Cookie Policy(function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); The NJOP website is dedicated in loving memory of Ernest G. and Heidi Kahn. Youre welcome. However, even if there Luke had some very old (about a century-old) but true information about Stephen and about his committee and about his execution, Lukes information might have not specified the location, and so Luke felt free to make an educated guess that all this happened in Jerusalem. While Judaism teaches humankind to strive to be like G-d, the Greeks created gods who acted with less dignity than many humans. 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 Volunteers, Myself or My Family WebThere is a distinction made between Jews and proselytes, Acts 2:10; but none between Hebrews and proselytes, because a proselyte might be either a Hebrew or a Hellenist, according to the language in which he performed public worship. 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. Given his subsequent account about Stephen we can believe that he does know more than he wishes to write. And this seems to have been where the division between the Hellenist and Judean Jews lay. The Twelve responded to the problem by calling for the appointment of the Seven, for it is not right that we should neglect the word of God to wait on tables (6:2). Why did the Greeks have a problem with a day of rest? 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. Ironically, Greek culture and Judaism are the roots of modern Western civilization. As I wrote in a comment above, perhaps there was a Stephen who believed in the mystical Jesus Christ and perhaps he and a few of his fellows had taken control of a committee that helped Greek-speaking widows, and perhaps this Stephen was accused of some misappropriation or other wrong-doing in that position, and perhaps Stephen was even tried and executed, and perhaps Paul was involved in that wrong-doing. 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. Despite being Jewish, the Hellenists had adopted Greek cultural elements and But they had settled in Jerusalem retired, as it were, to the homeland. Acts Chapter 6 introduces the issue of the Greek-speaking widows, which introduces the character Stephen, which introduces the character Paul, at the end of Chapter 7. who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science. What were the pre-existing conditions that led to this development? There is no contrast between Jews and Hellenists, since Hellenists are included in the general term Jews. Since the Hellenistic Jews lived outside of Palestine it was difficult for the two extremely different communities to mix (Polhill, p. 2092). How were they able to appoint so many Greek-named men to help? Esther WebIt appears in the section describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the latter's widows. Jesus Curses the Fig Tree Discover, read and download our comprehensive guides and walkthroughs, watch videos and learn about the various aspects of Chanukah. So yes I think this information is valuable to know when reading Acts. 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. And those members of the body which we think to 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word I keep coming back to is Jew. What I find interesting is not the fact that there were different sects of Judaism, but more the division between the idea of integration with the culture. Perhaps there really was a subsequent trial and execution of a real person named Stephen, and perhaps Paul really did participate in those legal proceedings (perhaps because of his own widowed mother). It only takes a minute to sign up. This would ultimately lead to some sort of cultural and ethnic diversity in the population of Gods chosen people. Polhill (2008) states, The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews from the Diaspora (dispersed Jews living outside Palestine). Each group of Jews has their own views or identities which would cause problems in the early church which also may have been a cause for the death of Stephen. What might this passage mean? Sponsors The Sabbath I only bring this up because it has helped me see that the Christian from Hebrew delineation, if one can really speak of such, is between the theologically evolving, if only somewhat inclusive anointed savior professing Jews, and the most conservative Jews, the non-Hellenistic, non-inclusive, and non-progressive mostly nationalistic, purist Hebrews who wished to rebuild the Temple City. Who were the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews of Acts 6:1? mean to serve food on tables, but to 'tend to 'business,' which Just as not all Jews were the same, we still see today that not all white/black/hispanic/asian/etc people are the same. This oversight has been corrected. . 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. Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Why does the Septuagint contain non-Tanakh books? ", "By the way, my thanks to Neil for an ongoing superb job of exposing Jims review for what it is: a farcical and none too effective exercise in mythicism assassination, nothing to do with rational, let alone unbiased, scholarship. The month was not declared based on the counting of days, but rather based on the appearance of the new moon, according to G-ds commandment of how the months should be calculated. 