fact related in the history of Hezekiah," that the sun went back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz." The priests of Egypt professed to explain the revolutions of the Nile, the fertility of their country, and the state of public health, by the influence of the sun; and, therefore, in mentioning the unexampled traditional phenomena alluded to, they adverted to a circumstance, which to them appeared as remarkable as the facts themselves, that those singular deviations of the sun from his course, had produced no sensible effects on the state of the river, on the productions of the soil, on the progress of diseases, or on deaths. The circumstances are not mentioned in the same form by Joshua and Herodotus, but they are in substance the same in both the narratives. And, supposing the traditions to have been founded on facts, it can scarcely be doubted that they relate to the same events; especially when we recollect, that where so much was ascribed to the influence of the sun, such remarkable deviations from the course of ordinary experience, could not fail to be handed down through many ages.1 Eupolemus and Dius, as quoted by Eusebius and Grotius, mention many remarkable circumstances of David and Solomon, agreeing with the Old Testament history; and Herodotus has a remarkable passage which evidently refers to the destruction of the Assyrians in the reign of Hezekiah, in which he mentions Sennacherib by name.3 As we advance further to the Assyrian monarchy, the Scripture accounts agree with the profane ones rectified; and when we descend still lower to the era of Nabonassar and to the kings of Babylon and Persia, who are posterior to this æra, and are recorded in Ptolemy's canon or series of them, we find the agreement of sacred and profane history much more exact, there being certain criteria in profane history for fixing the facts related in it. And it is remarkable, that not only the direct relations of the historical books, but also the indirect mention of things in the prophecies, correspond with the true chronology; which is an unquestionable evidence for their genuineness and truth. The history contained in the Old Testament is throughout distinct, methodical, and consistent; while profane history is utterly deficient in the first ages, and full of fictions in the succeeding ages; and becomes clear and precise in the principal facts, only about the period when the Old Testament history ends: so that the latter corrects and regulates the former, and renders it intelligible in many instances which must otherwise be given up as utterly inexplicable. How then can we suppose the Old Testament history not to be genuine and true, or a wicked imposture to be made, and not only continue undiscovered, but even to increase to a most audacious height in a nation, that, of all others, kept the most exact accounts of time? It is further worthy of remark, that this same nation, who may not have lost so much as one year from 1 Herodotus, Euterpe, pp. 144, 145. edit. vallæ. 2 Eusebius, Præp. Evang. lib. ix. c. 30-34. 39-41. Josephus, Ant. Jud. lib. viii. c. 2. 3 Lib. ii. c. 141. It is noticed again, infra, Appendix, No. III. Sect. VIL the creation of the world to the Babylonish captivity, as soon as they were deprived of the assistance of the prophets, became the most inaccurate in their methods of keeping time; there being nothing more erroneous than the accounts of Josephus and the modern Jews, from the time of Cyrus to that of Alexander the Great: notwithstanding that all the requisite aids might easily have been borrowed from the neighbouring nations, who now kept regular annals. Whence it appears that the exactness of the sacred history was owing to divine assistance. To the preceding considerations and facts we may add, that the manners of the persons mentioned in the Scriptures are characterised by that simplicity and plainness, which is also ascribed to the first ages of the world by pagan writers, and both of them concur to prove the novelty of the then present race, and consequently the deluge. XIII. Lastly, the fertility of the soil of Palestine, which is so frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, is confirmed by the unanimous testimony of antient writers, as well as of most, if not all, the travellers who have visited that country.3 Its present reduced and miserable state, therefore, furnishes no ground for the objection which the opposers of revelation have raised against the Bible. Were Palestine to be as well inhabited and as well cultivated as formerly, its produce would exceed all calculation. Besides these attestations from natural and profane history, we may consider the Jews themselves as bearing testimony to this day, in all countries of the world, to the truth of their antient history, that is, to the truth of the Old and New Testaments. Allow this, and it will be easy to see how they should still persist in their attachment to that religion, those laws, and those predictions which so manifestly condemn them, both in past times and in the present. Suppose, however, that any considerable alterations have been made in their antient history, that is, any such alteration as may answer the purposes of infidelity, and their present state will be inexplicable.4 2. TESTIMONIES OF PROFANE WRITERS TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 1. Testimonies of Jewish and Pagan authors to the account of princes and governors mentioned in the New Testament.