Have you ever wondered what happened between the Old Testament and the New Testament? When the Old Testament closes the people have returned to their land after the 70 year captivity and are living under the Persian empire, though they have significant freedoms, including the right to worship God in the rebuilt temple. However, when we begin reading the New Testament, the whole scene is different. Now the Romans are in power and we encounter these new religious groups likes Sadducees and Pharisees. Where did they come from? What happened in between? Though you might assume the Romans just took over from the Persians, the story in ancient Israel is more complicated than that. The people fought and won their independence from their Greek overlords and established a kingdom that lasted over a century–called the Hasmonean dynasty. Often times historians refer to this time as the Maccabean period, named after the revolutionary freedom fighter, Judah the Maccabee. Understanding this interim is crucial for New Testament studies and explains why so many Judeans in Jesus’ day were naming their kids John, Judah (or Judas), and Simon.
This lecture was part of a class called “Exploring Scripture.” To access more of this class, go to Exploring Scripture.
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Overview from Abraham to the Return from Exile
Hellenization: Alexander’s idea to make the world Greece
