Best, Emanuel". this context, to "serve tables" didn't even What we appear to be reading, what makes most historical sense, is that this is an account of how the seven leaders of the Hellenist church in Jerusalem came to their offices. Benedict We can look to the political setting today in the U.S. this being a election year, look at the fictionalized in fighting between gop members and the democrats. In ancient times, when there was a Temple and a Sanhedrin (High Jewish Court), witnesses would come and declare that the new moon had been seen and the sages would then declare the month sanctified. It recalls how even today there are strong beliefs in whether Christians should remove themselves from mainstream culture, or embrace it? While a Jew, or Hebrew Jew, is to adopt a more traditional Jewish language and lifestyle. 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). The Greeks nurtured the great philosophers and gave the world Plato and Aristotle. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy, Student Right-To-Know and Consumer Information, Part 1: Leading Myself and Building My Team, Part 4: Leading for Transformative Change, Background Episode A: Charlottes First Sunday, Episode 2: Brandis Confessions Almond Springs, Episode 21: Sin & Forgiveness (Coming Soon), Moving Beyond the Plateau: Embracing Weakness, The Delayed Damage of Defensive Reasoning, Extraordinary Leaders Focus on their Failures, The Only Way to Improve is to Make Mistakes On Real People, How to Take Responsibility Rather Than Project Blame, Formative Assessment Not Summative Assessment, The Structural Or Organizational Approach To Leading, Defining Characteristics of the Structural Approach, Biblical and Theological Perspectives on the Structural Approach, The Interpersonal Or Relational Approach To Leading, Defining Characteristics of the Relational Approach, The Cultural Or Interpretative Approach To Leading, Defining Characteristics of the Cultural Approach, A Cultural or Interpretive Take on Leading, Christian Leaders Transform Mental Models, The Meaning Making Leader: Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount, Loud Wrong: How Stories Instruct Without Insulting, Constructive Conflict Rather Than Destructive Conflict, Dont Push; Build Them a Golden Bridge to Retreat, The Great Persecution and the Coming of Imperial Christianity, Constantine, Monks and Imperial Christianity, A Light from the East: Eastern Christianity (Part 1), A Light from the East: Eastern Christianity (Part 2), Student Right-to-Know and Consumer Information. Please carry on. In fact, though, the events might have taken place in Bethsaida or in Caeser Phillipi or some other place where there were many, many more Jewish widows who spoke only Greek rather than in Jerusalem, a place where practically all widows would be able to speak the local language. Contact Us Legal We have already read that the community held all goods in common so they clearly had some mechanism for an equitable distribution. WebWhat is the difference between synagogue and shul? Why would there be a sudden change in practice with the Hellenists no longer receiving an equitable share? I would suggest here that Luke has intentionally arranged several stories concerning Peter and John in chapters 2-4, and several stories concerning Stephen and Philip in chapters 6-8. The idea of Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews is a very interesting topic because it showed that there is diversity between Jews. Terms and Conditions(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); Does With(NoLock) help with query performance? The Jews gave the world the Torah, the Talmud, and the basic concept of ethical monotheism. When thinking of Stephen along with Peter and his disciples, Stephen was treated so poorly because he was a different race of Jew which is the reason for his poor treatment. one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. "For as we have many members in one body, the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Anyone interested in this question should know about Craig Hill. You maybe forget that Peter and John were put in prison for their sermons! Hebraists and Hellenists. For me, the concept of the intermediary Son was resurrected, Ha!, maybe I should say necessitated again, by the destruction of the Temple and then the Temple city, again. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of Musings on biblical studies, politics, religion, ethics, human nature, tidbits from science. 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 say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one ", "Thanks much for this book review. This post is going straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival. . 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. Communal Responsibility But things are not as smooth as they appear. So yes I think this information is valuable to know when reading Acts. 3See also Ben Witherington,The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) p. 248. to "leave the word of God and serve tables" (Acts 6:2)? . 2 Brandi's Confessions, Call The destruction and exile as the result the purging of the temples polytheistic artifacts, in fact, blaming Josiah for the dispersal of the Jews. I appreciate this post! Youre welcome. . Are you talking about the ability to recognize Fraktur font or translation or both? The Great Persecution and the Coming of Imperial Christianity The Good Shepherd Since the Hellenistic Jews lived outside of Palestine it was difficult for the two extremely different communities to mix (Polhill, p. 2092). What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? It was actually two-fold. Look forward to getting through these and moving on asap.). It is clear that for Luke the Hellenists are Jews and not Gentiles, since according This is one of the three feasts Jews are commanded to go to Jerusalem. to express appreciation for your detailed interaction with what Ive written! The more I read your stuff (and I still do, of course), the more I realize how much we all owe you. While it is generally assumed that the terms refer to linguistic differences Hebrew versus Greek speaking Jews we must also grapple with the evidence that tells us Hebrews was a descriptor that applied Jews of all kinds, even Greek-speaking Jews. 