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The Ancient World Behind the Text: Ideas

The customs, offices and ideas a first reader knew without being told, what each meant then, and the nearest thing you already know.

Gentile territory

Across the lake and to the north lay Greek-run cities with pagan temples and pig herds. Jesus crossed into them more than once.

Greek and Roman worldLand, sea and travel

First, in plain English

Just over the border the signs changed language and the butcher sold pork. Galilee was Jewish, but its neighbors were not. The Ten Towns across the lake, Tyre and Sidon on the coast, and Caesarea Philippi up north were Greek and Roman cities with other gods. A Jew who went there knew he was in someone else's country.

What it meant then

The Decapolis was a group of Hellenistic cities near Galilee whose people were mostly Gentile, which explains the pigs in 5:11, since Jews would not have kept them. That side of the lake had never really been Jewish territory (Wright). Since Alexander, Greeks had been a ruling class, and Tyre and Sidon now considered themselves Greek. Some scholars suggest those cities lived off the countryside and imports from Judea. Caesarea Philippi was a Gentile city about 25 miles north of the lake. Its older name, Paneas, honored the god Pan, and Herod the Great built a temple there for worshiping Caesar. The ESV Study Bible traces its worship there from Baal to Pan and then to Caesar. Heiser places it in the Old Testament region of Bashan, at the foot of Mount Hermon. He says it was famous for Pan and for a temple to Zeus, who in Jesus' day was considered incarnate in Augustus. The Hebrew word for non-Jews carries overtones of both ancestry and idol worship, and there were taboos against contact (Wright). Some Jews shook the dust from their feet when leaving pagan territory. Josephus describes Panium, where Herod built a white marble temple near the springs of the Jordan, under a high mountain. Above it, Josephus writes, "a dark cave opens itself; within which there is a horrible precipice, that descends abruptly to a vast depth." The gates of Hades was a familiar phrase in the Old Testament, Greek literature and Jewish tradition. It meant the realm and power of death (Job 38:17).

The bridge to today

An analogy: driving across a border into a country with a different religion, a different language on the signs and different food. Nothing happens at the line, but everything around you says you are a foreigner now.

What it changes in the reading

Crossing into Gentile territory puts Jesus among pigs, pagan temples and people outside Israel's law, as in Mark 5:11. Galilee itself was ringed by Greek cities, which is why Matthew 4:15 can call it Galilee of the Gentiles. Shaking off the dust on leaving a town treated it as pagan ground.

Where the analogy breaks

Not a trip abroad across a guarded national border. These Gentile cities sat right beside Galilee, ringed it, and had Jews living in them. What marked the line was worship and purity. Some Jews shook the dust of pagan ground off their feet when they left, which no modern border asks of a traveler.

Where scholars disagree

First, the dogs saying in 7:27. Bailey argues that Jesus voices his disciples' prejudice against women and Gentiles in order to expose it. He also sets the woman a hard test, which she passes with honor. The ESV Study Bible reads it as a test of her faith, with the word first holding out hope for Gentiles. Keener puts the weight on the priority of Israel, which she has to acknowledge. He also notes the suggestion that her class had been taking bread the countryside needed. Second, the gates of Hades in Matthew 16:18. Keener and the cultural backgrounds notes read the realm and power of death: not even martyrdom will stop the church. Heiser places the saying at the foot of Hermon, where 1 Enoch says the Watchers came down. He argues the church is on the attack, since "Gates are defensive structures, not offensive weapons." Wright suggests that some Jewish traditions placed the gates of the underworld at the Jerusalem temple, which Jesus' new building replaces.