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. Links. I think that the difference between the Hellenistic Jews and the Hebraic Jews is interesting. Luke then linked the expulsion of the Christians to his story about the execution of Stephen. Schism (Im rolling with the historicity of what we read for the sake of argument.) 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. Spiritual Practices as a Pastor, Almond Springs, Ep. It is possible these men were not followers of Jesus prior to Pentecost. the body? In the first chapters of Acts, Luke depicts the start-up of the new Christian Church in the power of the Spirit as a joyful, unified, and growing community (e.g., Acts 2:41-47). Circumcision Remember, the Greeks idealized the beauty of the physical form, particularly the male body, as can be seen in so many of their sculptures. Why was there enough Hellenists to lodge a complaint about food distribution? Ovid did not come up with the idea of using the name Hellen to describe the Greek people; according to Thucydides: (Who would have thought it? Who are the Hellenists and the Hebrews? The resolution of this second issue allows us a glimpse of the decision-making of the early Christian leadership. All of them: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the great miracles that happened during the Maccabee revolt in the time of the Second Temple period. Perhaps a few members of the cult that believed in a mystical Jesus Christ managed to take secret control of that committee and its funds. Does Luke put the Twelve in a negative light in Acts 6? Why did the interaction of the Greeks and the Jews create such problems? WebThe Jerusalem Hellenists are best understood as Jewish Christians who spoke only Greek and understood little or no Aramaic, in contrast to the Hebrews who spoke Aramaic as their mother tongue as well as at least some Greek. Demigods, Violence and Flood in Plato and Genesis [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7c], Primeval History from Cain to Noah [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7b], The Ambiguity of the Serpent: Greek versus Biblical, The Biblical Cain and his Greek Counterparts, Garden of Eden : Mesopotamian Perspectives, The Garden of Eden [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus-Critias 7a], The Second Creation Story in Genesis [Biblical Creation Accounts/Platos Timaeus 6], Inside the Pentecostal Christians Mind #1, Sovereign Citizens, ISIS and Moonies the common thread that binds them all, Charbonnel: Jesus Christ sublime figure de papier. A Jew from Alexandria, arriving in Jerusalem after a life of tensions in a sometimes hostile Graeco-Roman environment, might discover that life in the Holy Land was less than ideal, and that the locals seemed to lack sympathy, and the sophistication of their counterparts back home. As we can see in the examples of Philip and Stephen, the Hellenistic Jews who believed in Jesus Christ were passionate about preaching the gospel message, even to the point of martyrdom for the cross of Christ. Filed under: Biblical Studies, New Testament A Hellenistic Jews has a different meaning than a Hebrew Jew. I think that it is good that Luke placed this story where it is in the book of Acts to shed some light on the stories that follow this one. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HELLENIST AND HEBREW. this context, to "serve tables" didn't even You maybe forget that Peter and John were put in prison for their sermons! Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application, The number of distinct words in a sentence. The idea that the Jews would willing mar the body was outrageous to them (of course, leaving a baby to die from exposure wasnt a problem). Or do they send them with the hope of growing stronger in their faith? 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. Would you believe me if I said that was a Persian Flaw? the body, is it therefore not of the body? There are intelligent, thoughtful comments and commenters regularly offering productive discussion. the same care for one another. Acts 6-8 describe the activities of two non-apostles, Stephen and Philip. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. For in fact the body is not one member but many. Both are Hellenistic Jews, and neither is numbered among the Twelve. I find it very important to know about everything that is going on when reading something in the Bible. Hebraists and Hellenists. Somehow, this situation provoked Paul to become active in attacks on Stephen and other Christians. Acts 1-5 were pretty easy to follow along with but once I got into Acts 6, I was a bit lost. I tend to think that way for almost every religion. Christian Interpersonal Responsibility The Nations: The Jews from the ten lost tribes. Its a good reminder that the church is allowed to be diverse, but that we also have to make an effort to understand the backgrounds and ideas of those who are different from