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Josephus: Jewish Antiquities, Books 18-19 (Loeb Classical Library, No. 433) (Bks.XVIII-XIX Vol 12)

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Those familiar with the Loeb Library editions will know what to expect from this book, but for those who aren't: The original Greek text is provided on one page with the English translation on the facing page for comparison. The Greek text is accompanied by footnotes providing textual variations and there are also extensive notes from the translator discussing points of interest, including the relationship between the text and known history or conflicts with other contemporary accounts.
The books that comprise this volume (18-19) are of particular interest to students of the New Testament. Josephus discusses among other things the various religious groups in Palestine at the time (Essenes, Sadducees, etc.), the machinations of the Herodian family and their interrelationships (it is from Josephus that we learn the name Salome, misapplied throughout history to the daughter who dances for Herod in Mark), and the career of Pilate. Book 18 also contains the so-called Testamentum Flavianum attesting to the historical existence of Christ as well as the equally contentious passage concerning John the Baptist. One cannot help agreeing with the scholars who argue that Luke borrowed from Josephus in constructing his biography of Jesus. When we read Josephus therefore, we may be reading the very same material that the authors of the gospels were inspired by as they wove their narratives.
This edition of Josephus will also be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about the Jewish world in the first century. Finally and irrelevantly it is a very attractively presented book with an appealingly old-fashioned cover. For further information on the historical context of Josephus and his relationship with the gospel accounts, you may like to consult Josephus and New Testament (Recent Releases).