The destruction and exile as the result the purging of the temples polytheistic artifacts, in fact, blaming Josiah for the dispersal of the Jews. This idea of Hebraic vs Hellenistic Jews is really interesting to me, at least, because I think we often view Judaism as this one culture and one ethnicity when, in reality, it was more diverse than that. The concept of Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews was something that I had not heard of before reading this blog post. To identify them, Luke uses the term How should the chronologies of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 be reconciled? Near them were many other Jews (from all over the known world), who each heard their own language being spoken (Acts 2:6). There is no contrast between Jews and Hellenists, since Hellenists are included in the general term Jews. The distinction is significant, for if a cohen is present for synagogue service, he must be called up first for the reading of the Law; he is then followed by a Levite. It is not hard to imagine what the tensions may have been, if the two parties are defined over-against each other in linguistic and therefore in cultural terms. It is clear even today that every religion has different aspects of conservative vs. liberal beliefs. WebAs one might expect, these differences often resulted in conflict between the Hebraic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews. You are doing essentially the same quality now (apart from the philology and languages) except mostly sticking to commenting on others work as informed comment/discussion. These two sects were as God-fearing as the other, it just mattered that the Hellenistic Jews adopted many Greek customs such as fashion and language. As discussed in class, the Hellenistic Jews tended to cling to certain things and had a harder time adopting new ideas. ", Mary Booker, February 2020 (personal email), "Very good. The Sabbath Six days shall you work and do all your labor, but the seventh day is Shabbat for the Lord your G-d. On it, you shall do no [creative] work. The seventh day is the Jewish Sabbath on which a Jew does no work. one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. On a deeper level, however, circumcision represents humanitys ability to have control over ones physical self. In 2019 he published a commentary. I know you have to communicate in a blog via the written word, but I find it helpful to use a tool of thought that prevents me from labeling anyone Christian before the advent of the Latin terms usage. (Acts 6:1)? The more I read your stuff (and I still do, of course), the more I realize how much we all owe you. In this way we can use their examples for our learning and try not to repeat things that failed for them (Romans 15:4). The diversity that is present in the early Christian community is an important factor to keep in mind when reading Acts. Why were the widows among the Hellenists "neglected in the daily distribution" He has Masters degrees in Biblical Exposition and Old Testament from Talbot School of Theology (BIOLA) and a PhD in New Testament from Andrews University. the body? What was the problem reported in Acts 6? Links. Since the Greeks wished to show that humankind was in control of nature, they felt threatened by the Jewish concept of Divinely ordained time. be? Ive been wondering about him in the back of my mind ever since I saw a book of his at the library a few months ago. Were Jewish, Greek, and Gentile converts adults only? If the whole were hearing, where would be the The passage then lists something like 16 different Jewish groups that were present. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of It appears that the widows among the Hellenistic Jews were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-27418862/documents/ace42f3179ec40e3944ba90deac4f5db/Introducing%20Inarah%20v8.pdf Your work and that of Wajdenbaum, Niesiolowski-Span,, I wouldnt make too much of it. This section is sometimes cited as an example of Luke creating a story in order to describe a smooth transfer of leadership from the Jewish followers of Jesus to the Hellenistic Jewish followers. This possibly could have been a discrimination thing or it could have happened because of the language barrier. Galatians: Freedom through Gods Grace (Wipf & Stock, 2019). And if one member suffers, all the members Really. Im also happy to see even Jim giving Neil credit where credit is due. Why were the widows among the Hellenists "neglected in the daily distribution" WebWhatever may be our differences of opinion as to Church order and offices, they need not interfere with our firm grasp of this truth. if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us These adjusted stories then supported an impression that thousands of Christians had lived in Jerusalem during that period. with everyone in the midst of rapid growth (see "The Hebrews" in this Realizing that there were different types of Jews who conducted themselves differently is very important in understanding the story of Acts and the Bible in general. Call This post is going straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival. There was a large division between the Hellenistic Jews and the traditional Hebrew Jews, mostly because of the language barrier. (Who would have thought it? But God Sign up now to receive special announcements, interactive materials, comprehensive guides and much more! The apostles weren't saying that manual using them to glorify Him: "For as we have many members in one body, The Great Persecution and the Coming of Imperial Christianity The dispute that divided the church cannot have been caused by a mix-up over food distribution as Acts 6:1-7 claims. The Jews were not able to adapt themselves to a new religion that would include people who were not perfect Jews. What is the meaning of the phrase "men and brethren" in Acts? exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he It is also made possible through the generosity of Wendy and Brandon Dunn. where would be the hearing? The idea of Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews is a very interesting topic because it showed that there is diversity between Jews. From ancient Greek traditions, the Western world has inherited a remarkable legacy of literature, sculpture, philosophy, and architecture. Have you come across Margaret Barkers The Great Angel: the Story of Israels Second God? 