The Culture at the Time of Jesus' Birth

Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts

9 Dec 201904:01

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the cultural and historical context of the Jewish people during the time of the Gospels. It highlights how, despite the anticipation of a Messiah, many Jews had grown distant from their religious roots due to the influence of Hellenism, which began with Alexander the Great’s conquest. Hellenistic culture, along with later Roman rule, shaped Judea, leading to the adaptation of many Jews to these influences. However, devout Jews resisted, clinging to their traditions amidst oppression. It was in this setting that Jesus of Nazareth appeared, amidst a complex mix of cultures and beliefs.

Takeaways

📜 The Jewish people eagerly anticipated the arrival of a Messiah, but not all Jews were living devoutly religious lives during the gospel period.
🏛️ Hellenism, a cultural movement started by Alexander the Great, significantly influenced Judea and the surrounding regions.
⚔️ In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Jerusalem, introducing Greek culture and values to the region.
🏙️ Hellenism spread throughout the Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia, affecting arts, architecture, morality, religion, and politics.
📚 Hellenistic influence included the adoption of Greek gods, astrology, and oracles, leading to cultural shifts in existing cities.
👑 After Alexander's death, Judah fell under the control of the Seleucid Empire, which tried to impose Hellenism on the Jewish population.
⚡ The Maccabees revolted against Seleucid rule in 166 BC, leading to a brief period of Jewish independence known as the Hasmonean Dynasty.
⚖️ Despite initial success, the Hasmonean Dynasty ultimately failed to maintain independence due to the Roman Empire's intervention in 63 BC.
🇬🇷 The Roman Empire, having adopted aspects of Greek culture, re-established Hellenism's presence in Judea.
✝️ By the time of Jesus's birth, Judea was a cultural crossroads with a mix of Jewish, Greek, and Roman influences, setting the stage for the emergence of Christianity.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Messiah in Jewish belief during the Gospel period?
-The Messiah was eagerly expected by many devout Jews, but for others, teachings of the Messiah had become ancient lore, no longer relevant in the culture of the time.
What impact did Alexander the Great have on Judea in 332 BC?
-Alexander the Great captured Jerusalem and introduced Hellenism, the Greek culture that influenced Judea and the entire Mediterranean region.
What is Hellenism, and how did it spread?
-Hellenism refers to the set of Greek values, including arts, philosophy, architecture, and religion, that spread throughout the Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia after Alexander's conquests.
How did Hellenism affect the cities under Greek control?
-Many cities either adopted or were forced to adopt Hellenized ideas in areas such as philosophy, politics, and religion. This influence permeated art, morality, and daily life.
What was the Seleucid Empire's role in the spread of Hellenism in Judah?
-The Seleucid Empire, a major center of Hellenism, imposed Greek culture and banned key Jewish religious practices, which led to conflict with the Jewish population.
Who were the Maccabees, and what did they do in 166 BC?
-The Maccabees were a group of Jews who led a revolt against the Seleucid Empire, seeking to resist Hellenistic influence and restore Jewish religious practices.
What was the Hasmonean Dynasty, and how did it come about?
-The Hasmonean Dynasty was a period of independent Jewish rule that followed the Maccabean revolt, during which the Jews temporarily freed themselves from foreign control.
Why did Jewish attempts to resist Hellenism ultimately fail?
-Despite initial successes, the Jewish resistance to Hellenism failed when the Roman Empire conquered the region in 63 BC and reintroduced Greek culture and values.
How did Roman rule affect Jewish culture and beliefs?
-Roman rule brought a reassertion of Hellenistic influence, and while many Jews adapted to this, devout Jews opposed the Roman polytheistic beliefs, viewing them as a challenge to their own religious traditions.
What was the cultural and political context of Judea when Jesus was born?
-At the time of Jesus' birth, Judea was a cultural crossroads influenced by both Roman and Greek ideas, creating tension between devout Jews and those who had adapted to the new cultural norms.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Jewish Heritage and the Coming of the Messiah

This paragraph revisits previous discussions about the Jewish people's heritage and their anticipation of the Messiah. It highlights that not all Jews during the gospel period were religiously devout, and for many, the teachings of the Messiah were seen as ancient stories, disconnected from their current lives. The paragraph sets the context for the introduction of Hellenism into Jewish culture.

⚔️ Alexander the Great's Conquest and the Spread of Hellenism

This section explains how, 330 years before Jesus' birth, Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, including Judea, and introduced Greek culture, known as Hellenism, to the region. It outlines the far-reaching influence of Hellenism, which dominated many aspects of Mediterranean and Near Eastern life, from arts and architecture to religion and morality.

🏛️ The Hellenistic Era and its Cultural Impact

Hellenistic ideas spread through the establishment of cities for trade and governance, influencing various aspects of life, including religious practices, fashion, and food. Existing cities were either encouraged or forced to adopt Hellenism, which also included polytheistic religious practices like consulting oracles and studying astrology. This set the stage for the cultural transformation of Judea.

🛡️ Jewish Resistance to Hellenism: The Maccabean Revolt

After Alexander’s death, the Seleucid Empire took control of Judah and imposed Hellenism more forcefully. The Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes even banned Jewish religious practices and desecrated the temple, leading to a Jewish uprising. In 166 BC, the Maccabees revolted, leading to a period of independent Jewish rule under the Hasmonean dynasty. However, despite their temporary success, Hellenism eventually resurfaced with the Roman conquest.

🏛️ Roman Rule and the Persistence of Hellenism

In 63 BC, Roman forces conquered Judea, reintroducing Hellenistic influence through the Roman adoption of Greek culture. This established Greek values and customs once again, shaping the cultural landscape of the region during a period of Roman control. The fusion of cultures during this time set the background for the arrival of Jesus.