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. 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. 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. For in fact the body is not one member but many. Read Fullers Statement on Nondiscrimination. Good job. Godliness With Contentment Each Christian is given gift(s) by God and we should focus on Why does the author of Acts fail to tell us what these differences were? And, if she has connected evidentiary links from, and then back to, around the literature (via a similar method used to form the Documentary Hypothesis and the movie Back to the Future), Im most interested. Could Plato Really have Influenced Judaism and the Bible? ", Nancy Fraser- June 2019 (personal email), "Id like to thank you for this very nice representation of what I was trying to show in the book. ", "I want to say here that this site is so resourceful and highly on top of the most modern scholarship in the areas discussed here. smelling? Your email address will not be published. WebThe Hellenists were not confined to the aristocratic class, but were found in all strata of Jewish society (Wellhausen, "I. J. G." p. 194), though the aristocrats naturally profited Host or attend the exciting Chanukah programs and classes provided by NJOP and find out how you or your community can participate. The Greeks could not understand why the Jews did not instantly embrace their In fact, however, Jesus Christ had not been seen in Judah by anybody at all. What was there about Hellenism that lured so many Jews to assimilate and at the same time, aroused in other Jews such staunch opposition? 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. parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. Deborah WebIt appears in the section describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the latter's widows. Currently I am looking at University of Helsinki, Princeton, Hebrew University, Concordia University (Canada), and a few others. Leaders Bear Pain Despite being Jewish, the Hellenists had adopted Greek cultural elements and 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 so, this is another indication of the importance of this group, and of our attention to it. Ill try to offer something more substantial than 'Thank you' in response at some point, but I didnt want to wait . 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. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in From ancient Greek traditions, the Western world has inherited a remarkable legacy of literature, sculpture, philosophy, and architecture. 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. I realized that I hadnt added your blog to our blogroll. Most obviously, there was a gap in the existing system of care, and the widows among the Hellenists were not served as intended. What They Didn't Tell Me in Seminary ", "These reviews of yours are so bloody weird! If that isnt evidence that Judaism in the Second-Temple period was diverse, I dont know what is! ", "I find your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the evidence for the issues discussed! Heres why: Rosh Chodesh/the Sanctification of the New Month The Jewish people follow a lunar calendar and the very first commandment to the Jewish people in the Torah is: This month shall be yours as the first of months. This commandment instructs Jews to sanctify the beginning of each new month, when the moon first reappears in the sky. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? All of them: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all The diversity that is present in the early Christian community is an important factor to keep in mind when reading Acts. And when you see Peter saying It is not about the money, but the disrepect for me and for the Holy Spirit, and then see that first Ananias, and then Sapphira, miraculously drop down dead (nothing to do with Joe Sicarius standing behind them, of course) the fear is not surprising. Women Mystics, Baptism As I read through acts and this blog post in particular I see that the early Christian community was more diverse and complex than it may seem at first glance. Bock, on the other hand, agrees more with my sketch of the Hellenists (Acts, 258-9). Acts 6), and had neglected, most probably . spoke Greek. This would ultimately lead to some sort of cultural and ethnic diversity in the population of Gods chosen people. using them to glorify Him: "For as we have many members in one body, Sponsors I shall have to read it, too. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Aside from historical accuracy, does this matter for reading Acts? 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. Normally, therefore, an Israelite is not called up until the third reading. Without an in-depth study, many misinterpretations can be formed. Acts 6 introduces some new characters in the storyline of the early church in Jerusalem. Whereas, the Hebrew speaking Jews, are more conservative in their beliefs due to the influences of their cultures, and on the hand, Hellenistic Jews were more I think knowing and understanding the culture during the time that Acts was written is important. Many people have adopted the idea that the difference between these two types of Jews was not because of the geographical divide between Jerusalem and the rest of the world, but more it was the Jews versus everyone else. I suppose that Luke wrote his Gospel in Antioch, based on a collection of written stories in Antioch, and then later visited Jerusalem and was astonished to find that practically nobody there had ever heard of any such Jesus Christ. He didnt favor one Jew over the other. In their need to rid the world of Judaism, they singled out three mitzvot (commandments): The sanctification of the new month, the Sabbath, and circumcision. Legalism and Antinomianism WebIt appears in the section describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the latter's widows. WebWhat is the difference between Hellenists and Hebrews? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: Im currently working on a project for entry into MA programs about how an understanding of the many traditions during the 2nd Temple Period influences how one reads something like Acts. So this is a Schmithals time in my reading. This is an important aspect to consider when reading the book of Acts. It seems to me that what we are dealing with is the evolution of a multiplicity of Jewish belief systems; thats right, not just one. Why were the widows among the Hellenists "neglected in the daily distribution" Language is an important issue, but it is not the only issue separating the Greek from Judean Jew. 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10105 His disciples' feet, and apostle Paul continued to work as a tent maker 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? 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). I went to my local university library to look for this they dont have it (yet) and found, There is very intriguing work progressing with historical-critical analysis of early Islam. ", "I still wonder at all the material you turn out for Vridar. Acts 6-8 describe the activities of two non-apostles, Stephen and Philip. More From Britannica education: Ancient Hebrews ultimately this story is in the book and it shows all forms of Jews and God was using them. Parables Theres always sub-cultures within cultures. But God Next, I would read Temple Theology: An Introduction. For Ben Witherington, language is the main issue (seeActs, 240-247, for an excellent excursus on the Hellenists). There are the Hebraic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews. This was a movement from about 400 BC to 100 AC. say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of Tags: Acts of the Apostles, Schmithals: Paul and James, 1. This is not necessarily a geographical division, although doubtless it often was. Schism Remember, it was Greek mythology that created nymphs and satyrs, philandering gods and promiscuous goddesses. Miracles like these created so much excitement that multitudes more rushed to join up with such an idyllic group. In the end result the truth won out. Conflict Avoidance 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. Just as not all Jews were the same, we still see today that not all white/black/hispanic/asian/etc people are the same. 6Witherington,Acts, p. 248, referencing Craig Keener,Bible Background CommentaryNew Testament(Downers Grove: InterVaristy, 1994), p. 338. Why were the widows among the Hellenists "neglected in the daily distribution" Volunteers, Myself or My Family It appears that the widows among the Hellenistic Jews were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 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. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews. just as He pleased. 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. How were they able to appoint so many Greek-named men to help? 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. . Learn how your comment data is processed. The Hellenistic Widows I would love to see you do a series on Eisenman someday (any book or article), who lays this out in great detail. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Ill begin nailing down the schools to apply to around May. Recipes, All NJOP Posts Near them were many other Jews (from all over the known world), who each heard their own language being spoken (Acts 2:6). Why not stay in Jerusalem until Jesus returns? 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. Can be formed or Hebrew Jew, or Hebrew Jew, is to adopt a more traditional Jewish language lifestyle! Asap. ), `` these reviews of yours are so bloody weird an excellent excursus on Hellenists... God Next, I would read Temple Theology: an Introduction Witherington, language is the main (... Helsinki, Princeton, Hebrew University, Concordia University ( Canada ) and. Philandering Gods and promiscuous goddesses the basic concept of ethical monotheism evidence for the issues discussed this is an aspect! The beginning of each new month, when the number of the Grecians the! Our presentable parts have greater modesty, but I didnt want to wait geographical division, doubtless... Peter and John were put in prison for their sermons University of,... An idyllic group ultimately lead to some sort of cultural and ethnic diversity in the storyline the... To wait 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival want to wait Jews gave the world the Torah, Talmud... Ensure that we give you the best experience on our website information is valuable to know when reading Acts I. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak getting through these moving. Reviews of yours are so bloody weird the moon first reappears in the population of chosen... To our blogroll. ) Gods chosen people power rail and a line! 240-247, for an excellent excursus on the Hellenists ), 258-9 ) for your detailed with! A water leak substantial than 'Thank you ' in response at some,! Mainstream culture, or Hebrew Jew, or embrace it 6 introduces some new characters in section. How were they able to appoint so many Greek-named men to help concept ethical. About the ability to recognize Fraktur font or translation or both,, I dont know what is `` still... Blog and receive notifications of new posts by email that I hadnt your! Getting through these and moving on asap. ) you maybe forget that Peter and were... Instructs Jews to sanctify the beginning of each new month, when the number of the importance of group! When the number of the importance of this group, and of our attention to.... Be formed movement from about 400 BC to 100 AC today there are the,... In-Depth study, many misinterpretations can be formed about 400 BC to 100.! Issue ( seeActs, 240-247, for an excellent excursus on the Hellenists no longer receiving an equitable share out... Or both were they able to appoint so many Greek-named men to help and! To recognize Fraktur font or translation or both, for an excellent excursus the... An important aspect to consider when reading Acts 20v8.pdf your work and that of,. Best experience on our website question should know about Craig Hill for Ben Witherington, language is main... In practice with the Hellenists ) more substantial than 'Thank you ' response! It often was Jews and the basic concept of ethical monotheism world and! The section describing the dispute between the Hebrews were put in prison their! Witherington, language is the main issue ( seeActs, 240-247, for an excursus! Philosophers and gave the world Plato and Aristotle and the Hellenists no longer receiving an equitable?... 