Passages where it appears

{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-4-12-25\/","n":"Matthew 4:12-25, Capernaum, fishermen and crowds","s":"Jesus moves to Capernaum, Galilee of the Gentiles, announces the kingdom of heaven, calls four fishermen, and draws crowds from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem and beyond the Jordan.","r":"Matthew 4:12-25"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-8-18-34\/","n":"Matthew 8:18-34, Let the dead bury their dead, the storm and Gadara","s":"Jesus answers two would-be followers, calms a storm on the lake, and frees two men possessed by demons in the region of the Gadarenes.","r":"Matthew 8:18-34"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-9-35-10-15\/","n":"Matthew 9:35-10:15, The Twelve sent with nothing","s":"Seeing the crowds as sheep without a shepherd, Jesus sends twelve apostles to the lost sheep of Israel, with no money, bag or staff, to stay with whoever will have them.","r":"Matthew 9:35-10:15"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-15-21-28\/","n":"Matthew 15:21-28, A Canaanite mother and the dogs","s":"In the region of Tyre and Sidon a Canaanite woman begs the Son of David to free her daughter. Jesus is silent, then speaks of bread and dogs, and her answer wins him over.","r":"Matthew 15:21-28"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-16-13-28\/","n":"Matthew 16:13-28, The rock, the keys and the cross","s":"At Caesarea Philippi Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and is called the rock and given the keys. When Jesus speaks of his death, Peter rebukes him and is called Satan.","r":"Matthew 16:13-28"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/matthew-28-16-20\/","n":"Matthew 28:16-20, Make disciples of all nations","s":"On a mountain in Galilee the risen Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth and sends the eleven to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them.","r":"Matthew 28:16-20"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-5-1-20\/","n":"Mark 5:1-20, Legion among the tombs","s":"Across the lake, in Gentile country, Jesus frees a man possessed by many spirits. They enter a herd of pigs that rushes into the sea.","r":"Mark 5:1-20"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-7-24-37\/","n":"Mark 7:24-37, A Greek woman and a deaf man","s":"In the region of Tyre a Gentile mother asks Jesus to free her daughter, and answers his saying about dogs. In the Decapolis he heals a deaf man.","r":"Mark 7:24-37"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/mark-8-27-9-1\/","n":"Mark 8:27-9:1, Peter's answer at Caesarea Philippi","s":"Asked who he is, Peter says the Messiah. Jesus says the Son of Man must suffer, rebukes Peter, and calls followers to take up the cross.","r":"Mark 8:27-9:1"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-4-16-30\/","n":"Luke 4:16-30, The year of the Lord's favor in Nazareth","s":"In the Nazareth synagogue Jesus reads Isaiah's promise of good news for the poor and release for captives and says it is fulfilled today. When he points to Elijah and Elisha helping foreigners, the town tries to throw him off a cliff.","r":"Luke 4:16-30"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/luke-15-11-32\/","n":"Luke 15:11-32, A father and two lost sons","s":"A younger son takes his share of the estate early, wastes it in a far country, and comes home to a father who runs to meet him. The older brother refuses to join the feast.","r":"Luke 15:11-32"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/acts-10-24-11-18\/","n":"Acts 10:24-11:18, Peter in Cornelius's house","s":"Peter enters a Gentile home, preaches Jesus, and sees the Spirit fall on the uncircumcised listeners. In Jerusalem he is criticized for eating with Gentiles, and his account silences the critics.","r":"Acts 10:24-11:18"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-passages\/acts-13-13-52\/","n":"Acts 13:13-52, The synagogue at Pisidian Antioch","s":"Invited to speak after the synagogue readings in a Roman colony, Paul tells Israel's story from the exodus to Jesus. Gentiles welcome the message, and the city's leading men and women drive the apostles out.","r":"Acts 13:13-52"}

Beings in the Gods of the Bible

{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/gods-of-the-bible\/zeus\/","n":"Zeus","s":"The chief Greek god, whom a crowd mistakes Barnabas for.","r":"Acts 14:12-13"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/gods-of-the-bible\/legion\/","n":"Legion","s":"The demon who gives his name as a number, in the story that ends with the pigs.","r":"Mark 5:1-20"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/gods-of-the-bible\/death-and-hades\/","n":"Death and Hades","s":"Death and the grave, treated in Revelation as figures who ride and get thrown into fire.","r":"1 Corinthians 15:26"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/gods-of-the-bible\/the-watchers-enochic\/","n":"The Watchers (Enochic)","s":"Angels who, in 1 Enoch, come down to earth, marry women, and teach humanity things it should not know.","r":"Daniel 4:13"}

In the Divine Council Index

{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/divine-council-index\/mark-5-1-20\/","n":"Mark 5:1-20","s":"Legion, in Gentile territory east of the lake, begging not to be sent to the abyss.","r":"Mark 5:1-20"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/divine-council-index\/matthew-16-13-20\/","n":"Matthew 16:13-20","s":"Caesarea Philippi, the gates of Hades, and the confession.","r":"Matthew 16:13-20"}
{"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/divine-council-index\/matthew-17-1-8\/","n":"Matthew 17:1-8","s":"The transfiguration, six days later, on a high mountain.","r":"Matthew 17:1-8"}

Sources

NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on Mark 3:8, 5:1, 5:17, 6:11, 7:26, 7:27, 7:31 and 8:27, and note on Matthew 16:18
N. T. Wright, Mark for Everyone, comment on Mark 5:1-20, and Glossary, entry Gentiles
ESV Study Bible, study notes on Mark 7:27 and 8:27-29a
Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm, ch. 32, Preeminent Domain
Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, ch. 16, The Syro-Phoenician Woman
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on Matthew 16:13 and 16:18
Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 1.21.3, trans. William Whiston
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part Two, comment on Matthew 16:13-20

All ideas