Second Temple Jewish Scriptures — Jewish Historical Setting

Alexander the Great and the Spread of Greek Culture

332 BC
A Visit With Jesus

Alexander's conquests brought Judea into the Hellenistic world and made Greek a major language throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

Full Account

Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire and brought the lands of the eastern Mediterranean under Macedonian control. After his death, Judea lay between rival Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms.

Greek language, education, administration, and commerce spread widely. Jewish communities responded in different ways, sometimes adopting elements of Greek culture and sometimes resisting pressures that conflicted with covenant faithfulness.

Historical Significance

The spread of Greek prepared the way for the Septuagint and created the linguistic world into which the New Testament would later be written.

People, Places and Sources