we are within the Christian community. Philippians 2 Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The Greeks could not understand why the Jews did not instantly embrace their In general, Luke tries to describe Jesus Christ as a charismatic character who had been seen, heard and admired by many thousands of people in Judah and to describe the post-ascension church as a movement with thousands of members. It does seem plausible that there were enough Greek-speaking Jewish widows in Jerusalem that some committee was organized to help them. But things are not as smooth as they appear. And why did so many men from various geographic locations rise up against Stephen (6:9)? where would be the hearing? The Greeks could not understand why the Jews did not instantly embrace their culture, which catered to the humans physical desires. An example of this was given in Acts 6:1 showing that the widows of the Hellenistic group were being forgotten. Further, the Seven were apparently all Hellenists. Please carry on. Host or attend the exciting Chanukah programs and classes provided by NJOP and find out how you or your community can participate. If the foot should Web1 Earlier scholarship assumed that there must have been a theological difference between Hellenists and Hebrews; but the linguistic and therefore basically cultural basis of the It appears that the widows among the Hellenistic Jews were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. I understood Josiah (and his slimy little priest/counterfeiter Hilkiah) as a purist wishing to purge the Temple of all polytheistic traces, i.e. Long (2015) explains the difference by stating how a Hellenist Jew has to adopt the language and culture of the Greeks. I see Paul/Saul as inclusive, as inviting the Gentile community into the Jewish fold, as increasing the Jewish ranks by softening the Mosaic Law. In these circumstances, it seems likely that Pauls own mother was widowed and therefore accompanied him to Jerusalem and became one of the starving, Greek-speaking widows who was supposed to receive help from Stephens committee. 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10105 This would explain why Stephen, who was doing the same thing as Peter and the disciples, was stoned for what he was doing. And if one member suffers, all the members So this is a Schmithals time in my reading. Communal Responsibility I would suggest starting with this video, in which she asks: What Did Josiah Reform?, http://byutv.org/watch/94f4b39e-ef10-4181-bcad-d0502e924060. smelling? The Strangers: Non-Jews who join themselves with the The Good Shepherd If the whole body were an eye, 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). have no need of. Acts 6), and had neglected, most probably Neil said, 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. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? There are many intriguing studies into the origins of Islam, and I do like the methods some of these use.. 241-257. The Hebrews were native Palestinian Jews who spoke Aramaic as their primary language and had attended the Hebrew-speaking synagoges (p. 2092). 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. Although the Jews did have common beliefs, some of their differing views caused problems in the early church. Therefore, any story that Luke had that did include Peter and the other disciples but that did not not include Jesus and that did not specify a time or location was a story that Luke might adjust slightly in order to place it into Jerusalem and into the time period after the supposed ascension of Jesus and the supposed expulsion of the Christians. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Since the Greeks wished to show that humankind was in control of nature, they felt threatened by the Jewish concept of Divinely ordained time. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. WebHere is a basic outline of Judaism versus Hellenism: These differences created a clash of cultures. 3 We have good grounds for the historicity of the Hellenists. Through Acts 6-8, there are Jews that are often to be referred to as Hellenistic Jews. were conducted on tables, of church management). I have also never heard of Stephen and Phillip before. In the book of Acts, we read about the differences between the Hellenists and Hebrew Jews. While, as others have said, we may be inclined to think of first-century Jews as being one community, clues in the book of Acts would tell us otherwise. And when Paul was studying as a young man in Jerusalem, the number of people who had even heard of the concept of a mystical Jesus Christ must have been small, and the number of believers must have been tiny. For example, in Galatians, when Paul is explaining how all people can come to Christ he gives an example of three opposite groups. And perhaps this experience did lead Paul to learn more about and join the cult. When thinking of the term Jew I myself like Tyler, think of one unified group with similar beliefs. The Hebrews were Jewish Christians who spoke almost exclusively Aramaic, and the Hellenists were also Jewish Christians whose mother tongue was Greek. They were