Hellenism and the Christian Family

Hellenism

Many cultural forces throughout history have influenced Christianity. Hellenism is more than an ethnic group or race of people. It is a way of life, a way of thinking, and a culture. The appearance of Hellenism in Palestine is associated with Alexander the Great. The Hellenistic culture dominated the Greco-Roman world and thus influenced the Judeo-Christian world. In order to capture the historical context, we must explore Christianity's roots.

The Jews spread throughout the known world because of the Diaspora[1]. When the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland, some did not return home for various reasons. The Jews eventually became two culturally different types of people, the Jews of Palestine, and the Jews of the Diaspora. The Jews of Palestine resisted the affects of Hellenism. They held on to their traditional values. The political climate at the time allowed them to remain independent. The Jews of the Diaspora assimilated Hellenism into their culture through acculturation. In an effort to preserve and balance their identity, the Jews of the Diaspora made provisions and blended Hellenism into the Jewish culture.

Family

The family is the basic unit of all societies. According to Ferguson, the Hellenistic family was made up of the husband, the wife, children, sometimes other relatives and slaves. The family was where children learned their values, education, and their general outlook on life. The family was economically dependent upon one another.