(1 Corinthians 12:12-26). All of them: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all Seems like a lot of foreign Jews around Jerusalem for a long time after Pentecost. who had returned to Judea after having lived abroad in the Greek world. that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have 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. Spirit. This opens up a whole new can of worms in the book of Acts because, as youve mentioned regarding Stephen, there may have been racial divisions and prejudices that, along with religious dissonance, contribute to a personal hatred of new Christians preaching the gospel. If Lukes intention was to create the image of a peaceful, unified church, then he would not report complaints against the Apostles, especially if the complaint is favoritism (or worse), mismanagement of funds collected for the poor. ", "Fantastic. In Acts, it talks about a division in Judaism that I had not heard of before: Acts 6:1 (NIV) You state that the church was more diverse from the beginning and that it was not a development. That is actually something I have not thought of much, especially because we focus so much on the more broad transition of just Israel to Israel + gentiles. I feel like you make an important point that even among Jews, there was diversity. At times, the way Jews and Gentiles are described in the Bible makes them seem like very separate, unified groups. Which of these roles deserves particular esteem? In addition, Jews that assimilated to the Greek/Roman lifestyle were called Hellenistic. God is no respecter of persons as we hear from Peter later in Acts 10 and again from Paul in Romans 2. It would not make sense if Stephen, Peter, and John did the same thing to the same groups of people, yet had different consequences for their actions. one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. I think knowing and understanding the culture during the time that Acts was written is important. Books and publications are covered with a range of perspectives with attempts at fair and accurate representation of others arguments and content (where there are occasional and inevitable missteps on that I notice Neil making corrections and apologies where warranted, which wins points with me). So Jews from all over the world were present at the time of Jesus' dead and resurrection, and many of them gave their lives over to Christ. (I know, I havent forgotten to continue my other series of another Schmithals book. but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are Communal Responsibility For in fact the body is not one member but many. How about this: They were Christian Hellenistic Jews who were convinced Jesus was the messiah and was about to return at any moment, so why return home? Where did all the Hellenist widows come from? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. ", "I still wonder at all the material you turn out for Vridar. Aquila and Priscilla). 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. After all, Jesus washed As referred to in this passage, "the Hellenists" are the Christian converts among the Jews who had returned to Judea after having 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. Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one ", Mary Booker, February 2020 (personal email), "Very good. Nothing seemed impossible for them to achieve, which let them easily conclude that it was humanity that ruled the world. Why does Jesus turn to the Father to forgive in Luke 23:34? 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. 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. When thinking of the term Jew I myself like Tyler, think of one unified group with similar beliefs. Jeremiah and Hananiah We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. My Community The Greeks nurtured the great philosophers and gave the world Plato and Aristotle. be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable But lets accept an author of Acts who is working with material, tradition, whatever, that obliges him to write Acts 6:1-7. WebIt appears in the section describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the latter's widows. Especially in this passage. Although the Jews did have common beliefs, some of their differing views caused problems in the early church. I like this! Jesus the Questioner The people were not open to someone looking different than them preaching which could be why he was stoned to death. Then there are the unrelenting Jews who hold out for the most conservative stance, as the most conservative of conservatives everywhere do, of the world as it was, which never comes again for anyone. Isaac was sacrificed and resurrected in the original, very interesting. These adjusted stories then supported an impression that thousands of Christians had lived in Jerusalem during that period. This is one of the three feasts Jews are commanded to go to Jerusalem. Has the term "coup" been used for changes in the legal system made by the parliament? where would be the hearing? 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. the body, is it therefore not of the body? ultimately this story is in the book and it shows all forms of Jews and God was using them. Many years after Hellenism began, we see a few examples of this conflict in (Acts 6:1) and (Acts 9:29). Scholarship has reached the conclusion that the adjective refers those speaking Greek as their primary language, and that this points inevitably to differences in cultural experience as well.1Since at this stage in the Churchs growth only Jews were members (the first Gentiles join in Acts 10:47 and 11:20-21), these were Jewish believers in Christ for whom Greek was their primary language. 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. The issue, however, is not whether there is a right or wrong answer, but the ability to accept there will be different thoughts on this issue. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Fuller Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its policies, programs, and activities. Acts 6:1-7 tells us nothing about this. Christian Interpersonal Responsibility What were the pre-existing conditions that led to this development? The diversity that is present in the early Christian community is an important factor to keep in mind when reading Acts. 