On The Messiahnism Concept Of The Egyptian Jews In The Ptolemaic Dynasty

Messiah was an important part of Jewish spiritual life, which has different way of expression and meaning in different phases. During the Ptolemaic period, the rulers promoted the policy of Greece vigorously to his people, under its influence, Egyptian Jews began to be Hellenistic gradually. At the same time, loose policy made the Jews enjoy many privileges, and promoted the prosperity of Jewish culture. Under the introduction of apocalyptic literature in Palestinian area, the ideology of Egyptian Jews were further enrich. In the process of these cultures absorbed and fused, the Messiah ideology of Egyptian Jews also has changed. Messiah’s image, responsibilities and other aspects were showing some new characteristics. Although influenced by many cultural factors, the Jewish Messiah ideology ha showed a trend of Greece on the whole. This trend, in turn, has promoted the development of Jews and Judaism. Driven by Greek factors, Jews began to have disputes. The upper classes became more Hellenistic while the lower-middle-class Jewish people conducted the anti-hellenistic movement guided by the intellectual. The anti-hellenistic movement has carried out, which has Greek culture factors itself, so the effect was not obvious. Under the influence of Greek culture, Judaism’s religious doctrines and ceremonies also began to be Hellenistic. Christianity, at its early stage inside the Judaism, began to sprout and develop.