The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

existing older book, then it would be possible after all that the expansion had been inserted
after the death of [the person] to whom the first version of the work had been dedicated. 10
[25] Henceforth matters lie otherwise: by virtue of its twofold attack against Justus, the
writing Contra Apionem is likewise dated to the period following 100 thereby eliminating any
possibility of equating the Epaphroditus, to whom this writing was dedicated similarly to the
Antiquities, with Nero’s freedman who was killed before the year 96. On the other hand, the
Epaphroditus to whom Josephus dedicated his works is undoubtedly an outstanding character
as is apparent from the forms of address κράτιστε ἀνδπῶν Ἐπαφρόδιτε (Life 430; Contra Apionem
1.1) and τιμιώτατέ μοι Ἐπαφρόδιτε (Contra Apionem 2.1), and unreliable as any identification
based on equivalent name must be by its very nature, one may nonetheless expect from the
outset to find our Epaphroditus among otherwise well-known characters of this name.
Josephus describes his patron as a man who was devoted to every form of education, but who
especially took pleasure in examining historical events because he himself had experienced so
many vicissitudes in his life whereby he had distinguished himself throughout by physical
strength and outstanding virtue. It was he who urged Josephus to compose the Antiquities, just
as he always spurred the ambition of those who were able to accomplish something beautiful
or beneficial (Ant. 1.8). But we must recognize in him the one who inspired the writing Contra
Apionem as well; for it concludes with the significant words: “this and the preceding book have
been composed for you who love the truth above all, and for your sake, for those who like
you wish to learn something about our people” (2.296). 11 It follows from the ὁμοίως that
Epaphroditus wished to learn something about the Jews; therefore he probably provided the
inspiration. But it is more remarkable that Josephus should claim to have considered his larger
10 Such a case occurred, for example with Cornelius Nepos, whose book is extant in a second
edition. It is dedicated to Atticus whose death is nonetheless assumed in additions (Hannibal
13.1; Atticus 19 ff.). Similarly, the chronicle of Apollodorus was published in 145 and dedicated
to King Attalus who died in 138. Apollodorus then supplemented this work with an addition
that extended at least to 120/19, and thus was not written down until after this point in time.
Nevertheless this expanded work also remained dedicated to Attalus as we learn from [the
fact] that Pseudo-Scymnus was acquainted on the one hand with the dedication to Attalus, on
the other hand with the additions to the second edition (Jacoby, Philologische Untersuchungen
16.16); therefore both existed in the same manuscript. The basis upon which Jacoby’s incorrect
assumptions are founded is invalidated by the reference to Nepos.
11 σοὶ δὲ Ἐπαφρόδιτε μαλιστα τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἀγαπῶντι καὶ διὰ σὲ τοῖς ὁμοίως βουλησομένοις
περὶ τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν εἰδέναι τοῦτο καὶ τὸ πρὸ αὐτοῦ γεγράφθω βιβλίον.
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