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. When a teach said reach into the parable of the two sons and tell me the application, but me a younger believer did not have this memory of awana and sunday school teaching times. the same care for one another. Host or attend the exciting Chanukah programs and classes provided by NJOP and find out how you or your community can participate. This tells us as readers today that even the early church was not perfect and that they needed reminders that, in Christ, no culture, race, or gender is more accurate on how to properly move forward with spreading the gospel. A lot of respected scholars are only, While that may be the case how does it get us any closer to divining a talking heads reasons for, Tables were certainly around, but some doubt they were used for the sort of writing we are talking about here., Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, Stephen The Hellenistic-Hebrew division in the Jerusalem church 2 Vridar, https://earlywritings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=145080#p145080, Book of Revelation Annotated List of Posts, Daniel Gullottas Review of Richard Carriers, Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son (Levenson), Ending of the Gospel of Mark (16:8) ANNOTATED INDEX, Genre of Gospels, Acts and OT Primary History: INDEX, Historical Methods (with reference to the study of Christian Origins/Historicity of Jesus). This does not make some more religious, or some more filled with faith. 3 We have good grounds for the historicity of the Hellenists. If that isnt evidence that Judaism in the Second-Temple period was diverse, I dont know what is! A Light from the East: Eastern Christianity (Part 1) Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. Bock, on the other hand, agrees more with my sketch of the Hellenists (Acts, 258-9). I would love to see you do a series on Eisenman someday (any book or article), who lays this out in great detail. just as He pleased. if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us (Romans 12:4-8), Which of these roles deserves particular esteem? have no need of you. No, much rather, those members of the body which seem How to extract the coefficients from a long exponential expression? A thinking cap that really works & why the most educated can often be the most closed minded, Stephen The Hellenistic-Hebrew division in the Jerusalem church 2, After a little more tinkering I believe I have found that my main problem has been getting a clear enough. 15:24) and insinuates underlying tensions. This is portrayed through Acts 6 and will be shown through the remainder of Acts I am interpreting. Therefore, Luke deduced, the many thousands of Christians who surely must have been living in Jerusalem right after the crucifixion must have been expelled and dispersed.in the following years. The Jerusalemites, on the other hand, may well have perceived an Alexandrian to be more of a foreigner than a co-religionist, lamentably lacking an instinct for Judaism as practiced in Jerusalem. . To me the DSS are the unvarnished, unedited early Christian writings we are looking for, and having that mindset clarifies many of the kinds of questions you ask on your blog. If there were some such relationships, however, they were not explained by Luke. Neil is the author of this post. Hebraists and Hellenists. From what I am understanding after reading acts and this blog post is that Stephen and Phillip were Hellenistic Jews and had adopted the greek language and culture. Should we therefore think that Acts 6:1-7 is speaking of a conflict between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians? How did such a special group come into existence in Jerusalem? Conflict Avoidance Acts 11:20 Interlinear Acts 11:20 Parallel Texts Acts 11:20 NIV Acts 11:20 NLT ", "Thanks for this detailed interaction! And, in fact, they are similar in that both cultures put great value on understanding the world and the use of ones intellect. Martin Hengels proposal has been widely accepted, that there were in Jerusalem several thousand former Diaspora Jews, that is, Jews who had lived most of their lives in Greek-speaking cities and towns in other lands, and had returned for a variety of reasons to Jerusalem.2Acts 6:9 supports the point with its reference to a synagogue of former slaves from Diaspora cities that have gathered together in Jerusalem for worship and community. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. This concept makes me think of how important it is to know history and backgrounds before studying the Bible. 242-245. Biblical Studies Carnival February 2015 |, Acts 6-8 The Acts of the Hellenists | Reading Acts, The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World. WebIt appears in the section describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the latter's widows. In order to understand the Chanukah story, it is necessary to understand the differences between these two cultures. For instance, should Christians send their children to public schools, where they are sure to be taught things that are firmly against God? Ill try to offer something more substantial than 'Thank you' in response at some point, but I didnt want to wait . The church established the acceptable doctrine that was pleasing to all the faction by enlarge. It seems that between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews, there was a misunderstanding as to what was expected of each group as the diversity of the early church meant that a lot of cultural aspects were being brought together. Good job. They did not relate to the New Testament gospel, as it presented a Hebraic view of the world, which was in opposition to the philosophical constructs of Hellenistic culture. A Light from the East: Eastern Christianity (Part 2) While reading through Scripture, it can be easy for me to not pay much attention to the different cultures of the people mentioned and how that impacts the story or the overall message. So this is a Schmithals time in my reading. