Alfred Edersheim

Alfred Edersheim (March 7, 1825 – March 16, 1889) was a Jewish convert to Christianity and a Biblical scholar known especially for his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (1883).

Edersheim was born in Vienna of Jewish parents of culture and wealth. English was spoken in their home, and he became fluent at an early age. He was educated at a local gymnasium and also in the Talmud and Torah at a Hebrew school, and in 1841 he entered the University of Vienna. His father suffered illness and financial reversals before Alfred could complete his university education, and he had to support himself.

This I give for the purpose both of introducing readers to Alfred Edersheim, and putting the statement in the 1st Chapter of 1800 "years ago". Edersheim rounded off the number to 18oo years, as many writers are prone to do in citing large periods of time.