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Josephus Teaches a False Gospel



Josephus teaches a different gospel

In his discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades, Josephus taught a different Gospel. Josephus recognizes that there are unrighteous and righteous people. He admits there is a hell. Josephus, however, offers the following comments as the way to heaven:

  1. Abraham's Bosom is for those "having walked righteously now in this world…"

  2. Christ is mentioned, but only as a judge, not as a savior. "This person, exercising the righteous judgment of the Father towards all men, hath prepared a just sentence for everyone, according to his works..." In this sentence, Josephus has people going to heaven or hell based on their works and not on the grace of God.

  3. "…but the just shall remember only their righteous actions whereby they attained the heavenly kingdom."

  4. Josephus says to the Greeks who want to avoid hell to, "leave your vain imaginations about your pedigrees, and gaining of riches and philosophy, and will not spend your time about subtleties of words, and hereby lead your minds into error, and if you will apply your ears to the hearing of inspired prophets, the interpreters both of God and of his word, and believe in God, you shall be both partakers of these things, and obtain the good things that are to come, you shall see the ascent of the immense heaven plainly, and that kingdom which is there…"

  5. A person who wants to go to heaven must always stay faithful. "And he who hath at first liver a virtuous life, but towards the latter end falls into vice, these labors by him before endured, shall be altogether vain and unprofitable, even as in a play, brought to an ill tragedy." The labors were never profitable for salvation in the first place.

  6. "Whosoever shall have lived wickedly and luxuriously may repent; however, there will be need of much time to conquer and evil habit, and even after repentance his whole life must be guarded with great care and diligence, after the manner of a body, which, after it hath been a long time afflicted with a distemper, requires a stricter diet and method of living; for though it may be possible, perhaps, to break off the chain of our irregular affections at once, - yet our amendment cannot be secure without the grace of God, the prayers of good men, the help of the brethren, and our own sincere repentance and constant care." Poverty is not necessary for salvation. Luxury is not a sin. The term "grace of God" is not expanded upon in his dissertation and cannot be taken to mean anything more than the other comments included in the dissertation that speak of works. "Prayers of good men" cannot save you. No matter how much it is, "the help of the brethren" will not take away you sins. If you just repent, but don't accept Jesus Christ as your savior, you're going to hell. Your "constant care" cannot take away your sin.

  7. "It is a good thing not to sin at all." Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" This comment is moot. All of the readers have already come short.

Josephus only speaks of good works. Never does he say that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins or that Jesus rose from the grave three days later. He does not call for us to believe in Jesus or to call upon him to save us. Josephus does not tell to confess Jesus as Lord. Galatians 1:8-9 says, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Matthew 16:26 says, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" There is nothing more important than salvation and Josephus flunks the test. From any spiritual standpoint, Josephus is unreliable.


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