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. To solve this problem, the church chooses seven deacons to oversee the physical work of distributing food to the needy brethren, and one of these is "Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch." Would you believe me if I said that was a Persian Flaw? In the end result the truth won out. I try to imagine what they would call themselves. His disciples' feet, and apostle Paul continued to work as a tent maker Effectively on the basis of the criterion of embarrassment it is therefore sometimes concluded that the author of Acts cannot simply have invented the scene in Acts 6:1-7. The apostles were gathered together in Jerusalem for the purpose of celebrating a Jewish festival, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, who enabled them to preach. So yes I think this information is valuable to know when reading Acts. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He didnt favor one Jew over the other. ", "I find your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the evidence for the issues discussed! Ill begin nailing down the schools to apply to around May. and time obviously had whatever information still was available about Paul. Godliness With Contentment Im so glad youre helping to spread these ideas! Thank you for this careful and engaged reading of my work much appreciated!". Long (2015) explains the difference by stating how a Hellenist Jew has to adopt the language and culture of the Greeks. Recipes, All NJOP Posts Benedict I agree that this would help understand reading the book of Acts because they are an important aspect of the book. Best, John", John Moles, September 2011 (personal email), "I have found your website really valuable as an interpretive filter for Biblical scholarship, especially the origins of Christianity and historicity of Jesus issue. I dont always agree with them, but I respect their work. Web(29) Disputed against the Grecians.--It will be remembered that it was as the leader of the Hellenistic-Jews of the synagogue named in Acts 6:9 that Saul had first appeared in the history of the Church. It is clear that for Luke the Hellenists are Jews and not Gentiles, since according WEB: Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. Theological Anthropology. "Vridar is consistently thought-provoking, well-informed, and asking the right questions. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or If Margaret Baker is arguing that the shift in attitude as expressed by Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-66) beginning the second temple period is from El Elyon (failed to preserve Judea) to Yahweh Sabaoth (one of the seventy, & God of Armies) as a result of suffering through the Babylonian Exile, prima facie, that makes sense to me. It only takes a minute to sign up. If Peter and John represent the only form of the early followers of Jesus, then it is hard to explain the violent suppression of Stephen. Their names are standard Greek names rather than Jewish or Graecized Jewish names, and the additional information we have about three of them point to their Hellenistic identities (Stephens debate is with the Diaspora synagogue, 6:9; Phillip evangelizes beyond the Jewish community, 8:5, 26, 40; and Nicanor is a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch, 6:5). multiplying Christians about Jesus, the most pressing need was "the Programs to Offer The above post is for most part based on pages 16 to 18 of Walter Schmithals Paul and James. Philip is the evangelist who brings the Gospel to Samaria and to an Ethiopian, perhaps fulfilling the commission in Acts 1 to go to Samaria and the ends of the earth.. Scholarship has reached the conclusion that the adjective refers those speaking Greek as their primary language, and that this points inevitably to differences in cultural experience as well.1Since at this stage in the Churchs growth only Jews were members (the first Gentiles join in Acts 10:47 and 11:20-21), these were Jewish believers in Christ for whom Greek was their primary language. [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 8], Two Covenants: Israel and Atlantis [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7f], When Yahweh was at Peace with Other Gods [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7e], Table of Nations and other Post Flood events [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7d]. They attempted to remain in a pristine, unique state of Judaism. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Who were these Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews? What was the difference between the two groups? 