⏳ The Intertestamental Period: Judea as a Cultural Crossroads

This final paragraph addresses the 400-year gap between the writing of the book of Malachi and the birth of Jesus. By the time of Jesus’ arrival, Judea had become a cultural melting pot influenced by Greek, Roman, and Jewish traditions. While many Jews had adapted to Greek culture and Roman rule, others, especially devout Jews, resented the pagan and polytheistic influences of the Romans, longing for liberation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hellenism

Hellenism refers to the spread of Greek culture, language, and values across the Mediterranean and Near East regions following the conquests of Alexander the Great. In the video, it plays a key role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of Judea during the time of the Gospels, influencing everything from religion to daily life. The spread of Hellenism led to tensions between traditional Jewish practices and the adoption of Greek ways.

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was a Macedonian ruler who expanded his empire across the Persian Empire, including Judea, in 332 BC. His conquests introduced Greek culture (Hellenism) to the region, setting the stage for the cultural and religious challenges that would later shape the Jewish community during the Gospel period. His influence is critical in understanding how Judea became a crossroads of cultures and ideas.

💡Judea

Judea is the ancient region where much of Jewish history took place and is central to the narrative of the video. It was captured by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, and later fell under the control of the Seleucid Empire and the Roman Empire. Judea’s exposure to Greek and Roman influences created a tension between traditional Jewish practices and foreign cultural and political dominance.

💡Maccabees

The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebels who led a successful revolt against the Seleucid Empire in 166 BC. Their uprising was a reaction to the forced imposition of Hellenistic culture and the banning of Jewish religious practices by Antiochus Epiphanes. This revolt briefly restored Jewish independence under the Hasmonean dynasty, but ultimately failed to eliminate foreign influence.

💡Hasmonean Dynasty

The Hasmonean Dynasty was the ruling Jewish family established after the Maccabean revolt. It symbolized a brief period of Jewish independence before the Roman Empire took control. This dynasty attempted to purify Jewish culture from Hellenistic influence but struggled to maintain its sovereignty, reflecting the broader theme of Jewish resistance to foreign rule during this period.

💡Seleucid Empire

The Seleucid Empire was one of the Hellenistic states formed after the death of Alexander the Great. It controlled Judea after the fall of Alexander’s empire and imposed Greek cultural and religious practices on the Jewish population. This forced Hellenization sparked the Maccabean revolt, highlighting the conflict between traditional Jewish practices and foreign influence.

💡Antiochus Epiphanes

Antiochus Epiphanes was a Seleucid king who attempted to forcefully impose Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jewish population of Judea. He banned key Jewish religious practices and defiled the Jewish temple, actions that triggered the Maccabean revolt. His reign is a critical example of how external powers sought to suppress Jewish identity during this time.

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire took control of Judea in 63 BC, bringing with it a mixture of Roman governance and Hellenistic culture. By the time of the Gospels, Roman rule was deeply resented by devout Jews, as it represented yet another foreign oppressor. The Roman Empire's adoption of many Hellenistic ideals further entrenched Greek cultural influence in Judea, leading to significant cultural and religious tension.

💡Messiah

The concept of the Messiah is central to Jewish religious belief and refers to a prophesied savior who would liberate the Jewish people. In the video, the expectation of the Messiah is contrasted with the reality that not all Jews during the Gospel period were living devout lives, and for some, the Messiah had become a distant, almost mythical figure. The coming of Jesus is presented as entering into this complex cultural and religious environment.

💡Polytheism

Polytheism, or the belief in multiple gods, was a central feature of both Greek and Roman religion. The video highlights how this polytheistic worldview conflicted with Jewish monotheism, particularly under Roman rule. This clash of religious beliefs is important in understanding the cultural and religious environment into which Jesus was born, as devout Jews saw Roman and Greek polytheism as a direct challenge to their faith.

Highlights

The Gospels period saw many Jews not living devout religious lives, with some viewing the Messiah's teachings as ancient lore.

Greek culture, known as Hellenism, was introduced to Judea when Alexander the Great conquered Jerusalem in 332 BC.

Hellenism included values for living, covering areas like arts, architecture, morality, and even personal styles such as clothing and food.

The Hellenistic religion comprised Greek gods and goddesses, oracles, and astrology, deeply influencing many cultures, including Judea.

After Alexander’s death, Judah fell to the Seleucid Empire, which tried to impose Hellenism more forcefully.

Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid king, banned Jewish religious rites and desecrated the temple, causing a rebellion.

The Maccabees led a revolt in 166 BC, establishing independent Jewish rule, known as the Hasmonean dynasty.

Despite the initial success of the Hasmonean dynasty, they eventually failed to maintain Jewish independence from outside influences like Hellenism.

In 63 BC, the Roman Empire took control of Judea, bringing with them Greek cultural influences as they had adopted Hellenism.

By the time of Jesus' birth, Judea had become a cultural crossroads, blending Jewish, Greek, and Roman influences.

Many Jews had become accustomed to Greek culture and the relative peace under Roman control.

Devout Jews resented Roman rule, particularly its polytheistic and pagan elements, which opposed Jewish law.

For devout Jews, Roman occupation was seen as another chapter in a long history of oppression.

The period between the writing of Malachi and the birth of Jesus spanned 400 years, during which significant cultural changes affected Judea.

Jesus of Nazareth arrived during a time of cultural and political tension, where many Jews were waiting for a Messiah amidst a mix of cultures.