Justus of Tiberias
Who was Justus of Tiberias?
Jewish author
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Justus of Tiberias (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Justus of Tiberias was a Jewish author and historiographer from the first century, born in Tiberias around 35 AD. He witnessed and wrote about the Great Jewish Revolt from 66 to 70 AD, which put him in direct conflict with the more famous historian, Flavius Josephus. Although most of Justus's writings have been lost, with only fragments surviving in other works, there is enough information to piece together his career and importance.
The main source of information about Justus comes from the autobiography of Flavius Josephus, called the Vita. Josephus wrote it partly to counter claims Justus made about the revolt. Their rivalry was both personal and literary. Josephus accused Justus of stirring violence in Tiberias and changing sides during the revolt to suit his needs. Justus apparently questioned the accuracy and honesty of Josephus's account, prompting a defensive response from Josephus. Since Justus's original text doesn’t survive in full, we must guess the nature of his claims from Josephus's responses.
After the Great Jewish Revolt was crushed by Rome, Justus became the secretary to King Agrippa II, a Roman-backed Jewish ruler over parts of Galilee. This position placed Justus at the heart of political and administrative life after the revolt. Significantly, Justus delayed publishing his History of the Jewish War until after Agrippa II's death, which Josephus saw as a cautious move, suggesting Justus was worried about the king's reaction to some parts of his work. The work eventually came out around 93 to 94 AD, or possibly shortly after 100 AD.
Besides the History of the Jewish War, Justus wrote at least two other works. One was a Chronicle of the Jewish Kings, detailing the lineage and reigns of Jewish monarchs. This chronicle survived up to the ninth century since the Byzantine scholar and Bishop Photios of Constantinople mentioned having read it. Its survival into medieval times suggests it remained relevant much later. Unfortunately, the third work attributed to Justus has been lost entirely.
Justus died in Galilee around 100 AD and is mainly known through the critical perspective of Josephus, making it hard to assess his character and works fairly. Scholars acknowledge that Josephus’s negative view distorts our understanding of Justus, and they strive to piece together a more balanced view of his contributions to Jewish historiography, even without his original texts.
Before Fame
Justus was born in Tiberias around 35 AD. The city, established by Herod Antipas on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Growing up here, where Jewish cultural traditions and Roman administrative presence were both strong, probably influenced his intellectual growth and made him keenly aware of issues related to political loyalty and historical storytelling. Tiberias was a diverse city with different populations, and being part of the Herodian dynasty's client kingdom meant its people were used to balancing Jewish identity with Roman authority.
While we don't have records of Justus's education and early career, his later role as secretary to King Agrippa II shows he was skilled in both writing and administration, likely knowing Greek, the language of his historical works. His role in the Great Jewish Revolt of 66 to 70 AD, though not precisely detailed, helped him gain recognition and gave him the material for his most important historical work.
Key Achievements
- Authored a History of the Jewish War covering the Great Jewish Revolt of 66 to 70 AD, offering an account that rivaled that of Flavius Josephus
- Composed a Chronicle of the Jewish Kings that remained in circulation and was still accessible to scholars as late as the ninth century AD
- Served as secretary to King Agrippa II, functioning as a key administrative and literary figure in the post-revolt Jewish political sphere
- Established himself as one of the few known Jewish historians writing in Greek during the first century AD outside of the Josephus tradition
- Prompted Josephus to write his Vita autobiography, thereby indirectly generating one of the most significant first-person accounts of first-century Jewish political life
Did You Know?
- 01.Josephus accused Justus of deliberately delaying publication of his History of the Jewish War until after King Agrippa II died, implying Justus feared the king's displeasure at its contents.
- 02.The Byzantine bishop Photios of Constantinople read and commented on Justus's Chronicle of the Jewish Kings in the ninth century, nearly 800 years after Justus composed it.
- 03.None of Justus's works survive in complete form; they are known only through fragments quoted or referenced by other ancient authors, and through the polemical responses of Josephus.
- 04.Justus was a contemporary and personal adversary of Josephus, and most biographical details about him come from the hostile account Josephus wrote specifically to counter his historical claims.
- 05.Justus worked as secretary to Agrippa II, a king who had sided with Rome during the Jewish revolt, placing Justus in a politically sensitive position in the post-war period.