| Back to Home |
|
BARE ROOTS Uncovering the Roots of Christian Faith |
|
Vol. 20, No. 3 Story of Scripture II: Alexander |
|
|
|
Alexander worked to unite his vast empire through an intentional process of hellenization -- that is, by spreading Greek language, culture, and institutions. First, Alexander made Koine Greek ("Common Greek") the language of trade throughout Southeastern Europe, Egypt, and the Middle East. Anyone unable to speak Greek was considered a "barbarian" (see Rom 1:14). As a result, the Hebrew Old Testament was soon translated into Greek. The Greek version is called the "Septuagint" or "Seventy" (LXX) because, according to legend, 70 rabbis translated it in 70 days. The Septuagint later served as the "Bible" of the early Church since most early Christians spoke Greek. For the same reason, all the New Testament writings were composed in Koine Greek. Second, Alexander constructed temples, schools, and libraries to promote Greek religion, philosophy, and literature. He build theaters, sports arenas, gymnasia, and public baths, which improved citizens' quality of life while shaping their outlook. Third, Alexander encouraged interaction and intermarriage between the diverse peoples in his empire, which served to break down ethnic identity. The pressure on Jews to abandon the Law and their Jewishness was very great. Some went so far as to have their circumcision surgically undone. When Alexander reached the Punjab region of India, his soldiers refused to go farther, saying they had had enough. A loyal general reminded Alexander that it was a noble thing to know when to stop. The king moped for three days before he finally agreed to return home. In turning back, Alexander broke down and cried because there were no more worlds for him to conquer. He made it only as far as Babylon, where he fell sick and died in 323 B.C. He was 33 years old. Over time, Alexander's program of hellenization shaped Western civilization in significant ways. And the West continues to impact global culture to our own day. A case could be made that, next to Jesus Christ, Alexander the Great has been the single most influential person in history. After Alexander's death, four of his generals divided the empire among themselves. Historians call them the "diadochi," which is a Greek term meaning "successors." Two of the diadochi played important roles in Jewish history: Antiochus took control of Syria, Persia, and southern Asia Minor (Turkey). He founded the Seleucid dynasty, named after his son Seleucus I Nicator. Meanwhile, Ptolemy I ruled over Egypt and Libya. He founded the Ptolemaic dynasty, of which the last ruler was Queen Cleopatra. The Ptolemies and Seleucids fought over Judea for more than 100 years. The region changed hands at least eight times. When Ptolemy I was in control, he took many Jews captive and settled them in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. This large community of Alexandrian Jews still existed in New Testament times. Apollos, the gifted Christian preacher mentioned in Acts 18 and 1 Corinthians 1-4, was a Jew from Alexandria. So Alexandria and Babylon became two main centers of the Jewish Diaspora. The Seleucids and Ptolemies gave the Jews limited power to rule their own affairs. The supreme Jewish governing body was called the "Sanhedrin." Led by the High Priest, this group included priests and the "elders," or the heads of the leading Jewish families. The Sanhedrin regulated both civil and spiritual matters pertaining to the Jewish population. In 200 B.C. the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III ("Antiochus the Great") took Judea away from the Ptolemies once and for all. Reflect...
| ||
|
| ||
|
Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D. Bare Roots is a regular publication, free of
charge, intended for small group discussion or For back issues of Bare Roots, see http://www.hiu.edu/bareroots. | ||