting. He was highly educated and had many sources such as the Byzantine historians Hamartolus and Malalas.^[1] On top of those Byzantium historians I find another source has influenced the TF insertion to the Slavonic. In agreement with John Curran a different transmission line of the TF went east^[2] and this particular manuscript most likely influenced the TF insertion into the Slavonic. The reason for this is that it is difficult to explain why the Slavonic dropped the name Jesus and title Christ if this passage derived from the same TF that was tampered by Eusebius. A pre-Eusebian manuscript that went east would explain why the name Jesus was dropped in the exact Slavonic TF passage. The explanation is simple – the name Jesus was not in this particular source. In my latest paper I discuss the exact same thing has happened to the Slavonic Baptist passage- John also was not named in the exact Slavonic Baptist passage making it extremely likely John was also not named in a manuscript source for the Slavonic! This is normal for Josephus as most Sign Prophets were not named either. ^[3]

Here is a quote from my paper on these exact points: [4]

Meschersky (Mečerskij) is at a loss of why the Slavonic dropped Jesus’ name in the exact TF passage and merely asserts unconvincingly that it was to make it less Christian, unlikely given how Christian the passage already is. [14] Josephus sometimes named the Sign Prophets, on Meschersky’s assertion it makes no difference whether Josephus named Jesus or not to make the passage more authentic. As observed by Kate Leeming, “Jesus is rarely referred to by name … elsewhere he is the “wonderworker” or the “king who did not reign” or some other term. Why would a Christian be reticent about naming Jesus?” [15] The Slavonic also does not have John the Baptist named in the exact passage inserted into the Slavonic War, simply referring to him as the Baptist. [16] Again, dropping the name John from a source text used by the Slavonic does not make sense unless the source was from a more primitive version of Antiquities that did not have the Baptist named and was used for the insertion.

[14] LEEMING H. – LEEMING K. (eds.), Slavonic Version, p.19. [15] LEEMING K., “The Slavonic Version of Josephus’s Jewish War”, p.395. [16] LEEMING H. – LEEMING K. (eds.), Slavonic Version, p.248.

Now let us reproduce the Slavonic TF, here I will have in bold type what may have come from the original TF.

At that time there appeared a certain man, if it is proper to call him a man, whose nature and form were human but whose appearance was more than human and whose deeds were divine. And he worked wonderful and powerful miracles. Therefore it is impossible for me to call him a man. Then again, in view of his common nature, I shall not call him an angel [either].

And everything, whatever he did, he did by some unseen power, by word and command. Some said of him: Our first lawgiver has risen from the dead and has been demonstrating many cures and skills. Others thought that he was sent from God. But he was in much opposed to the law and did not observe the sabbath according to the ancestral customs, yet did nothing dirty, unclean, nor with use of hands, but worked everything by word only. And many of the people followed and listened to his teachings.

And many souls were aroused, thinking that by him the Jewish tribes would free themselves from the hands of the Romans. But it was his habit rather to remain in front of the city on the Mount of Olives; and there he also [freely] gave cures to people. And there 150 servants and a multitude of people joined him, seeing his power, how by word he did everything he wished. They bade him enter the city, kill the Roman troops and Pilate, and reign over these. But he did not care [to do so].

Later, when news of this came to the Jewish leaders, they assembled to the chief priests and said: We are powerless and [too] weak to oppose the Romans, like a slackened bow. Let us go and inform Pilate what we have heard, and we shall be free of anxiety; if at some time he shall hear [of this] from others, we shall be deprived of property, ourselves slaughtered, and [our] children exiled. And they went and informed Pilate. And he sent and killed many of the people and brought in that wonderworker. After inquiring about him Pilate understood that he was a doer of good, not of evil, [and] not a rebel, nor one desirous of kingship; and he released him. For he had cured his wife, who was dying.

And he went to the usual places and performed his usual deeds. And again, as more people gathered around him, he became renowned for his works more than all [others]. Again the lawyers were struck with envy against him. And they gave 30 talents to Pilate that they should kill him. And he took [it] and gave them liberty to carry out their wishes themselves. And they sought out a suitable time to kill him. For they had given Pilate 30 talents earlier, that he should give Jesus up to them. And they crucified him against the ancestral law, and they greatly reviled him.

Slavonic TF

Now for fun let us put the bold type together and turn the italic bold to positive.

At that time there appeared a certain man There 150 servants and a multitude of people joined him, seeing his power, how by word he did everything he wished. And many souls were aroused, thinking that by him the Jewish tribes would free themselves from the hands of the Romans.Some thought he was a rebel desirous of kingship. When news of this came to the Jewish leaders they went and informed Pilate. And he sent and killed many of the people and brought in that wonderworker and crucified him.

Embedded Original TF

Now compare this to other types of passages Josephus wrote about other Sign Prophets and you will see this is exactly the type of passage that Josephus would have wrote.

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[1] For a good examination of this: LEEMING, H and LEEMING, K, eds, The Slavonic Version of Josephus’s Jewish War, A Synoptic Comparison of the English Translation by H. ST. J. THACKERAY with the Critical Edition by N. A. MEŠČERSKII of the Slavonic version in the Vilna manuscript translated into English by H. LEEMING and L. OSINKINA in Arbeiten Zur Geschichte Des Antiken Judentums und des antigen Judentums und des Urchistentums 46, Boston: Brill 2003.

[2] CURRAN, “Be or to Be Thought to Be”: The Testimonium Flavianum (again) “, Novum Testamentum, 59/1, (2017), 71-94.

[3] Allen, “How Josephus Really Viewed Jesus”, RevBib 85/3-4, 333-358. See also Leeming and Leeming, ibid, p.248-249.

[4] Allen, ibid, 338. also note for footnote 15, I used Leeming , K., “The Slavonic Version of Josephus’s Jewish War”, in Chapman–Rodgers (eds.), A Companion to Josephus, Oxford 2016, 390-401.