Hellenistic Judaism -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Hellenistic Judaism
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The topic Hellenistic Judaism is discussed in the following articles:
major reference
• TITLE: Judaism (religion)
SECTION: Hellenistic Judaism (4th century bce–2nd century ce)
Hellenistic Judaism (4th century bce–2nd century ce)
beliefs
eschatology
• TITLE: eschatology (religion)
SECTION: Hellenistic Judaism
During the period of Seleucid rule in Palestine (c. 200–165 bce) and later Roman and Byzantine rule (63 bce–638 ce), the expectation of a personal messiah acquired increasing prominence and became the centre of a number of other eschatological concepts. The Qumrān sects, Jewish monastic groups known in modern times for their preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls,...
mind–body dualism
• TITLE: Judaism (religion)
SECTION: The earthly-spiritual creature
...divorced from the unitary biblical view, but a body-soul dualism (see mind-body dualism) was effectively present in such literature. In the Alexandrian version of Hellenistic Judaism, the orientation toward Greek philosophy, particularly the Platonic view of the soul imprisoned in the flesh, led to a clear-cut dualism with a negative attitude toward the body....
conflict with Antiochus IV Epiphanes
• TITLE: Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Seleucid king)
SECTION: Efforts to hellenize the kingdom
AntiochusÂ’ hellenizing policies brought him into conflict with the prosperous Oriental temple organizations, and particularly with the Jews. Since Antiochus IIIÂ’s reign the Jews had enjoyed extensive autonomy under their high priest. They were divided into two parties, the orthodox Hasideans (Pious Ones) and a reform party that favoured Hellenism. For financial reasons Antiochus supported the...
literature
biblical interpretation
• TITLE: biblical literature
SECTION: The Hellenistic period
The translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek by Alexandrian Jews in the 2nd and 3rd centuries bc provided opportunities for recording interpretations that were probably current in Hellenistic Judaism. Literal translations might be misleading to Greek readers; metaphors natural in Hebrew were rendered into less-figurative Greek. “Walking with God” or “walking before...
influence of Greeks
• TITLE: biblical literature
SECTION: Persian and Hellenistic influences
Though Hellenistic Jewish authors sometimes imitated biblical forms, they learned such forms from their Greek Bible (the Septuagint). Many Greek products written by Jews served as religious propaganda and probably influenced many pagans to become proselytes, or at least to abandon their heathen faith and become “God-fearing.” Thus, the Jewish literature written in Greek could be...
myth and legend
• TITLE: Judaism (religion)
SECTION: Myth and legend in the Hellenistic period
Myth and legend in the Hellenistic period
prophets
• TITLE: prophecy
SECTION: Prophecy and prophetic religion in postbiblical Judaism
Some prophets are known from the period of Hellenistic Judaism. I Maccabees, chapter 14, relates that Simon Maccabeus, who finally secured political independence for Judaea in 142 bc, was chosen as “leader and high priest forever, until a trustworthy prophet should arise.” The same notion of a prophet soon to appear is expressed in chapter 1 of I Maccabees. The Hasmonean...