The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

50 who are referred to are faithful to Moses. This being the case, it would seem that the nature of the problem in 6: 1-7 was really only an overlooking of certain widows in a church which was otherwise unified in its worship and fellowship 15 rather than differences in culture and religion. Thus, the term identifies one of the parties in a dispute (which is quickly solved) rather than the cause of a dispute which results in a division within the Church. 16 Was Stephen a Hellenist? Because the understanding of Stephen's speech is often seen to hinge upon his alleged hellenism it is appropriate to determine Stephen's relationship to it. The two major reasons for assuming that Stephen was a hellenist are the nature of his name and the logic of the situation. First, the name Stephen is Greek which suggests that he was not a Palestinian Jew. While some Palestinian Jews did use Greek names (Andrew, Phillip) none of the others in the lis ...t of seven were used by Palestinian Jews. 17 Second, it makes good sense to address the problem of hellenistic widows who were being slighted with hellenistic overseers . The problem is that Luke nowhere makes this explicit. Tyson cautions: Martin Hengel, for example, is convinced that all members of the seven were Helleni t (meaning Greek-speaking Jews) because they all bore Greek names. There i , in thi reference, no typically Jewish name, except perhaps that of Philip . According to him , these Christians came from a group of Jews who had adopted Greek name a well a Greek speech. If, however, we confine our attention to the text it elf, the matter be ome far from certain . For instance, if Luke thought of the even a per on who poke Gr k , he did not give any indication of it. . . . They both exhibit familiarit with H bre cripture . In any ca e , the narrative d e n t give a cl ar ignal ab ut th gr up t I f. 2: 4 -47; 4:32; 6:7. 16 ontra ott n p . 46 bo d . l. ' T t m nt rdm n ' , 1