The Rise of Hellenism

In this episode, we explore the rise and influence of Hellenism in the ancient world leading up to the early Church. We learn how Greek culture, art, philosophy, and language spread across the Eastern Mediterranean and became dominant in the Roman Empire.

Episode Overview

• The death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC marked the beginning of the Hellenistic period when Greek culture spread widely.
• The Romans were captivated by Greek art, literature, philosophy, and science, and adopted many aspects into their own society.
• The Eastern half of the Roman Empire spoke mostly Greek, while the Western half spoke Latin, creating a linguistic divide.
• Examples of Hellenistic influence on Rome: Architecture like the Colosseum and Pantheon, art like the Augustus of Primaporta, and literature like Virgil's Aeneid.

Discussion Questions

• What examples of Hellenistic influence do we still see today in art, architecture, literature, philosophy, etc.?
• How can we appreciate truths and beauty in cultures different from our own while remaining rooted in biblical truth?
• What cross-cultural dynamics do missionaries face today that are similar to the early Church context?
• How did God use aspects of Hellenistic culture to advance His purposes and the growth of the Church?

For other questions and comments, feel free to reach out to Jared at [email protected]. For more content, visit the podcast website or wherever you find your podcasts.

To join The Church History Project Facebook group to engage in more discussion about released episodes and other fascinating nuggets of church history, you can visit the page ⁠here⁠.