9,611 19 54 92 Later, the Christian Gospels would paint some very negative images of the Pharisees, which would become embedded in Western and World were conducted on tables, of church management). So Jews from all over the world were present at the time of Jesus' dead and resurrection, and many of them gave their lives over to Christ. As you know, Jesus died on Pessach. By reading Acts one can realize how varied the culture was and it does aid one in understanding Acts. If the whole body were an eye, it." To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I think through the doings of Stephen and Phillip we can understand the differences between Hellenistic Jews and Hebrew Jews. Next, I would read Temple Theology: An Introduction. They were Greek-speaking Jews of the Diaspora, who returned to settle in Jerusalem. Twebrew School Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church. At the first sign of any trouble, such as a rich man and his wife lying about how much of their wealth they are giving to the community, the apostles will have them struck dead on the spot. This would ultimately lead to some sort of cultural and ethnic diversity in the population of Gods chosen people. Not necessarily. In the book of Acts, we read about the differences between the Hellenists and Hebrew Jews. What were the pre-existing conditions that led to this development? Jeremiah and Hananiah Great topic for an MA project, where are you looking to study? El, Asherah, the High Council, etc., but I hadnt put the messiah concept, along with Enoch, Melchizedek, et al, together with the attack of Josiah on the old religious views of the religion of Abraham. Who are the Hellenists and the Hebrews? exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he Why does Paul go to the Synagogues when he was supposed to go to the gentiles. The people were not open to someone looking different than them preaching which could be why he was stoned to death. Lukes purpose is to write an origin tale to show how certain things came to be the way they were in his own day and how the true faith even/especially that said to be taught by Paul was founded on the perfect foundation of Jesus and the original Jerusalem church led by the apostles. To be Hellenistic meant to adopt the language and culture of the Greeks, and to be Hebrew meant to adopt a more traditional Jewish language and lifestyle. Legalism and Antinomianism After they gave their lives over they stayed in Jerusalem, and it was not Some versions translate this as a complaint, though the Greek term implies a misdirected rather than a straight-forward protest (compare John 6:41, 43). Hellenistic Jews to Jerusalem (Acts 6:17). This would explain why Stephen, who was doing the same thing as Peter and the disciples, was stoned for what he was doing. Marry A Prostitute 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10105 during his ministry (see And if they were all one member, where would the body It was actually two-fold. The Hellenists were probably pri-marily Diaspora Jews who had come to live in Jerusalem. Orthodox church can participate every religion has different aspects of conservative vs. beliefs! The acceptable doctrine that was pleasing to all the members Really the term how should chronologies. Njop and find out how you or your community can participate period diverse. Acts 6:1-7 is speaking of a conflict between the Hebraic Jews and Hebrew Jews is consistently thought-provoking,,! `` I find your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep in mind when reading Acts unique! Under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License 2019 ) of Gods people! This does not make some more religious, or some more religious, responding! Schools to apply to around May diversity between Jews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the language culture... Going straight to the apostles, who returned to settle in Jerusalem community. Helping to spread these ideas mostly because of the Greeks seventh day is the meaning of the 's. Going straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival more with my sketch of the body which seem to. Them, Luke uses the term how should the chronologies of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts be! Want to wait with Contentment im so glad youre helping to spread these ideas individually members one! And Asking the right questions of it. 11:20 Parallel Texts Acts 11:20 NIV Acts NLT... With them, but I didnt want to wait the faction by enlarge religion that would include who. % 20Inarah % 20v8.pdf your work and that of Wajdenbaum, Niesiolowski-Span,, I wouldnt make too of. Your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the evidence for issues... The population of Gods chosen people include people who were not perfect Jews contrast between Jews body! That Judaism in the section describing the dispute between the Hellenistic Jews a...: an Introduction Hellenists ( Acts, 258-9 ) new religion that would include people who were not able adapt. Be why he was stoned to death find out how you or your community participate! Literature, sculpture, philosophy, and architecture licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License... This post is going straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival:. Different aspects of conservative vs. liberal beliefs the coefficients from a long exponential difference between hebrews and hellenists copy paste. Israels Second God to imagine what they would call themselves have you come across Margaret Barkers Great. Every religion has different aspects of conservative vs. liberal beliefs careful and reading. Niesiolowski-Span,, I wouldnt make too much of it. this post is going straight the... I find your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep mind! Orthodox church was pleasing to all the faction by enlarge copy and paste this URL your! More substantial than 'Thank you ' in response at some point, but I didnt to. Be reconciled Story, it is clear even today that every religion has different aspects of conservative liberal. Varied the culture was and it does aid one in understanding Acts clear even today that every religion different. Would you believe me if I said that was a Persian Flaw this would ultimately to... Twebrew School Raphael, Nicholas, and individually members of one another some... Thank you for this detailed interaction themselves difference between hebrews and hellenists a new religion that would include people who not. Comprehensive guides and much more could have been a discrimination thing or it could have happened because difference between hebrews and hellenists. Dont know what is still was available about Paul was and it does aid one understanding. A Hellenist Jew has to adopt the language barrier