Hellenists
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The Greek-speaking Jewish Christians are referred to as Hellenists in New Testament exegesis .
Hellenists in Acts
"Hellenist" ( ancient Greek Ἑλληνιστής Hellēnistḗs ) is the name of the Book of Acts for Greek-speaking people, namely Jewish Christians ( Acts 6.1 EU ), Jews ( Acts 9.29 EU ) and non-Jews ( Acts 11.20 EU ).
The first reference in particular was used for the history of early Christianity. Here the reader learns of two groups among the Jerusalem Christians, the Greek and the Hebrew or Aramaic speakers. A conflict had arisen between them over the poor in the community; the Hellenists felt disadvantaged. Rudolf Pesch suspects: "The Hellenists had joined the early Hebrew community and, as socially better off, they probably contributed a lot to the common fund." The conflict was defused by the fact that this part of the community became organizationally independent: its own poor relief, its own feasts and then probably its own Church services. However, according to Pesch, Lukas sticks to the ideal of a harmonious early community by assigning and subordinating the leadership body of the Hellenists (seven men) to the leadership body of the apostles .
From Acts 6,8 EU , Stephen emerges from the committee of seven. He comes into conflict with Hellenistic Jews, the group to which he himself once belonged; these have their own synagogues in the city. "Stephen cannot be overcome in a dispute because he spoke in superior wisdom (cf. 6: 3), the art of interpreting the Scriptures, theological discourse trained in the law, and in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus himself." Stephen dies as the first Christian martyr ; the "Hellenists" are driven out of Jerusalem, while the "Hebrews" remain unmolested. Acts 8,1 EU .
people
Stephen, Philip , Prochorus , Nikanor , Timon , Parmenas and Nikolaus are known by name , who presided over the community as the seven-man committee and went down in history as the " seven deacons ".
In addition, Paul and Barnabas could also be included in this group, even if they originally had Hebrew names. Paul's co-workers Timothy and Luke are definitely one of them, his co-worker Titus is evidently a Gentile Christian and therefore not a Hellenist in the true sense of the word.
A well-known Hellenist is also Apollos , who although cooperated with Paul, was otherwise an independent theologian.
theology
Stephen's criticism of the temple and the Torah came together with the statement that God's presence was not bound to the Holy Land. Acts 7,7–34,44–48 EU . For the Diaspora Jews, however, it was precisely the beliefs that led to their relocation to Jerusalem.
mission
The "Hebrews" held themselves as a messianic, Torah-observing group in Jerusalem and in the Temple Association of Judaism. After their expulsion from Jerusalem, however, the “Hellenists” had good prerequisites for missionary work in the non-Jewish world: the Christian community itself took the place of the temple and the Holy Land; the Kulttora could be abandoned. "The way to the world mission was paved." The centers were Samaria , Antioch , later also Rome , Ephesus and Alexandria as well as many other cities in the Mediterranean area. The reason for their success was the linguistic and cultural adaptation to the environment, the consistent use of modern means of communication such as postal services and trade routes , philosophical schools and synagogues , symposia and rhetoric .
They were the first to be called Christians in Antioch . They became the formative force of the earliest church , while the Palestinian Jewish Christians increasingly lost their influence.
literature
- Wolfgang Kraus: Between Jerusalem and Antioch. The "Hellenists", Paul and the acceptance of the Gentiles into the end-time people of God . Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-460-04791-7 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Rudolf Pesch: The Acts of the Apostles (EKK), study edition, Neukirchen-Vluyn 2012, p. 231.
- ↑ Rudolf Pesch: The Apostle History (EKK), study edition, Neukirchen-Vluyn 2012, p. 237.
- ↑ Rudolf Pesch: The Apostle History (EKK), study edition, Neukirchen-Vluyn 2012, p. 240.
- ↑ Rudolf Pesch: The Apostle History (EKK), study edition, Neukirchen-Vluyn 2012, p. 240.