Apollophanes is a figure mentioned in the context of the Maccabean period, a time of Jewish history that is not directly covered in the canonical books of the Bible but is detailed in the Apocryphal books, particularly in 1 and 2 Maccabees. These books, while not part of the Protestant canon, provide historical context for the intertestamental period, which is significant for understanding the cultural and political backdrop of the New Testament.

Historical Context

The Maccabean period was marked by the struggle of the Jewish people against Hellenistic influences and the oppressive rule of the Seleucid Empire. This era is characterized by the revolt led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, who sought to restore Jewish religious freedom and rededicate the desecrated Temple in Jerusalem.

Role and Significance

Apollophanes is noted as a military figure associated with the Seleucid forces. His role is primarily understood through the lens of the Jewish resistance against Hellenistic oppression. The Seleucid Empire, under rulers like Antiochus IV Epiphanes, sought to impose Greek culture and religion upon the Jewish people, leading to significant conflict and the eventual Maccabean revolt.

Biblical and Theological Implications

While Apollophanes himself is not mentioned in the canonical texts of the Bible, the events of the Maccabean period have theological implications for understanding the Jewish expectation of a Messiah and the fervent hope for deliverance from foreign oppression. This period of history sets the stage for the New Testament, where themes of liberation, faithfulness to God's covenant, and the anticipation of God's intervention are prominent.

The Maccabean revolt, in which figures like Apollophanes played a part, highlights the enduring struggle between faithfulness to God's law and the pressures of cultural assimilation. This struggle is echoed in the New Testament, where early Christians faced similar challenges in maintaining their distinct identity amidst a dominant Roman culture.

Related Biblical Themes

1. Faithfulness to God's Law: The Maccabean period underscores the importance of adhering to God's commandments despite external pressures. This theme is prevalent throughout the Bible, as seen in passages like Joshua 1:7-8 : "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."

2. Divine Deliverance: The hope for divine intervention and deliverance is a recurring theme in Scripture. The Maccabean victories are seen as a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering His people, reminiscent of the deliverance narratives found in the Old Testament, such as the Exodus.

3. Messianic Expectation: The longing for a Messiah who would deliver Israel from oppression is intensified during the Maccabean period. This expectation is fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus Christ, who offers a different kind of deliverance—spiritual rather than political.

In summary, while Apollophanes himself is a minor figure, the era in which he lived is crucial for understanding the historical and theological context of the New Testament. The Maccabean period serves as a backdrop for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.APOLLOPHANES

ap-o-lof'-a-nez, a-pol-o-fa'-nez (Apollophanes): A Syrian killed by Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 10:37).

Letter xi. Dionysius to Apollophanes, Philosopher.
... LETTERS OF DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE. LETTER XI. Dionysius to Apollophanes,
Philosopher. At length I send a word to thee, O Love ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter xi dionysius to apollophanes.htm

Letter vii.
... SECTION II. But you say, the Sophist Apollophanes rails at me, and calls me parricide,
as using, not piously, the writings of Greeks against the Greeks. ...
/.../dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter vii.htm

Preface to the Letters of Dionysius the Areopagite.
... John was then Called the "Sun of the Gospel." From the letter to Apollophanes, we
know that the prayers of Dionysius for the conversion of his friend did not ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/mystic theology/preface to the letters of.htm

Circumstances Related of Origen.
... 8. For he was continually studying Plato, and he busied himself with the writings
of Numenius [1907] and Cronius, [1908] Apollophanes, [1909] Longinus, [1910 ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xix circumstances related of origen.htm

The Soul Variously Divided by the Philosophers; this Division is ...
... Plato, for instance, into two; Zeno into three; Pan??tius, into five or six; Soranus,
into seven; Chrysippus, into as many as eight; and Apollophanes, into as ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xiv the soul variously divided.htm

The Church History of Eusebius. Index of Subjects.
... Apollonius, a Roman martyr, [302]239. Apollophanes, a Stoic philosopher,
[303]266. Apologists, during reign of Hadrian, [304]175. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/the church history of eusebius.htm

LETTERS OF DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE
... LETTER X. To John, Theologos, Apostle and Evangelist, imprisoned in the Isle of
Patmos. LETTER XI. Dionysius to Apollophanes, Philosopher. PREFACE TO LITURGY. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/

Apollophanes
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia APOLLOPHANES. ap-o-lof'-a-nez, a-pol-o-fa'-nez
(Apollophanes): A Syrian killed by Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 10:37). ...
/a/apollophanes.htm - 6k

Apollonius

/a/apollonius.htm - 8k

Apollos (11 Occurrences)

/a/apollos.htm - 16k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... at some later time). His incarceration was due to his influence over Stratonice,
the wife of Apollophanes. The Corinthians who had ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

Apocryphal
... at some later time). His incarceration was due to his influence over Stratonice,
the wife of Apollophanes. The Corinthians who had ...
/a/apocryphal.htm - 101k

Acts (271 Occurrences)
... at some later time). His incarceration was due to his influence over Stratonice,
the wife of Apollophanes. The Corinthians who had ...
/a/acts.htm - 101k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus