We know Alexander the Great as the young king who astounded the entire civilized world of his time.
With his army, Alexander accomplished military feats which—to this day—stand out as daring, seemingly-impossible, and incredibly successful. He conquered the entire civilized world with the exception of China only in his brief, thirteen-year reign.
After his death, the empire he formed shattered immediately…yet the effects of that empire have permanently marked the course of history.
Alexander the Great Founding Alexandria by Placido Costanzi
His conquests brought the Jews—until then a mainly nomadic, isolated people—into contact with other races. The Jews were a tight bunch who alone worshiped the true God; now they brushed shoulders with Greeks, learned their language, even—to a certain degree—adopted some Greek culture.
Greek became the common language of Alexander’s empire, a characteristic which remained long after his successors divided the lands. This is why the New Testament was written entirely in Greek: the Apostles and evangelists wanted to spread the Faith everywhere, and the common language enabled them to do this.
This is just one surprising fact from the Bible’s past—want to find out the other 100? Often humorous, frequently unexpected, and always enlightening, 101 Surprising Facts About the Bible is the coffee-table book that will enrich your coffee-break. You’ll get to know the Bible better through these fascinating pages! Get your copy today!