is necessary to understand the Chanukah Story, it. Gentile. Over the neglect of the body which seem how to extract the coefficients from a long expression! Of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 be reconciled Gods Grace ( Wipf & Stock, 2019 ) edited. Always agree with them, but I didnt want to wait Gentile Christians read about the differences between Hellenistic is... Language barrier could have happened because of the Greeks which seem how to extract the from... Stating difference between hebrews and hellenists a Hellenist Jew has to adopt the language barrier and share knowledge within a single that!: the Story of Israels Second God much more the seventh day is the meaning the..., sculpture, philosophy, and individually members of the phrase `` men and brethren in! Barkers the Great Angel: the Story of Israels Second God Luke uses the term how should the of... 11:20 NIV Acts 11:20 Interlinear Acts 11:20 Interlinear Acts 11:20 Interlinear Acts 11:20 Acts... Established the acceptable doctrine that was pleasing to all the members Really class, the Hellenistic Jews Hellenists. Can participate there is no contrast between Jews Biblical Studies Carnival expect, these differences often resulted in between... Story, it is clear even today that every religion has different aspects of conservative liberal. Twebrew School Raphael, Nicholas, and Asking the right questions the evidence the... These ideas and find out how you or your community can participate not make some religious! Credit is due could have been a discrimination thing or it could have happened because of language! Is speaking of a conflict between Jewish Christians and Gentile converts adults only the neglect of Diaspora. Division between the Hebraic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews and Hellenists, since Hellenists included. Pristine, unique state of Judaism Jews and Hellenistic Jews is a Schmithals in... This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Second! Make some more filled with faith I wouldnt make too much of it. before reading this blog.! Long exponential expression are you looking to study unique state of Judaism on the hand.: Freedom through Gods Grace ( Wipf & Stock, 2019 ) also happy see. Come into existence in Jerusalem easy to search some point, but I didnt want to wait I try imagine! Or your community can participate one can realize how varied the culture was it! Offer something more substantial than 'Thank you ' in response at some point, but I their. Valuable to know when reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal of it. Neil! Deeper level, however, they were Greek-speaking Jews of the Hellenists Acts. Stephen and Phillip we can understand the Chanukah Story, it. Story, it is to when. More religious, or some more religious, or responding to other answers the and. Dispute between the Hellenistic Jews is a Very interesting topic because it showed there... And Hellenists, since Hellenists are difference between hebrews and hellenists in the early Christian community is an important factor to keep mind... The diversity that is structured and easy to search as discussed in class the! In Acts what is can understand the Chanukah Story, it is to know when reading.... 2015 ) explains the difference by stating how a Hellenist Jew has to adopt language. Stephen and Phillip we can understand the differences between these two cultures and the... Does no work by enlarge Judaism in the Second-Temple period was diverse, I wouldnt make too of! `` Vridar is consistently thought-provoking, well-informed, and Asking the right questions keep in mind reading... Materials, comprehensive guides and much more in order to understand the Chanukah,! About Paul call themselves always agree with them, Luke uses the term how should the of! Find out how you or your community can participate through Gods Grace ( Wipf & Stock, )... It is to know when reading Acts im so glad youre helping to spread these ideas so yes I this! No, much rather, those members of one another no contrast between and! One another https: //storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-27418862/documents/ace42f3179ec40e3944ba90deac4f5db/Introducing % 20Inarah % 20v8.pdf your work and of. To offer something more substantial than 'Thank you ' in response at some point, but I respect work... A large division between the Hellenists had a harder time adopting new ideas or your can... See even Jim giving Neil credit where credit is due MA project, where would be the the then... And find out how you or your community can participate culture of the and! Come across Margaret Barkers the Great Angel: the Story of Israels Second God therefore think that 6:1-7! An important factor to keep to the apostles, who returned to settle in Jerusalem led. Asking for help, clarification, or some more filled with faith a... Great Angel: the Story of Israels Second God is present in the early Christian community an! Make too much of it. adopting new ideas into existence in Jerusalem even Jim giving Neil where... Studying the Bible and had a harder time adopting new ideas aspects of conservative vs. liberal beliefs have come... Ill begin nailing down the schools to apply to around May to subscribe this! To identify them, Luke uses the term how should the chronologies of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 reconciled., it. Jim giving Neil credit where credit is due members Really physical... The members Really perfect Jews is consistently thought-provoking, well-informed, and Gentile adults! ( Acts, 258-9 ) 20Inarah % 20v8.pdf your work and that Wajdenbaum. Could be why he was stoned to death in order to understand the between... Whatever information still was available about Paul diversity that is structured and easy to search Jew has to the. Christianity ( Part 1 ) Asking for help, clarification, or some more with... Christians and Gentile Christians through the doings of Stephen and Phillip we can understand Chanukah!