On Hebrew and Christian Scripture

Hellenistic Era  dates about from the death of Alexander 323 BCE for about 500 years to the early centuries CE  overlapped Roman expansion

Empire of Alexander the Great

Jewish and Christian literature  During this period, the last books of the Hebrew Bible were written, along with the entire New Testament, and a large body of noncanonical Jewish and Christian literature

Pre-existing ideas influence Christian scripture  Greek-speaking converts interpreted Jesus’ significance in parallel ways to some pre-existing Greek ideas and traditions

koinē  Greek, the common international language of the era  Hebrew Bible translated into koinē in 250 BCE

Septuagint  Greek edition of the Hebrew Bible used by Diaspora Jews and by early Christian movement  The New Testament was produced in koinē (Greek)

Philosophy  “philosophy” means ‘love of wisdom’  New Testament writers combine Jewish heritage + Greek philosophical concepts

Socrates  Athens, circa BCE  regarded human life as an ongoing quest for truth, a pilgrimage toward the unseen world of eternal spirit

parallels with Jesus  Using humor, Socrates cross examined artisans, teachers, and politicians, irritating many  He had some devoted followers  He was executed  for criticizing the ethical inadequacy of his opponents’ policies and practices  Neither left anything in writing; message depended on disciples

Plato, disciple of Socrates  circa BCE, made his teacher the hero of a series of philosophical dialogues in which a saintly and humorous Socrates always out-argues and outwits his opponents  Separating Plato’s ideas from those of Socrates is difficult; (same with Jesus, and what his disciples wrote)

Dualism  For Plato, the duality of the physical, imperfect world and a perfect world of eternal ideas

Stoicism  emphasizes the order and moral purpose of the universe.  Reason is the divine principle that gives coherence and meaning to our complex world.

Paul as example of stoicism  Stoic teaching urges the individual to listen to the divine element within, to discipline both body and mind to attain a state of harmony with nature and the universe....  noble indifference to both pleasure and pain....endure personal gain or loss with equal serenity...

Paul echos Stoic values  Paul’s self discipline and ability to endure want or plenty, echo Stoic values commonplace in Greco-Roman society  “I have learned the secret of being content in any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11-13)

Logos  means ‘word’,  A cosmic intelligence that unifies the world and makes it intelligible to the human intellect.  Human souls are sparks of the divine Logos.

Jesus as logos  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” John 1:1,14

Epicureanism  Asserts that everything is completely physical, including the soul, which after death dissolves into nothingness;  gods may exist, but have no contact or interest in humanity

Roman Empire 30 BCE-14 CE

Herod’s territory circa 4 CE