Hebraic v. Hellenistic Thought

[Guest shiloh357]

In the New Hebrew Word Series, Yod brought up the issue of Hebraic v. Hellenistic (Greek) thought. Our Western culture is based upon Hellenistic thought, and this has permeated how we study Scripture for the most part.

The Scriptures, however, are written by people who lived in a culture based upon Hebraic thought. All of the writers of the New Testament, with the possible exception of Luke, were Jews. Yet even Luke's books were written in accordance with the Hebraic mindset. Even thought the New Testament was written in Greek, it was not written BY Greeks. It was written by Jews and Hebraic thinkers trying communicate Hebraic thought into a foreign language and culture.

There are some sharp differences between Hebraic and Hellenistic thought and I thought I would post some of them here.

Hebraic

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Another Jews are better then Gentiles (Hellinistic) Post.

[Guest yod]

Why does everything have to be about race?

Most Jews during Yeshua's time (and probably today) were/are Hellenistic. This has nothing to do with race or racial equality. Sheesh!

This is describing a well-known philosophical perspective. We didn't make up the terms. We're only trying to help you understand the Bible a little better than you do.

Alexander the Great spread Hellenistic philosophy throughout the known world of his day. This was a great time in world history as people became cultured, educated, civilized.

But it put man at the center of the universe. All things are measured by how it relates to "me" instead of the hebraic perspective where God is the center of the universe as defined in Torah.

This was exactly why there was such a thing as "Pharisee". They were trying to counter the effects of Greek culture on Israel.

Yeshua was no where close to being Hellenistic...and neither were His disciples or the authors of the New Testament. Understanding this concept will help you determine what the writers of the New Testament thought. Paul was very familiar with Hellenism.

That is why he wrote this verse;

1 Corinthians 1:22

Jews require a sign and Greeks look for wisdom,

Can you see this now?

Jews want to "do it" but Greeks want to "know it".

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Why does everything have to be about race?

Most Jews during Yeshua's time (and probably today) were/are Hellenistic. This has nothing to do with race or racial equality. Sheesh!

This is describing a well-known philosophical perspective. We didn't make up the terms. We're only trying to help you understand the Bible a little better than you do.

Alexander the Great spread Hellenistic philosophy throughout the known world of his day. This was a great time in world history as people became cultured, educated, civilized.

But it put man at the center of the universe. All things are measured by how it relates to "me" instead of the hebraic perspective where God is the center of the universe as defined in Torah.

This was exactly why there was such a thing as "Pharisee". They were trying to counter the effects of Greek culture on Israel.

Yeshua was no where close to being Hellenistic...and neither were His disciples or the authors of the New Testament. Understanding this concept will help you determine what the writers of the New Testament thought. Paul was very familiar with Hellenism.

That is why he wrote this verse;

1 Corinthians 1:22

Jews require a sign and Greeks look for wisdom,

Can you see this now?

Jews want to "do it" but Greeks want to "know it".

Like I said another Jews are better then Gentiles post.

Jesus and Pharisees did not think a like read your bible.

[nebula]

Another Jews are better then Gentiles (Hellinistic) Post.

No, it's about understanding the Bible better.

If you takea book that was written from an Hebraic mindset and read and interpret it with an Hellinistic mindset, you are going to misunderstand what it is truly saying, for you are interpreting it in a way it was not meant to.

Make sense?

:upsided:

[Guest yod]

Jesus and Pharisees did not think a like read your bible.

that's your opinion because you don't understand the truth. I forgive you. :il:

There were thousands and thousands of Pharisees in the original church. The highest ranking Pharisee in Israel was Nicodemus and he was also a leader in the early church.

Yeshua was closer to the Pharisees than any other sect during those days...this is why He could call them hypocrites. He was walking the walk and expected them to also.

The word "Pharisee" comes from the hebrew "P'rushim" which means "the called out ones"

It, like so many religious denominational movements, began as a good thing but became a religious facade after a hundred years. The Hellenistic mindset defines all P'rushim as hypocrites...but the Bible does not.

you may go back to ignoring everything I try to teach you now.... :sleep:

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Another Jews are better then Gentiles (Hellinistic) Post.

No, it's about understanding the Bible better.

If you takea book that was written from an Hebraic mindset and read and interpret it with an Hellinistic mindset, you are going to misunderstand what it is truly saying, for you are interpreting it in a way it was not meant to.

Make sense?

:upsided:

Its not about becoming Hebraic but becoming like Christ. Its about having the mind of Christ not haveing the mind of Jews. Not all Jews have the mind of Chist. Infact most Jews resent Christ and his teachings. There are a lot Godly Jewish examples such as the apostles and Paul but then again there are a lot godly gentile examples too.

So to say that Jews think better then Gentiles is a racist remark.

Correct if I am wrong but it was the Pharisees that did evey thing for show. They are the ones that honored God with their lips but their heart was far from him. They were the white washed tombs. They are the ones that had the mind set that looks are more important then charcter.

God bless,

[Guest shiloh357]

Jesus and Pharisees did not think a like read your bible.

You are completely wrong. As Yod said there were thousands of Pharissees. Actually there were nine orders of Pharisees, that comprised tens of thousands of the Pharisee sect. Each group fought like cats and dogs with the other eight.

Jesus had his supporters and detractors among the Pharisees. Jesus was a Rabbi, and most likely belonged to the school of Hillel. That was ONE of the nine orders. All Rabbis were members of one those orders.

His debates were often no different than the typical Rabbinic debates that even today still take place over halachah and various forms of religous observances.

As far as "Jews being better than Gentiles" is concerned. I fail to see where you get that from the OP. You are extremely confused, and do not know what you are talking about.

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Jesus and Pharisees did not think a like read your bible.

You are completely wrong. As Yod said there were thousands of Pharissees. Actually there were nine orders of Pharisees, that comprised tens of thousands of the Pharisee sect. Each group fought like cats and dogs with the other eight.

Jesus had his supporters and detractors among the Pharisees. Jesus was a Rabbi, and most likely belonged to the school of Hillel. That was ONE of the nine orders. All Rabbis were members of one those orders.

His debates were often no different than the typical Rabbinic debates that even today still take place over halachah and various forms of religous observances.

As far as "Jews being better than Gentiles" is concerned. I fail to see where you get that from the OP. You are extremely confused, and do not know what you are talking about.

Jesus also warned us of the Leaven of the Pharisees too didn't he?

[Guest shiloh357]

Jesus and Pharisees did not think a like read your bible.

You are completely wrong. As Yod said there were thousands of Pharissees. Actually there were nine orders of Pharisees, that comprised tens of thousands of the Pharisee sect. Each group fought like cats and dogs with the other eight.

Jesus had his supporters and detractors among the Pharisees. Jesus was a Rabbi, and most likely belonged to the school of Hillel. That was ONE of the nine orders. All Rabbis were members of one those orders.

His debates were often no different than the typical Rabbinic debates that even today still take place over halachah and various forms of religous observances.

As far as "Jews being better than Gentiles" is concerned. I fail to see where you get that from the OP. You are extremely confused, and do not know what you are talking about.

Jesus also warned us of the Leaven of the Pharisees too didn't he?

Some of them, Yes. You are trying to treat the Pharisees as a monolithic group and they weren't. Not all Pharisees were hypocrites, not all of them were wicked. You cannot lump them into one group. They were extremely diverse.