In the biblical Table of Nations, Javan is Japheth's fourth son (Gen 10:2, 4). Javan is the Hebrew name for Greece, derived from Iaonie, the land of the Greeks. Ezekiel's prophecy concerning Tyre, dating from 594 B.C., mentions Javan/Greece among the nations trading with Tyre (Ezek 27:13, 19). Joel's prophecy accusing Tyre, Sidon and the Philistines of selling captives from Judah into slavery to the Greeks (Joel 3:6) probably belongs to the time of Ezekiel's prophecy. Isaiah's prediction that Greece would be among the lands from which the exiles would return (Is 66:19) is of uncertain date but must precede the Hellenistic period. The term of Greek rule over Palestine is apparently reflected in Zechariah's prophecy "and raised up your sons, O Zion against your sons, O Greece" (Zech 9:13) which is attributed to the years before the Hasmonean uprising. Daniel's prophecy on the first prince of Greece refers to the time of that uprising (Dan 10:20).
The Greek era in Palestine began in 333 B.C. when Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persia, opening up the way for the conquest of Syria and Egypt. After his death, his kingdom was divided among his generals and Palestine was controlled either by the Egyptian-based Ptolemids or the Syria-based Seleucids. Greek culture (Hellenism) now became predominant throughout the entire region and the Jewish struggle was largely directed against those of its features incompatible with Judaism. The climax came with the decrees of Antiochus IV (175-162 B.C.) against the observances of Judaism and his desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Hasmonean rising, led by Judah the Maccabee, led to the reconquest of Jerusalem and the expulsion of the Syrian forces but Hellenistic influences were still to be found not only among the Gentile population but also among certain Jewish elements. In the NT, the term "Greeks" occurs most frequently in relation to the journeys of Paul: in each city he spoke to the Jews and the Greeks (meaning the non-Jewish population). To Paul, the characteristic of the Greeks was their pursuit of wisdom (I Cor 1:18-2:16). In the course of time, Paul came to the conclusion that there was no distinction between Jew and Greek when it came to salvation through belief in Christ (Rom 10:12).
The NT was written in Greek, although parts were based on Aramaic originals which have not been preserved. Greek was the language of the Christian Church until the mid-2nd century.
Concordance
Dan 8:21; 10:20; 11:2. Joel 3:6. Zech 9:13. Mark 7:26. Luke 23:38. John 7:35; 12:20; 19:20. Acts 14:1; 16:1, 3; 17:4, 12; 18:4,17; 19:10, 17; 20:2, 21; 21:28, 37. Rom 1:14, 16; 2:9-10; 3:9; 10:12. I Cor 1:22-24; 10:32; 12:13. Gal 2:3; 3:28. Col 3:11. Rev 9:11
