By Steve Willis From the Scriptures and from history we learn of many Jewish sects that would have been present in New Testament times. The Pharisees and Sadducees are covered elsewhere in this issue. A few others are: the Hellenes (see Acts 6), the Diaspora (Acts 18:1-2), the various “messianic” movements (Acts 5:36; 21:38ff; Matt. …
Author Archives: Mark Mayberry
The Sadducees
By Jerry Fite In 168 B.C., conflict over the Grecian influence in the lives of the Jewish people came to a head. In December of that year Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), the Grecian ruler in Syria, plundered the Temple in Jerusalem; sacrilegiously offered swine upon the altar that he had built over God’s altar; and commanded …
The Temple
By Daniel H. King, Sr. Throughout the history of Israel, the temple represented the place where Heaven and earth came together for the purpose of sacred worship. Like the ark before it, the temple was intended to be a symbol of God’s presence in the midst of his people (Exod. 25:21-22). Its location was, therefore, …
The Historical-Political Background of the New Testament
By Russell H. Dunaway Jr. Beginning in 606 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon launched the first of three successive attacks upon the city of Jerusalem and the people of Judah. During the second attack (597 B.C.) Ezekiel, Daniel, and about 10,000 other inhabitants of Jerusalem were carried into captivity. During the third attack (587-586 B.C.) Jerusalem …
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