Dr. Jodi Magness

We see an increasing amount of sort of what we might call Greek influence around on the local elite. And this comes to a head in 175 BC. So now we're entering, let's say, the second quarter of the second century BC. The high priest in Jerusalem, whose name was Jason, basically paid off the Seleucid king to get permission to turn Jerusalem into a Greek polis, into a Greek city. Wow.

We see an increasing amount of sort of what we might call Greek influence around on the local elite. And this comes to a head in 175 BC. So now we're entering, let's say, the second quarter of the second century BC. The high priest in Jerusalem, whose name was Jason, basically paid off the Seleucid king to get permission to turn Jerusalem into a Greek polis, into a Greek city. Wow.

Right, to rename the city Antioch, to give some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem citizenship in this Greek polis. And as a result, Greek institutions were now introduced into Jerusalem. I would qualify and say that the worship of the God of Israel was still allowed. There was no persecution for observing biblical Jewish law or worshiping the God of Israel.

Right, to rename the city Antioch, to give some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem citizenship in this Greek polis. And as a result, Greek institutions were now introduced into Jerusalem. I would qualify and say that the worship of the God of Israel was still allowed. There was no persecution for observing biblical Jewish law or worshiping the God of Israel.

Right, to rename the city Antioch, to give some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem citizenship in this Greek polis. And as a result, Greek institutions were now introduced into Jerusalem. I would qualify and say that the worship of the God of Israel was still allowed. There was no persecution for observing biblical Jewish law or worshiping the God of Israel.

The temple in Jerusalem continued to function well. as it had previously, as a place for the center of the worship of the God of Israel. But we now have the introduction of these sort of Greek-style institutions into Jerusalem, something we had not seen before. And that includes things like theaters and- Gymnasiums. And yes, very important, a gymnasium and an amphibian.

The temple in Jerusalem continued to function well. as it had previously, as a place for the center of the worship of the God of Israel. But we now have the introduction of these sort of Greek-style institutions into Jerusalem, something we had not seen before. And that includes things like theaters and- Gymnasiums. And yes, very important, a gymnasium and an amphibian.

The temple in Jerusalem continued to function well. as it had previously, as a place for the center of the worship of the God of Israel. But we now have the introduction of these sort of Greek-style institutions into Jerusalem, something we had not seen before. And that includes things like theaters and- Gymnasiums. And yes, very important, a gymnasium and an amphibian.

And what's important about that is that the gymnasia and aphibia or gymnasiums and aphibians, if we put it in English, were basically schools for youth, male youth, by the way, not women, but only only males. But they were they were Greek institutions where the youth and here we're talking particularly about, again, the elites were.

And what's important about that is that the gymnasia and aphibia or gymnasiums and aphibians, if we put it in English, were basically schools for youth, male youth, by the way, not women, but only only males. But they were they were Greek institutions where the youth and here we're talking particularly about, again, the elites were.

And what's important about that is that the gymnasia and aphibia or gymnasiums and aphibians, if we put it in English, were basically schools for youth, male youth, by the way, not women, but only only males. But they were they were Greek institutions where the youth and here we're talking particularly about, again, the elites were.

would receive a good Greek education and they would learn the Greek language and they would learn Greek classics and become acculturated to Greek culture. And this is the first time that we see something like this. Now, the problem is that a lot of these aspects of Greek culture are antithetical to biblical Jewish law and Jewish practice.

would receive a good Greek education and they would learn the Greek language and they would learn Greek classics and become acculturated to Greek culture. And this is the first time that we see something like this. Now, the problem is that a lot of these aspects of Greek culture are antithetical to biblical Jewish law and Jewish practice.

would receive a good Greek education and they would learn the Greek language and they would learn Greek classics and become acculturated to Greek culture. And this is the first time that we see something like this. Now, the problem is that a lot of these aspects of Greek culture are antithetical to biblical Jewish law and Jewish practice.

And so, for example, the word gymnasium comes from the Greek word gymnos, which means nudity or naked, because one of the centerpieces of a good Greek education was that the male youth were also educated in athletics, right? They also participated in athletic competitions, you know, whether it's races or foot races or wrestling matches or discus throwing.

And so, for example, the word gymnasium comes from the Greek word gymnos, which means nudity or naked, because one of the centerpieces of a good Greek education was that the male youth were also educated in athletics, right? They also participated in athletic competitions, you know, whether it's races or foot races or wrestling matches or discus throwing.

And so, for example, the word gymnasium comes from the Greek word gymnos, which means nudity or naked, because one of the centerpieces of a good Greek education was that the male youth were also educated in athletics, right? They also participated in athletic competitions, you know, whether it's races or foot races or wrestling matches or discus throwing.

And those competitions were held in the nude. Those male Greek athletes competed in the nude. And that was also the case, by the way, at the ancient Olympic Games. And, you know, biblical Jewish law considers nudity, human nudity, to be an affront to the eyes of God. And so this is completely antithetical, right, to now.

And those competitions were held in the nude. Those male Greek athletes competed in the nude. And that was also the case, by the way, at the ancient Olympic Games. And, you know, biblical Jewish law considers nudity, human nudity, to be an affront to the eyes of God. And so this is completely antithetical, right, to now.

And those competitions were held in the nude. Those male Greek athletes competed in the nude. And that was also the case, by the way, at the ancient Olympic Games. And, you know, biblical Jewish law considers nudity, human nudity, to be an affront to the eyes of God. And so this is completely antithetical, right, to now.