Greece in the Bible is a highly significant location. In the Old Testament, numerous states (rather than a single nation) impacted biblical history.

How the history of Greece in the Bible starts?

The history of Greece in the Bible is essential and had a significant historical impact. A young Macedonian named Alexander propelled Greece to prominence on the international stage in the fourth century B.E.V. Alexander the Great, known in biblical times, elevated Greece to the fifth position among great powers. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Media-Persia were the earlier empires.

The empire disintegrated and started to fall apart after Alexander’s death. However, the impact of Greece persisted even after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Due to things like culture, language, religion, and philosophy.

Greece in the Bible – a history worthy of trust

The Bible does not mention that God’s prophets were used when Greece was in power. And no inspired works were produced. Greece does, however, make an appearance in biblical prophecy. Furthermore, references to Greek influence are frequent in the Christian Greek Scriptures, sometimes known as the New Testament.

The so-called Decapolis, a collection of ten Hellenistic cities, existed in Israel and the surrounding areas. This group of cities is mentioned multiple times in the Bible and in historical evidence, as well as the outstanding theater, amphitheater, temple, and bath remnants, which testify to its presence.

Additionally, Grece in the Bible has several pieces of information about tradition and religion. Particularly in Luke, the physician’s book of Acts. Let’s look at several instances. 

Find more about Greece in the Bible.

While the apostle Paul stayed in Athens in 50 E.V., he said that the city was “full of idols.” (Acts 17:16). Historical records confirm that Athens and its surroundings were teeming with idols and temples.

Acts 17:21 says that “all the Athenians and foreigners who temporarily resided there spent their leisure time in nothing but saying or hearing something new.” The writings of Thucydides and Demosthenes attest to the Athenians’ passion for conversation and debate.

The Bible says that “Epicurean and Stoic philosophers struck up conversations with [Paul] in a polemical tone” and even took him to the Areopagus to ask for further explanations. 

Paul referred to an Athenian altar with the inscription “To an unknown God.” (Acts 17:23). Epimenides, a Cretan poet, had probably erected some altars dedicated to unknown gods.

In his address to the Athenians, Paul uttered the words “for we are also his offspring,” attributing this quotation not to a single poet but, as he put it, to “certain poets among you.” (Acts 17:28). These were Aratus and Cleanthes.

One scholar has rightly said, “The account of Paul’s visit to Athens seems to have all the flavor of an eyewitness account.” The same is true of the biblical account of Paul’s experiences in Ephesus, Asia Minor. In the first century E.V., this city was still steeped in Greek paganism; in particular, the worship of the goddess Artemis stood out.

The significance of the Artemis Temple

For instance, it is said that a silversmith named Demetrius. Who did well with the Artemis temple commerce were enraged by Paul’s preaching work in Ephesus. Paul has convinced a sizable crowd and changed their minds, leading them to believe that those created by human hands are not gods, stated Demetrius indignantly (Acts 19:23-28).

Demetrius then incited a tumultuous crowd to yell, “Great is the Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Ephesus’s remains and the Artemis temple’s location are accessible today. Ancient writings discovered in that city also attest that idols were created in her honor. And that a guild of silversmiths was active there.

Are the prophecies worthy of trust?

Approximately 200 years before Alexander the Great, Jehovah God’s prophet Daniel recorded the following regarding the dominion of the world: “Behold, a goat came from the west over the surface of the entire earth, and it did not touch the earth. The goat, meanwhile, had a prominent horn between its eyes. He kept moving closer to the ram with the two horns, and in his ferocious rage, he ran straight for it.

He then killed the bull by breaking its horns, rendering it powerless to resist him. On the other hand, the goat gave himself big airs to the utmost. Still, as soon as he became powerful, the great horn was cut off, and in its place, four considerably sprouted up toward the four winds of the skies. As a result, he tossed it to the ground and stepped on it –  Daniel 8:5-8.

To whom did these words refer? Daniel responds, “The two-horned ram you saw represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia. The hairy goat also stands for the Greek ruler, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king” – Daniel 8:20–22.

Consider this: when Babylon was the world power, the Bible predicted that the following world powers would be Media-Persia and Greece. Furthermore, as previously stated, the Bible specifically said that once “he became powerful,” that is, Alexander, “the great horn” would be “broken,” and four horns would arise in its place. It also stated that none of them would be descended from Alexander – Daniel 11:4.

The importance of the Bible in Greek philosophy

Given that the Holy Scriptures are a revelation from God and philosophy is a human endeavor, the Bible and philosophy appear to be at odds with one another. Greece in the Bible has a significant historical significance for philosophers as well.

The mandate “You shall have no God except Me” illustrates how challenging it was for a man at the time to conceive of monotheism. The biblical God is one and only, even though He exists in three people (Trinity). In actuality, the man had always displayed a polytheistic mindset before the revelation of the biblical message, and the Greeks were not exempt from this attitude.

Simply put, they had never brought up the issue of God’s exclusivity. It will no longer be able to characterize God as the cosmos (Plato) or as the stars (Aristotle). The passage from Deuteronomy is essential in this light. Biblical monotheism instead imposes an absolute transcendence on the very conception of God (One and Triune).