-II. Testimonies to 1 The various proofs of the facts above stated may be seen in Dr. Edwards on Scripture, vol. i. pp. 193–223. Sir H. M. Wellwood's Discourses, pp. 18, 19. Hartley on Man, vol. ii. p. 116. 2 See Josephus, Ant. Jud. lib. v. c. 1. § 21. lib. xv. c. 5. § 1.; De Bell. Jud. lib. iii. c. 3. § 2. and Hecateus in Josephus, contr. Apion. lib. i. § 22.; Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. v. c. 17.; Tacitus, Hist. lib. v. c. 6.; Justin, lib. xxxvi. c. 3.; and Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. xiv. c. 26. 3 See particularly the testimonies of Maundrell and Dr. Shaw, collected in Dr. Macknight's Harmony, vol. i. discourses vi. and vii. Dr. E. D. Clarke's Travels, part ii. pp. 520, 521. 4to.; or vol. iv. pp. 283-285. 8vo. edit. See also Vol. III. Part 1. Chap. II. § IX. infru. 4 Hartley on Man, vol. ii. p. 117. - the character of the Jewish Nation, which are either directly mentioned or incidentally alluded to therein. III. Similar Testimonies to the character of Heathen Nations. - IV. Testimonies of Jewish adversaries to the name and faith of Christ.-1. Of Josephus.· 2. Of the Talmuds. -V. Testimonies of heathen adversaries to the character of Jesus Christ. 1. Pontius Pilate. 2. Suetonius. 3. Tacitus.-4. Pliny the younger.-5. Elius Lampridius. 6. Celsus. 7. Porphyry. 8. Julian. 9. Mohammed. Testimonies of heathen adversaries to the doctrines, character, innocency of life, and constancy of the first Christians in the profession of their faith.-1. Tacitus, confirmed by Suetonius, Martial, and Juvenal. -- - 2. Pliny the younger and Trajan.-3. Celsus.-4. Lucian. 5. Epictetus, Marcus Antoninus, Galen, and Porphyry.-6. Julian. —VI. Refutation of the objection to the credibility of the Scripture history, which has been raised from the silence of profane historians to the facts therein recorded. That silence accounted for, by the facts. -1. That many of their books are lost. -2. That others are defective. 3. That no profane historians now extant take notice of all occurrences within the period described by them. -4. Reasons why they would slight the facts relating to Jesus Christ as fabulous. -Result of the preceding facts and arguments. No history in the world is so certain as that related in the Old and New Testament. STRIKING as is the evidence for the credibility and truth of the facts and events related in the Old Testament, furnished by natural and civil history, the books of the New Testament are verified in a manner still more illustrious; these books being written, and the facts mentioned in them being transacted during the times of Augustus, Tiberius, and the succeeding Cæsars. The learned and most exact Dr. Lardner has collected, from profane writers, a variety of important testimonies to the truth of the New Testament, in the first part of his Credibility of the Gospel History,' and also in his 'Jewish and Heathen Testimonies;' from which elaborate works the following particulars are chiefly abridged. The results of his observations may be arranged under the following heads; viz. Testimonies of Jewish and Pagan authors to the account of princes and governors mentioned in the New Testament; Testimonies to the character of the Jewish and heathen nations, which are either directly mentioned or incidentally alluded to therein; - Testimonies of Jewish adversaries to the name and faith of Christ :- Testimonies of Pagan adversaries to the character of Jesus Christ, and also relative to the doctrines, character, innocency of life, and constancy of the first Christians in the profession of their faith. I. Testimonies of Jewish and Pagan authors to the account of princes and governors mentioned in the New Testament. - Josephus and various heathen writers mention Herod, Archelaus, Pontius Pilate, and other persons, whose names occur in the New Testament; and they differ but little from the evangelical historians, concerning their offices and characters. 1. From the New Testament we learn that Jesus was born at Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king; and Josephus informs us that a prince of that name reigned over all Judæa for thirty-seven years, even to the reign of Augustus. Concerning this Herod, Matthew (ii. 1-16.) relates, that he commanded all the male children in Bethlehem and its immediate vicinity to be put to death; because he had heard, that in that place was born one who was to be the king of the Jews. To us, who are accustomed to the finer feelings of Christianity, this appears almost incredible: but the character of Herod, as pourtrayed by Josephus, is such a compound of ambition, and sanguinary cruelty, as renders the evangelical narrative perfectly credible. Herod left three sons, Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip, among whom his territories were divided. According to Josephus, Herod by his will appointed Archelaus to succeed him in Judæa, with the title of king; and assigned the rest of his dominions to Herod Antipas as tetrarch of Galilee, and to Philip as tetrarch of Trachonitis and the neighbouring countries: and according to the narrative of Luke (iii. 1.), these two princes were tetrarchs in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar. 2. The will of Herod, however, being only partially confirmed by Augustus, Archelaus was appointed ruler over Judæa and Idumæa with the title of ethnarch, the regal dignity being withheld until he should deserve it. But Archelaus soon assumed the title; and Josephus, who has given us an account of this limitation, calls him the king that succeeded Herod, and has used the verb reigning with reference to the duration of his government. It likewise appears from the Jewish historian, that Archelaus was a cruel and tyrannical prince. All these circumstances attest the veracity of the evangelist Matthew, who says, (ii. 22.) that when Joseph heard that Archelaus did REIGN in Judæa, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither, and turned aside into the parts of Galilee, which were under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. 