Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, essential, and updated
Review: The works of Josephus give a reader a window into the perceptions of the world in the first century. Josephus, prolific by any standard, covered a range of topics from ancient Jewish history, the Jewish wars, life in the roman world (as presented in his autobiography) just to name a few. In almost everyway, Josephus is our best available source for understanding the ancients understanding of the Bible. As such, it is essential and invaluable to any serious student.This collection utility is immeasurable. Not only does it contain all of the works collected under one cover, it also gives strong commentary and a well-written introduction. The translator has significantly updated the work, eliminating archaic English translation often held over from earlier editions and giving useful reference for things like Biblical parallels. My only complaint about the work is that the text is extremely dense and the font quite small. Sitting down and reading the text is difficult as a result and I decided to get a magnifying glass. Still, despite this drawback, this edition is a must own for anyone interested in the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, essential, and updated
Review: The works of Josephus give a reader a window into the perceptions of the world in the first century. Josephus, prolific by any standard, covered a range of topics from ancient Jewish history, the Jewish wars, life in the roman world (as presented in his autobiography) just to name a few. In almost everyway, Josephus is our best available source for understanding the ancients understanding of the Bible. As such, it is essential and invaluable to any serious student. This collection utility is immeasurable. Not only does it contain all of the works collected under one cover, it also gives strong commentary and a well-written introduction. The translator has significantly updated the work, eliminating archaic English translation often held over from earlier editions and giving useful reference for things like Biblical parallels. My only complaint about the work is that the text is extremely dense and the font quite small. Sitting down and reading the text is difficult as a result and I decided to get a magnifying glass. Still, despite this drawback, this edition is a must own for anyone interested in the subject.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for the Serious Historian
Review: This book was a serendipitous purchase. I was reading "James the Brother of Jesus, and that author recommended having three other works available while studying. One was "Josephus." I have not, unfortunately, finished "James" yet, but am totally fascinated by Josephus. One sees him as a bit puffed up about himself at times, as the detailed historian, the passionate supporter of causes, but most of all as a realist of the time. So valuable because organized religion seldom provides the lay person seldom insight into the actual social and political pressures that moved events that we take for granted in an almost legendary way. Again, a fascinating work is Josephus.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for the Serious Historian
Review: This book was a serendipitous purchase. I was reading "James the Brother of Jesus, and that author recommended having three other works available while studying. One was "Josephus." I have not, unfortunately, finished "James" yet, but am totally fascinated by Josephus. One sees him as a bit puffed up about himself at times, as the detailed historian, the passionate supporter of causes, but most of all as a realist of the time. So valuable because organized religion seldom provides the lay person seldom insight into the actual social and political pressures that moved events that we take for granted in an almost legendary way. Again, a fascinating work is Josephus.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for the Serious Historian
Review: This book was a serendipitous purchase. I was reading "James the Brother of Jesus, and that author recommended having three other works available while studying. One was "Josephus." I have not, unfortunately, finished "James" yet, but am totally fascinated by Josephus. One sees him as a bit puffed up about himself at times, as the detailed historian, the passionate supporter of causes, but most of all as a realist of the time. So valuable because organized religion seldom provides the lay person seldom insight into the actual social and political pressures that moved events that we take for granted in an almost legendary way. Again, a fascinating work is Josephus.
Rating: 
Summary: Complete and Readable
Review: This volume is quite complete containing: Life of Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews Wars of the Jews Antiquities of the Jews: Flavius Josephus Against Apion An excerpt from Josephus' discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades and others included in the appendices. Also included are a chapter on the Jewish weights and measures, a list of ancient testimonies and records cited by Josephus, texts of the Old Testament parallels to Josephus' accounts and a harmony of the numbering systems in the Greek and English editions. Original full page illustrations are peppered throughout. Very complete. My only complaint is in the print which is a type of old news print font and pretty densly packed. Overall a very good reference.
Rating:
Summary: Complete and Readable
Review: This volume is quite complete containing: Life of Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews Wars of the Jews Antiquities of the Jews: Flavius Josephus Against Apion An excerpt from Josephus' discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades and others included in the appendices. Also included are a chapter on the Jewish weights and measures, a list of ancient testimonies and records cited by Josephus, texts of the Old Testament parallels to Josephus' accounts and a harmony of the numbering systems in the Greek and English editions. Original full page illustrations are peppered throughout. Very complete. My only complaint is in the print which is a type of old news print font and pretty densly packed. Overall a very good reference.
Rating:
Summary: "Simply Remarkable, A Historical Novelty and Treasure"
Review: To put it concisely, the introduction generalizes the contents of this work, the segment on "The Life of Flavius Josephus" gives a familiar aquaintance with the 1st century A.D. historian, "The Antiquities of the Jews" covers the time of creation to the riegn of Nero, "The Jewish War" covers the time from the taking of Jerusalem to Titus' riegn and subsequent destruction of the Temple, "Against Apion" defends and ascertains the validity of Josephus' history, the seven "Dissertations" consist of numorous interesting topics, "The Table of the Jewish Weights and Measures, The List of Ancient Testimonies and Records, The Old Testamant Parellel to the Josephus' History, and Harmony of the Numbering System" all sum up the gist of this work, inasmuch as the titles and themes go. The content of this work provides a profound sense of history, and extends without an end a greater sense of it. This book acts many times as a supplement to the bible in filling important gaps that biblical history failed to provide. The benefits of this work are inumerable and unweighable when contrasted with the abundance of historical resources and the give-away price offered. The "New Complete Works of Josephus" Translated by William Whiston and the commentary by Paul L. Maier, is undoubtably the best edition yet. Buy this one you will not regret it.
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