Category Archives: Apocrypha

Jewish Persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Posted on August 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

While I don’t believe that the Apocrypha is inspired, I do believe that it is beneficial. 1 & 2 Maccabees, for instance, give an accurate history of the events between Malachi and Matthew.

The Greeks conquered much of the world under the leadership of Alexander the Great. This included Palestine, which, as you recall, had been ruled by Darius and the Persians.

Before his death, Alexander divided the kingdom into four provinces, each to be ruled by one of his four generals. Antioch was the capital of the Syrian province. The leaders in Antioch were known as Antiochus.

In time, Syria ruled over Palestine. Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” (manifestation of God) was in power (175-163 B.C.). Antiochus Epiphanes was an early manifestation of the anti-Christ. He persecuted and slaughtered the Jews with great zeal out of pure hatred for their religion.

During his reign, anyone found observing Jewish laws was killed. Women were tortured and executed for having their sons circumcised. Anyone found with any portion of the law was also killed.

In the 7th chapter of 2 Maccabees, you can find the following story. Antiochus was offering swine on the sacred alters in Israel to the horror of the Jews. He then forced the Jews to eat the entrails of the sacrificed pigs. To the Jew, eating any pork is an abomination.

A mother and her seven sons were arrested by the king. They were commanded to eat pork, but they refused. Antiochus commanded his men to take the first son, cut out his tongue, scalp him, mutilate him, and roast him alive in a great pan. The entire family witnessed it. Still, they would not relent. One by one they each met the same fate, choosing to die rather than deny their God or His laws.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Knowing this history helps us understand why the Jews wanted a worldly Messiah to free them from the tyranny of the Gentiles.

2. This proves again that even in the most wicked times, God has His faithful witnesses.

3. Considering that Christ promised that persecution would come to His church, how should we prepare ourselves to follow the example of these faithful Jews?

4. Consider what the Jews endured to keep from breaking the smallest of God’s laws. And then consider how easily we give into temptation in even greater matters.

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The Revolt of Mattathias: Was it Justified?

Posted on August 28, 2008 | Leave a comment

A coin showing the face of Antiochus IV

During the intertestamental period, after the death of Alexander the Great and the end of Greek rule over Palestine, Israel fell under Syrian rule (198-167 B.C.). Antiochus IV, who called himself “Epiphanes” (manifestation of God), was the king. He wanted to advance Hellenism throughout the land; at the same time, he wanted to end Jewish worship.Antiochus made it a capital offence to observe the Sabbath, own any portion of the Old Testament, circumcise a male child, or worship in the temple. He also forced the Jews to worship his pagan gods, and he even sacrificed a sow on the altar in the temple.

A priest from a small village began a revolt; his name was Mattathias. After an officer of Antiochus tried to bribe Mattathias to offer a pagan sacrifice, another Jew agreed to do so. In his zeal Mattathias slew them both and fled into the wilderness with his sons. Thus began what is known as the Maccabean revolt. You can read about it in secular history books as well as 1st Maccabees from the Apocrypha.

This week in class we are debating the following question: were Mattathias and his sons justified in revolting? I say yes. Not only were they justified, but they were obligated to revolt. They had a mandate from God to worship in a particular way; another man was telling them that they could not. Who were they to obey?

The writer of 1 Maccabees certainly justifies their actions:

“Thus Mattathias showed his fervent zeal for the law, just as Phinehas had done by killing Zimri son of Salu” (1 Macc. 2:26).

“Thus they saved the law from the Gentiles and their kings, and broke the power of the tyrant” (1 Macc. 2:48).

A friend of mine believes that justifying these violent acts may in fact be one of the reasons that the Maccabees are considered apocryphal and not part of the inspired scriptures. I don’t know. But I do know that our Old Testament justifies similar acts:

After Jehu slew the king of Israel and the King of Judah, then Jezebel, then all of Ahab’s sons and family, then all of the priests of Baal, we read this:

“And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2Kings 10:30).

My friend mentioned above believes that Mattathias and his sons were not justified based upon NT verses such as the following:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Romans 13:1-2 (ESV)

What do you think?

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Posted in Apocrypha, church history

Why Read the Apocrypha?

Posted on August 25, 2008 | Leave a comment
Well, why not? This is a question I’ve had to ask myself lately. Do I not read it because it’s not inspired? Neither is anything else I read other than the 66 books of the Bible. Do I not read it because “reformed people don’t read the Apocrypha?” I’ve read a lot of evidence that the reformers and Puritans, though they rejected it as uninspired, knew the contents of the Apocrypha well.

So, why read it? I have two answers. First, it will help us to converse with our Catholic friends. My New Testament Professor mentioned this to me today. His saying that reminded me of a recent experience. A few weeks ago, we had some Catholic friends over for burgers. As we discussed the Bible, the conversation turned to the Apocryphal books. I found myself in the uncomfortable position of being totally ignorant of what my friend considered to be part of the Bible. So I see that my professor is right; having at least some knowledge of the books would give me more credibility with Catholics when trying to convince them from scripture.

Here’s the second reason. The historical narratives in the Apocrypha will help us to understand what took place during the intertestamental period (the time between Malachi and the birth of Christ). In order to understand the political landscape in Israel during the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry, we ought to know what took place during the previous 3-4 centuries. I plan to read First and Second Maccabees with the same purpose and caution that I read Josephus with: to gain a better general understanding of Jewish life and history while not taking everything as absolute fact.

So I set out to find a copy of the Apocrypha, thinking that I would end up having to order it. We have one little used book store in Eastland that rarely has anything I’m interested in. When I walked in I asked the lady if she had any Bibles. She said, “Yes, but we don’t sell them. Do you need a Bible?” I said, “No ma’am, I just need a copy of the apocrypha for a class I’m taking.” “I have one,” she said, and she handed me an old, cloth covered New English Bible complete with the Apocrypha. “It’s the only one we have, but you can take it.” So I’m off to read something that I have had only negative thoughts about. But I’ll read it with the expectation that I can grow and benefit from my reading it as much as I do from any other uninspired literature – maybe more.

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Posted in Apocrypha, Bible study, church history