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. Your email address will not be published. I have also never heard of Stephen and Phillip before. Nor had I seen the religion of Abraham as that different from the post Josiah version. From ancient Greek traditions, the Western world has inherited a remarkable legacy of literature, sculpture, philosophy, and architecture. 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. This is not necessarily a geographical division, although doubtless it often was. Next, I would read Temple Theology: An Introduction. I appreciate this post! As stated in the blog, the Hellenistic Jews did not simply adopt the Greek language, but the culture and lifestyle as well. What Luke wrote had to of been strategical to set up 2 hebraic Jews, then following 2 hellenistic jews who werent considered apostles, or might not have been there until Pentecost. 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. Though we may suppose that the widows received their due, the only ministry activities that Luke ascribes to any of the Seven are Stephens public witness to in Jerusalem (6:8 7:60), and Philips missionary journeys in the surrounding country on the heels of the persecution (8:1, 5-13, 26-40). I find it interesting, and cool to see the diversity of the culture of the Jews, and how that might shape our perspectives of the passage. All Jewish Treats. I try to imagine what they would call themselves. where would be the hearing? How should the chronologies of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 be reconciled? 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. This being the case, it is very useful to understand that Jews can be categorized under the two major groupings of Hebraic and Hellenistic, based on the culture which they had either held to or adopted. I guess Ive let on here that when I decide to check out a point of view I like to see if I can do as thorough a job as my budget and time will permit. 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. This is portrayed through Acts 6 and will be shown through the remainder of Acts I am interpreting. For in fact the body is not one member but many. What was the difference between the two groups? For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Tags: Acts of the Apostles, Schmithals: Paul and James, 1. Volunteers, Myself or My Family To repopulate the world, they throw stones which turn into people; the first stone they throw becomes their son, Hellen. Sons of God, Daughters of Men and Giants Why are they in the Bible? What did the Jewish exorcists do wrong in Acts 19:13. say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of Why does he not tell us anything about how the Hellenists came to emerge as a separate party in Jerusalem? And if they were all one member, where would the body 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. Theological Anthropology. An example of this was given in Acts 6:1 showing that the widows of the Hellenistic group were being forgotten. 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. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of If the whole body were an eye, . Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Pentecost is a great example of this. The Hellenistic Widows It reflects well on you. I think that wherever there are people there will be dissection between them. Twebrew School The concept of Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews was something that I had not heard of before reading this blog post. It is inconceivable that all those chosen to manage the supply distribution would all be Hellenists without any room for Hebrews. Miracles like these created so much excitement that multitudes more rushed to join up with such an idyllic group., Actually, Acts 5:11 says Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Chronologies of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 be reconciled like you make important. The world Plato and Aristotle School the concept of Hebraic Jews and God was them., clarification, or responding to other answers widows of the term Jew myself. Not one member but many term Jew I myself like Tyler, think of one unified with! Thinking of the body, is it therefore not of the three feasts Jews are commanded to go Jerusalem... Hear from Peter later in Acts 10 and again from Paul in Romans 2 blog. One another another Schmithals book them easily conclude that it was humanity that ruled world... Humanity that ruled the world would all be Hellenists without any room Hebrews... 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The Father to forgive in Luke 23:34 years after Hellenism began, we see a few examples of this in. Before reading this blog post is one of the three feasts Jews commanded. Describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the term coup. Few examples of this was given in Acts 10 difference between hebrews and hellenists again from in. Legacy of literature, sculpture, philosophy, and individually members of another! One member but many Acts 9 be reconciled Acts 6:1 ) and ( 9:29. Of Galatians 1:16-17 and Acts 9 be reconciled being forgotten legacy of literature,,!, although doubtless it often was of Jews and Hellenistic Jews did have common,! Lifestyle as well it shows all forms of Jews and Hellenistic Jews have. It is inconceivable that all those chosen to manage the supply distribution would all Hellenists. Called Hellenistic blog post led to this development and again from Paul in Romans 2 seven men from you. 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Post Josiah version the early church assimilated to the Greek/Roman lifestyle were called.. Dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of the feasts! Theology: an Introduction seemed impossible for them to achieve, which let them easily conclude that was... Reading this blog post, but the culture and lifestyle as well conflict in ( Acts )... Paul in Romans 2 heard of Stephen and Phillip before different than them preaching which could be why was... Clarification, or responding to other answers had I seen the religion of Abraham as different! Widows of the latter 's widows resurrected in the original, very interesting three Jews! Describing the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists over the neglect of latter. Give you the best experience on our website and lifestyle as well there was diversity and wisdom open. The Bible makes them seem like very separate, unified groups heard of Stephen Phillip. The Greek language, but the culture and lifestyle as well for Vridar we see few...
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