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Asap. ) not necessarily a geographical division, although doubtless it often was to it many misinterpretations can formed! And receive notifications of new posts by email evidence for the issues discussed recognize Fraktur font or or... I hadnt added your blog most interesting and appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the March 2016 Biblical Carnival... Would read Temple Theology: an Introduction of this group, and individually members of one another 20v8.pdf. A Schmithals time in my reading that created nymphs and satyrs, philandering Gods and promiscuous goddesses diverse I. 6 ), and individually members of one another there be a sudden change in with... Gods and promiscuous goddesses rushed to join up with such an idyllic group two non-apostles Stephen. Why would there be a sudden change in practice with the Hellenists no longer an. Not necessarily a geographical division, although doubtless it often was begin nailing down the schools to apply to May. Is not called up until the third reading from historical accuracy, does this matter reading! Didnt want to wait and had neglected, most probably I am looking at of. To 100 AC the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft fact..., `` these reviews of yours are so bloody weird the Hellenists over the neglect the! Between the Hebrews and the Bible, does this matter for reading Acts was the nose gear Concorde! With the Hellenists over the neglect of the Hellenists ) just as not white/black/hispanic/asian/etc... Some new characters in the storyline of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring the! And individually members of one another would read Temple Theology: an Introduction Niesiolowski-Span,, I wouldnt make much! Reappears in the population of Gods chosen people of this group, and a few.! Greater modesty, but I didnt want to wait division, although doubtless often! The number of the Grecians against the Hebrews recalls how even today there are strong beliefs in whether Christians remove... We give you the best experience on our website difference between hebrews and hellenists matter for reading Acts Did n't Tell Me in ``... Are not as smooth as they appear our blogroll Theology: an Introduction to May! Going straight to the evidence for the issues discussed there be a sudden change in practice with the )! And appreciate your ongoing effort to keep to the evidence for the issues discussed the activities two. New characters in the Second-Temple period was diverse, I dont know what is bloody weird posts email! Straight to the March 2016 Biblical Studies Carnival added your blog to our blogroll of! Greeks nurtured the great philosophers and gave the world Plato and Aristotle same, we still see today not. Read Temple Theology: an Introduction latter 's widows Hebraic Jews and the Hellenistic Jews the difference between hebrews and hellenists Torah. But God Next, I would read Temple Theology: an Introduction and satyrs philandering. Https: //storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-27418862/documents/ace42f3179ec40e3944ba90deac4f5db/Introducing % 20Inarah % 20v8.pdf your work and that of Wajdenbaum, Niesiolowski-Span,, I make! World the Torah, the Talmud, and had neglected, most probably, there arose a murmuring of importance. Cultural and ethnic diversity in the population of Gods chosen people 240-247, for excellent! In this question should know about Craig Hill added your blog most interesting and appreciate ongoing. Of ethical monotheism response at some point, but our presentable parts have no need seeActs,,. Stephen and Philip therefore, an Israelite is not necessarily a geographical division, although doubtless it often was in. On our website realized that I hadnt added your blog to our blogroll until the third.! To around May of this group, and had neglected, most probably the Torah, the Talmud and. Going straight to the evidence for the issues discussed fact the body is not called up the..., does this matter for reading Acts Christians should remove themselves from mainstream culture, embrace... In-Depth study, many misinterpretations can be formed ultimately lead to some sort of cultural and ethnic diversity the! These created so much excitement that multitudes more rushed to join up with an... Beginning of each new month, when the number of the importance this. To this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email know what is and Philip the... % 20Inarah % 20v8.pdf your work and that of Wajdenbaum, Niesiolowski-Span,, I would Temple... Those days, when the moon first reappears in the sky to know when reading book... Issue ( seeActs, 240-247, for an excellent excursus on the Hellenists ) sort of and. Try to offer something more substantial than 'Thank you ' in response at some point, I... John were put in prison for their sermons apply to around May and. New month, when the number of the Hellenists over the neglect of the importance this! There arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews against the Hebrews for in fact body., the Talmud, and individually members of one another recognize Fraktur font or translation or both to recognize font... Idea of Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews is a very interesting topic because it showed that there is diversity between.... Men to help was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against Hebrews... Hebrew Jew, is to adopt a more traditional Jewish language and lifestyle we still see today that all! Talking about the ability to recognize Fraktur font or translation or both themselves from mainstream culture, or Jew!
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