Influence of Hellenism on New Testament Times

INFLUENCE OF HELLENISM IN INTERTESTAMENTAL ISRAEL
by Vaughn Wood

Origins and Influence of Hellenism
Signs of perpetual Greek culture and philosophical influence can be seen throughout the intertestamental period thanks to the Apostle of Hellenism, Alexander the Great, who led the Greeks on a mission to spread their civilization throughout the world. In time, their disciples became known as imitators of the Greeks, the Hellenists. The impact on Israel was more strongly seen in the newly formed Hebrew faith and culture known as, Intertestamental Judaism. Intertestamental Judaism is a descendant of the Old Testament Hebraic worship, but it is not the same. For one thing, Greek was the predominant language used. The formation of a Greek Old Testament text, which was later used by Christ himself, infiltrated the houses of worship. But it was more than linguistics; it permeated every aspect of Hebrew culture, architecture, politics, education and daily lifestyle.

Problems this Movement Caused & Jewish Response
Hellenism directly shaped the intellectual approach to God, faith and life during the intertestamental period. This led to the rise of “Phariseeism” as we know it. The pride in which the religious leaders would carry themselves was directly influenced by Hellenistic piety. Public debates and long drawn out lectures from self-proclaimed teachers permeated the streets. Greek mythology and mysticism was blended with Hebrew faith and practice. Hellenistic onslaught inundated the era with no separation of church and state, which resulted in religious hierarchical systems, putting too many heavy burdens on the people (such as heavy taxation), asking things of their followers that their own leaders couldn’t do. Nationalistic and religious aspirations were intermarried causing chaos socially, culturally, politically, and spiritually. The Jewish response overall was to revolt and protest, resulting in much loss of life and usually heavier punishment by way of more taxation and other forms of oppression. Even the Maccabaeus, who had won their right for religious freedom, remained under the heavy Hellenistic influence and oversight of the Seleucids. This pattern continued to repeat itself throughout the duration of the intertestamental period.

Most Aggressive Hellenistic Leaders
I would personally consider the most aggressive Hellenistic leaders who attempted to pursue a Hellenistic program among the Jews came from the Ptolemy lineage and the Seleucids, perhaps because of the multiple battles between the two of them, but they both produced leaders who very aggressively attempted to Hellenize the Jews. Ptolemy I successfully established a Jewish community in Alexandria, a very strategic maneuver that impacted culture and society on into the future. Ptolemy II Philadephus ordered the Septuagint, the Hebrew Scriptures in Greek. But the Seleucids appear to be among the most aggressive of them all, spanning their influence and control as far as India to the East and Syria and Asia Minor to the West. It was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Seleucid King (175-163), who was a fierce ruler who would stop at nothing to spread Hellenism throughout his empire. The Jews attempt to resist him, failed. Antiochus plundered the temple for its gold. He fortified the city and began to plan an attempt to gain political control of Egypt by completely Hellenizing Israel.

Good and Bad Aspects of Hellenism
As far as philosophical pros and cons of Hellenism, the best aspect would be its stoic emphasis of a divine source that guides each of us in this life, as well as a strong belief in serving others and learning to control yourself. These are the closest to positive qualities found in Hellenism that would be shared by Christians today. The bad rests in its strong elevation of self, intellectual pursuit and cynical belief that this life is all you get, there’s nothing beyond this.
As far as the good and bad of Hellenism in other factors, it is good that Hellenist were driven by a desire to better mankind, but their methods of undue control, mass murder and persuasion, among other manipulative techniques, leave little to be desired.

Parallel Modern Movement
Many of the current leaders and churches within the hyper-emergent church movement (non Gospel and non Biblical expressions within the emergant movement) would be a modern example today of the Hellenistic movement and deception. In a meager attempt to saturate the culture, the culture has saturated us. The blend and collage of beliefs, and the celebration of such diversity that is entering so called Christian churches and pulpits, is leaving people void of the truth. I have no problem with methods changing to reach the culture, but when the message has changed, or in some cases is eliminated all together in the name of sensitivity, I get outraged! It’s a form of religion denying its real source of power.

Sources:
Black, Thomas D. Lea and David Alan. The New Testament: Its Background and Message.

Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003.
J. Julius Scott, Jr. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1995.

Barker, Glenn W. and William L. Lane and J. Ramsey Michaels. The New Testament Speaks. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1969