Historical Backgroundof the Gospels

Political Background

Sources for
Intertestamental Information

Josephus

Jewish Antiquities

Jewish War

Josephus

Apocrypha

15 short books

Accepted by Roman Catholics as Old Testament Canon

Pseudopigrapha

More than 60 additional works

None of these ever accepted as inspired or canonical

Jews Under Persian Rule (424-331 BC)

Cyrus inaugurated a policy of returning Jews to their homeland in 539 BC.

Rulers continued Cyrus' policy.

Jews did not immediately establish a kingship.

Increased focus on the law.

Rise of the synagogue.

Beginning of the oral law.

Establishment of Aramaic as the main language

Alexander the Great and Hellenism (331- 167 BC)

Alexander born in 356 BC, taught by Aristotle.

Philip II of Macedon defeats Athens in 338 BC and assassinated two years later.

Alexander conquered and controlled from Greece to India, from southern Russia to northern Africa.

Israel came under Greek rule in 331 BC.

Jews continued a voluntary dispersion, many collecting in Alexandria.

Alexander the Great and Hellenism (331- 167 BC)

Greek rule brought improved standards of living and improved administration.

Hellenization spread as a result of imperialism.

Spread of the Greek language.

LXX Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures

Egyptian Rule Under the Ptolemies (323-198 BC)

Alexander left no living heirs.

Diadochi (successors) 323-301 BC

Empire divided into four, then three, and finally two parts

Seleucus Northern Empire under Seleucid control

Ptolemy Southern Empire based in Egypt

From 311 BC, Israel under Ptolemaic control.

Development of tax-farmers in first half of third century.

Egyptian Rule Under the Ptolemies (323-198 BC)

Syrian Rule Under the Seleucids (198-167 BC)

In 198 BC Antiochus II conquered and occupied Israel.

Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) came to power in 175.

High Priests installed as a result of bribery.

Rumor spread through Jerusalem that Antiochus was killed in battle in Egypt, prompting celebration.

Antiochus takes offense and enters temple sanctuary on the way back and removed sacred objects and monies.

After his next expedition in Egypt, Antiochus loots Jerusalem, slaughters many Jews, desecrates temple and gives it over to idolatry, and prohibits elements of Jewish law and tradition.

Jews took actions of Antiochus Epiphanes to be the ruler prophesied in Daniel.

Maccabean Revolt and Hasmoneans (167-63 BC)

Mattathias, an aged priest, ordered to sacrifice on unlawful altar. He refuses and kills soldier overseeing sacrifice and fellow Israelite who was to take his place.

Mattathias and five sons flee to hill country and organize a rebellion.

Rebels practiced guerrila warfare against Syrian armies.

Mattathias died in 166 BC and his son Judas (Maccabeus - The Hammer) continued leading the attacks.

Maccabean Revolt and Hasmoneans (167-63 BC)

In 164 BC, Judas regained control of temple precincts and purified the sanctuary.

Celebrated as Hanukkah.

John 10:22 occurs during feast of Hanukkah.

Antiochus IV dies in 164 and Antiochus V treated the Jews more favorably.

Judas and brothers continue to fight Syrians, eventually removing their presence in 142.

Judas died around 160 BC. Brothers Jonathan and Simon succeeded him.

Maccabean Revolt and Hasmoneans (167-63 BC)

Jonathan was appointed High Priest illegitimately as a stop-gap.

Simon succeeded Jonathan and became political and religious leader and removed the Syrian presence.

Simon begins the succession of Hasmonean priest-kings.

John Hyrcanus (134-104)

Aristobulus (103)

Alexander Jannaeus (103-76)

Maccabean Revolt and Hasmoneans (167-63 BC)

Hasidim begin to protest corruption of Hasmoneans. Pharisees probably came from Hasidim.

Jannaeus determines his wife Alexandra would succeed him (76-67).

Power struggle between her sons Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II results in each of them appealing to Rome for help. Pompey responds by conquering Jerusalem and desecrating the temple.

Roman Period (63 BC end of
New Testament)

Pompey enters Jerusalem and is resisted by Aristobulus II.

Pompey installs Hyrcanus II as high priest.

Political leadership was given to a man named Antipater who ruled from 63-43 BC. Julius Caesar is emperor during this time.

Judaism recognized as a religio licita legal religion

After Antipater, a power struggle continued from 42-40 between Herod and Antigonus.

Roman Period (63 BC end of
New Testament)

By 37 BC, Herod triumphs and rules for 33 years.

Herod labeled the Great.

Massive building projects including the temple.

Toward end of life, he becomes paranoid and kills off several sons and a wife.

Kills infants in Bethlehem in search for Jesus.

Develops some followers referred to as Herodians.

Herod leaves his kingdom to three of his sons.

Archelaus Judea and Samaria

Antipas Galilee and Perea

Philip Outside Israel

Roman Period (63 BC end of
New Testament)

Archelaus treats Jews cruelly and is eventually banished by Rome.

After Archelaus, Rome appoints procurators and prefects in the southern half of Israel (Pilate, Felix, Festus).

Antipas more benign to Jews. He is the Herod referred to in many places in the Gospels.

Roman Period (63 BC end of
New Testament)

Benefits of Roman Rule

Greek is lingua franca.

Pax Romana

Transportation and communication systems developed

Cosmopolitan spirit

Elimination of cultural barriers

Christianity a legal religion

Judicial processes