Is it true that the ancient historian Josephus' account of Jesus was a forgery?

Please provide a link or literature to show if this accusation of forgery is true or false. Thank you.
Is it true that the ancient historian Josephus' account of Jesus was a forgery?
Apparently Josephus mentioned Jesus of Nazareth twice in The Antiquities of the Jews, but the first reference,Testimonium Flavianum, has been discounted as a forgery since the 1750's (though the assumption it IS a forgery has lately become questioned).





The second shorter reference, about Jesus and his brother James, has been more recently disputed.





For something like the full scoop, read the Wikipedia article:
Reply:While being a popular historian Josephus isn't always credible. Many of his writings have been found to be contradictory or there was no possible way he could have been present to witness what he wrote about. Most notably for the latter, his writings about Masada.
Reply:In his "Testimonium Flavianum" Josephus wrote:


"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused of men by the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. One the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared."





Josephus was a Jew who was captured during the siege of Jotapata by Vespasian.





And if you look over the passage, there's truth in it. I really doubt that it's a forgery of any sort.
Reply:My understanding is, the Josephus account consists of one or two lines. One line of which may have been "doctored" by early Christians, to suit their purposes. I heard this subject come up on Milt Rosenberg's show on WGN radio, in Chicago. The interviews were with several divinity Phd's from Chicago area colleges. I know Milt's program has an archive of past shows.
Reply:Josephus never mentioned Jesus.