Greek-speaking Jews of the Diaspora, who returned to settle in Jerusalem. To identify them, Luke uses the term Hellenistai. Im so glad youre helping to spread these ideas! What was the real difference between the Hebrews and Hellenists? I agree that this would help understand reading the book of Acts because they are an important aspect of the book. "the Hellenists" are the Christian converts among the Jews In 2019 he published a commentary. One thing is for certain. The people were not open to someone looking different than them preaching which could be why he was stoned to death. Next, I would read Temple Theology: An Introduction. But Lukes mention of the murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews indicates a second, related problem. Bock, on the other hand, agrees more with my sketch of the Hellenists (Acts, 258-9). Old Stories With New Ears How to extract the coefficients from a long exponential expression? Were Jewish, Greek, and Gentile converts adults only? Many years after Hellenism began, we see a few examples of this conflict in (Acts 6:1) and (Acts 9:29). This needs to be explained carefully, since the word Jew does not appear in the text (although English translations regularly include it). the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Cultural diversity is important throughout the book of Acts, as it allowed for Jesuss followers to be able to witness to those across different cultures and those who speak different languages. He didnt favor one Jew over the other. during his ministry (see I see the anointed savior concept as a denunciation of Yahweh as the Yahweh Sabaoth, its most stringent mosaic laws, and its intrinsic Jewish nationalism at the liberal, more Hellenized, end of the spectrum of these evolving sects among the Diaspora which contrasts with the more conservative view that, while relenting on the sacrificial mandates of the Deuteronomists, due to the destruction of the Temple, wish to one day rebuild Jerusalem, (more expansive, more popular, and more populous) and her Temple for the Jews, and Jews alone. Perhaps they were among the crowd who hear Yet Stephen is the first martyr and his speech summarizing some important theological points in the transition between Peters ministry in Jerusalem and Pauls mission in Acts 13. the body? All Jewish Treats. But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. One thing that I would grasp from learning about the Hellenistic Jews would be that it comes to the diversity of their language compared to the Jews. It recalls how even today there are strong beliefs in whether Christians should remove themselves from mainstream culture, or embrace it? . the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. My Community Peters hometown Bethsaida did not belong to Galilee, but rather to Gaulanitis, which was dominated by Greek culture. A diverse group in of itself that, although has struggled with favoritism, Gods love does not. Normally, therefore, an Israelite is not called up until the third reading. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church. ministry of the word." And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of Instead of understanding that faith did not hinge on how one assimilated (or did not) with the culture of the day, it seems a line was drawn in the sand between the two. Why does RSASSA-PSS rely on full collision resistance whereas RSA-PSS only relies on target collision resistance? Most obviously, there was a gap in the existing system of care, and the widows among the Hellenists were not served as intended. 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. 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. Creation The Jews gave the world the Torah, the Talmud, and the basic concept of ethical monotheism. Polhill notes that this passage seems to be only one of many serious theological frictions that were happening between the two groups (2092). On Humility ", Mary Booker, February 2020 (personal email), "Very good. On Chanukah, Jewish families around the world gather together in their homes and light the Chanukah candles. According to Acts 21:17-26 are the Jews who are under the New Covenant bound to keep the law of Moses for any reason? Which of these roles deserves particular esteem? WebAs one might expect, these differences often resulted in conflict between the Hebraic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews. From ancient Greek traditions, the Western world has inherited a remarkable legacy of literature, sculpture, philosophy, and architecture. I refer to your site frequently as yet more names and publications pop up requiring an academic critique and helpful recommendations for book purchases. