Against Apion

"Against Apion" by Flavius Josephus is a historical defense of Jewish culture composed in the 1st century AD. Josephus steps forward to protect the history and customs of the Jewish people by challenging the criticisms leveled against them by Greek historians. He makes the case that the Jewish nation is ancient and possesses deep cultural roots, directly confronting the trustworthiness of Greek historical texts. Josephus starts by voicing his concerns over the false impressions spread by certain Greek authors and those generally hostile to Jewish people. He sets out to disprove these inaccuracies, arguing that the Greeks themselves do not possess a continuous historical record. Josephus supports his defense by noting that he will cite respected Greek historians who have acknowledged Jewish history, underlining how crucial it is to recognize Jewish accomplishments in the face of disparaging stories.