3. Luke relates (Acts xii. 1-3.), that Herod the king stretched forth his hand to ver certain of the church, and that he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword, and because he saw that it PLEASED the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. The correctness of this statement is also confirmed by Josephus, from whom we learn that this Herod was a grandson of Herod the Great, whom the favour of the emperors Caligula and Claudius had raised to royal dignity, and to whom nearly all the territories that had been possessed by his grandfather were gradually restored. He was also exceedingly zealous for the institutions and customs of the Jews: and this zeal of his accounts for his putting James to death, and causing Peter to be apprehended. The death of this monarch is related by Luke and Josephus with so much harmony, that, if the latter had been a Christian, one would have certainly believed that he intended to write a commentary on that narrative. This haughty monarch had deferred giving an audience to the Tyrian and Sidonian ambassadors, who had 1 On the slaughter of the infants at Bethlehem, see further in the Appendix, No. III. Seet. VII. 7 solicited peace with him, until a certain day. And upon a set day2 Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, 'It is the voice of a God, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory. And he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. (Acts xii. 20-23.) Both historians relate the fact, as to the chief particulars, in the same manner. Luke describes the pride of the king, as well as the nature of his illness, more circumstantially; and omits a superstitious addition which is recorded by Josephus:- a proof that the former surpasses in fidelity, accuracy, and judgment, even this learned historian of the Jews. Herod had three danghters, Bernice, Mariamne, and Drusilla; the last of whom, according to Josephus and Luke, was married to Felix, who was appointed governor of Judæa on the death of Herod. 8 4. According to the testimonies of Tacitus and Josephus, this Felix was an oppressive, avaricious, and tyrannical governor, who had persuaded Drusilla to abandon her lawful husband, Azizus, king of the Emesenes, and to live with him. It was not unnatural for such a man to tremble, when Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, and to hope that the apostle would have given him money to liberate him, (Acts xxiv. 25, 26.)9 5. Luke (Acts xviii. 14-16.) gives an honourable character to Gallio for justice, impartiality, prudence, and mildness of disposition : 1 Josephus (Ant. Jud. lib. xviii. c. 8. § 2.) has not mentioned this particular circumstance: but he informs us, that the termination of the king's life succeeded a festival which had been appointed in honour of the emperor Claudius. Hence we may conceive why Herod deferred to receive the ambassadors from Tyre and Sidon until that particular day, viz. that he might show himself with so much greater pomp to the people. 2 Josephus determines this day expressly. It was the second day of the shows, which were exhibited at Cæsarea, in honour of the emperor. 3 Josephus says, that he came into the theatre, early in the morning, dressed in a robe or garment made wholly of silver (στολην ενδυσάμενος εξ αργύρου πεποιημένην HAZAN) of most wonderful workmanship; and that the reflection of the rays of the rising sun from the silver gave him a majectic and awful appearance. 4 In a short time (says Josephus) his flatterers exclaimed, one from one place and one from another (though not for his good), that he was a God' and they entreated him to be propitious to them, saying, 'Hitherto we have reverenced thee as a man, but henceforth we acknowledge that thou art exalted above mortal na ture.' 5 Josephus has here inserted a superstitious story, that Herod, shortly after, looking up, perceived an owl sitting on a certain cord over his head, which he held to be an evil omen. The fact itself he thus relates: - Immediately after, he was seized with pains in his bowels, extremely violent at the very first, and was carried to his palace!! 6 The very same cause is assigned by Josephus, viz. Because the king had neither reproved his flatterers, nor rejected their impious adulation. 7 Josephus has not described the disease so circumstantially: he relates that Herod died, worn out by the excruciating pain in his bowels. Luke states that he was eaten of worms. These narratives are perfectly consistent. Luke relates the cause, Josephus the effect of his disease; on the nature of which the reader may consult Dr. Mead's Medica Sacra, c. 5. 8 Less on the Authenticity of the New Testament, pp. 314, 315. 9 The proofs of all the above particulars are stated, at length, by Dr. Lardner in his Credibility of the Gospel History, part i. book i. chap. i. - Works, vol. i. pp. 11-31. 8vo. or vol. i. pp. 9-20. 4to. |
