The query of whether or not the first-century Romano-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus instantly addressed the determine of Matthew, generally related to the Gospel, is a central level of scholarly investigation. No extant writing attributed to Josephus explicitly mentions Matthew as an creator or particular person follower of Jesus. His works primarily deal with Jewish historical past, the Jewish revolt towards Rome, and interpretations of Jewish legislation and customs for a Roman viewers.
The absence of direct reference to New Testomony figures inside Josephus’s physique of labor holds vital implications. Historians typically study Josephus’s writings to know the broader socio-political context of first-century Judea. The dearth of express point out of particular people distinguished in early Christian narratives raises questions concerning the extent of Christian affect through the interval Josephus documented. It additionally underscores the restricted scope of his work, primarily involved with Jewish affairs and Roman relations reasonably than the nascent Christian motion.
