What are your thoughts on ancient Roman historians Flavius Josephus and Cornelius Tacitus?

Well, when it comes to Josephus, you can read one of the recognised authorities in the field:

http://standpointmag.co.uk/jesus-in-the-eyes-of-jo...

Although a Jew, he is also one of the foremost New Testament scholars of the day.

I suppose a TD means that atheists prefer their fantasies.

Josephus' golden paragraph on Jesus had been proven to be a 4th century forgery. More than 10 prominent Christian apologetics (Origen used more than 250,000 words to defend Christianity in the 2nd century and yet missed the most important defense he could have from Josephus' texts if it existed during that time?; the fact was that the important texts did not exist and Origen could not quote from it to use it as a solid defense for Christianity) defended Christianity before the 4th century, and not a single of these apologetics quoted from the "golden paragraph" in defending their faiths. Moreover, it is incongruous with Josephus' style of writing, as Josephus was a very detailed writer, describing everything in detail, and would not just insert something into his work without elaboration.

I give you a very clear example: if Theory of relativity was not published before Einstein published it, then no one would be quoting it. Similarly, since no one quoted Josephus' golden paragraphs before the 4th century (when it was forged, probably by Eusebius), then it was non-existent before the 4th century. Josephus lived from 37 - 100 CE.

Well, Josephus and Tacitus both wrote about Hercules, so they can't be totally credible.

As for them writing about Jesus, Josephus wasn't even born until 4yrs after Jesus was supposedly crucified and he didn't even write the "Antiquities of the Jews" until the late 1st century, and then the writing only has two passages "possibly" attributed to Jesus. As for Tacitus, he only “eluded to” the crucifixion of Jesus in Book 15 of the "Annals". But he wasn't even born until 56AD, and the "Annals" weren't even written until 116AD, 83yrs after Jesus' supposed death. Neither were alive when Jesus was.

Salve meus amice!

I haven't read them. I plan on reading Catullus, Ovid and Cæsar. Then the Vulgate. By then, I hope to be able to speak at a moderate speed.

Deus tecoom,

ROMVLVS AVRELIVS FVRIVS