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. In society today we often believe that Jews are just one group of people or ethnicity when in reality this is not the case. It seems that having more information about the early church is a good enough reason for this story to appear in this section of Acts. Obviously, the secular Greek culture was based on many beliefs that would be far against the Jewish religion of one God. Sanctification Here is a basic outline of Judaism versus Hellenism: These differences created a clash of cultures. He notes, for example, as four of thirteen points, that Luke is unlikely to have introduced the notes of dissension between Hebrews and Hellenists Now its a bit more confusing and it started around Acts 4 and 5. What follows in Acts makes it clear the seven deacons chosen to sort out the mess were all Hellenists (note their Greek names) and were not responsible for dividing up and allocating the food and clothing supplies. 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. On a deeper level, however, circumcision represents humanitys ability to have control over ones physical self. Good job. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 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. If this was his intent, he proably would have strayed from speaking of conflict and issues they were having. Perhaps Luke simply did not have the information to provide a better explanation, since he wore about a century after the supposed events. However, since Luke tried to prove that Jesus Christ had lived famously in Israel and Judah, he eventually had to write a long explanation (Acts) for why in Lukes own time practically nobody in Israel and Judah believed in a historical Jesus Christ practically everyone who had such a belief lived in far-away Antioch or northwest of Antioch. 6Witherington,Acts, p. 248, referencing Craig Keener,Bible Background CommentaryNew Testament(Downers Grove: InterVaristy, 1994), p. 338. Theres always sub-cultures within cultures. The church was going through some growing pains of trying to keep up For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Aquila and Priscilla). 242-245. Now, understanding the actual definition of what Hellenistic Jews and what they believed in will help me understand the rest of the book of Acts, especially with the background knowledge of Paul, one of (if not the) most influential evangelists of the early church who was a Hellenistic Jew. According to Luke, in Acts 22:1-5, Paul grew up as a Greek-speaking Jew in far-away Tarsus and then as a young man came to Jerusalem and studied under the teacher Gamaliel. with everyone in the midst of rapid growth (see say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I It has been further suggested that the Hellenists would probably have gravitated towards neighborhoods of their own, as is the case with so many groups of immigrants4and in this case, perhaps not the cheaper neighborhoods. But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. Look forward to getting through these and moving on asap.). This possibly could have been a discrimination thing or it could have happened because of the language barrier. For in fact the body is not one member but many. Ladies and Gentlemen, Lets Get Ready to Rumble!. WebWhat is the difference between Hellenists and Hebrews? 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. What was the difference between the two groups? who had returned to Judea after having lived abroad in the Greek world. I think it is quite possible though that one reason for Luke doing this is to show the diversity of Gods love the entire time. Now, it would seem, he sought to undo the evil that he had then wrought, by preaching to them the faith which he had then opposed, and presenting, we Stephen was a different race of Jew and this could be why or maybe he was speaking to a different race of Jews who would rather stone him than do what the Jews that Peter preached to did and believed. verse are the Christian converts among the Jews who were born and raised in The destruction and exile as the result the purging of the temples polytheistic artifacts, in fact, blaming Josiah for the dispersal of the Jews. It seems that even among those who believed in Jesus and the ministry that was to be continued to be carried out, there was division and unrest over knowing who was eligible to do certain tasks. Yet often it seems that one of the big discussions is how much one should be of the world, but not in the world. For Ben Witherington, language is the main issue (seeActs, 240-247, for an excellent excursus on the Hellenists). 3See also Ben Witherington,The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) p. 248. Sts. one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Thank you for this careful and engaged reading of my work much appreciated!". I realized that I hadnt added your blog to our blogroll. This was a movement from about 400 BC to 100 AC. Im also happy to see even Jim giving Neil credit where credit is due. Miracles like these created so much excitement that multitudes more rushed to join up with such an idyllic group. Seems like a lot of foreign Jews around Jerusalem for a long time after Pentecost. 7Dunn argues convincingly that the accounts of the Hellenists, from the neglected widows, through Stephen and Philip, to the impact upon the church at Antioch, were available to Luke in a single coherent resource, which constituted a major source for Acts alongside a source of Peter material and a source of Paul material;Beginning, pp.
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