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On
Christian Purview on the Life of,
“Alexander, the Great”
The compilation is a sincere attempt to challenge the reader to advance forward in his
Christian Faith. We request the reader not to take a critical approach of this study but
focus on the lessons that can help us to strength our Faith in Christ.
God Bless You!
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Born in 356 BC in Macedonia, northern Greece.
Parents were Philip II and Olympias
Mentored under Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher
Most powerful military dictator
Conquered an Empire from Greece to India before his age of 30 years
Was a fugitive for a short span of his life after his father was divorced with Olympias,
his mother and married Cleopatra Eurydice
Made King at 20 years of age after mysterious death of Father
First mission was to conquer the Persians (now Iran)
Persian empire included Syria, Asia Minor (Turkey), Egypt and lands stretching all the
way to India. Darius, the Persian king ruled from his capital city, Persepolis.
Later marched south, to takeover Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
Was crowned “Sha-en-shah” after his Persian Conquest
He was known for his horrendous temper
He drank heavily
Promoted alliances and inter-marrying and co-existence of cross-cultures
At some point in his life, loved self-worship and believed he was god.
Post-death, His enormous empire was divided up among his generals.
Post-death empire was split into numerous regions.
Early Life & Conquests :
Alexander the Great, who would become the Conqueror of the Ancient World, was
born at Pella, Macedonia in 356 B.C. His father was King Phillip II and his mother
was Olympias, a deeply spiritual woman who taught her son that he was a
descendant of Achilles and Hercules. From the earliest age, then, Alexander was
conditioned for conquest and kingly glory. He, thus, became focused on being a
great ruler.
When he was 13, Alexander became student to the great Greek philosopher
Aristotle. Under Aristotle's tutorship he gained an interest in philosophy, medicine
and science. Thus, Alexander's interest was cultivated in reading and learning.
At age 16 Alexander was called to Macedonia to put down a Thracian rebellion while
his father was away. Distinguishing himself immediately, Alexander quelled the
rebellion, stormed the rebel's stronghold and renamed it “Alexandroupolis”, after
himself.
In 336 B.C.E. Phillip was assassinated and 20 year old Alexander took the throne of
Macedonia. Within two years he had embarked on his campaign of conquest. His
army of 30,000 foot soldiers and 5,000 cavalry men was small but efficient. Along
with the army he took engineers, surveyors, architects, scientists and even
historians.
The first engagement was against the Persians at the Granicus River in modern day
Turkey. Defeating the Persians he swept through western Asia Minor. The next
Autumn the second major encounter against the Persians took place at Issus, in the
south eastern corner of Asia Minor. Persian king Darius III had amassed an army of
about half a million to wipe out the Greek threat. But the vicious and tactically
superb attack mounted by Alexander routed the Persians, despite being
outnumbered about 13 to 1.
Alexander now turned south, marching along the Mediterranean coast His only
resistance came from the island city of Tyre. Alexander began a siege that would
last for seven months. Finally, Tyre was completely destroyed in July, 332 B.C
Alexander now pushed further south, conquering Gaza and then moving into Egypt
where the people welcomed him as a deliverer from their Persian rulers. Now
Alexander turned north east, moving through Palestine towards the Tigris River. In
331 B.C he met the Persians for the third time. The Battle of Gaugamela saw him
defeat superior odds once more. Persian King Darius was later killed by his own
people. Swiftly Alexander pushed through to take the Persian Capital at Babylon. He
humiliated the Persians by burning their great palace at Xerxes. Before long the
entire Persian domain was under Alexander's control. He now crossed the Indus
River and entered the region bordering the Persian province of Taxila. Here he met
the feared Indian Monarch Porus who, with 25,000 men and 200 elephants nearly did
what the entire Persian Kingdom could not. After fierce fighting, however,
Alexander was once more victorious. Porus surrendered and became an ally.
The immense army of Alexander the Great then journeyed hundreds of miles east,
traveling through Persia and into present-day Pakistan. They stopped in Pakistan
and rested, then Alexander wanted to go farther but his men refused for they were
weary. After some time they sailed south along the Indus River and then began their
long march home. Alexander wanted to integrate the countries he had conquered,
making them all part of one big empire, his empire. He favored Greek culture and
inspired others to do so and to make it easier to communicate among the countries
he introduced the Greek language. Merchants and traders were taught to use Greek
money.
After an eight year campaign Alexander was now ruler of a massive empire. He was
keen to push further west but his men were weary and intent on returning to their
families. Reluctantly he complied with their wishes.
Personality & Traits :
Alexander was a caring military leader. He would visit his men after the battle,
examining their wounds and praising them for their valiant efforts. He would also
arrange extravagant funerals for the fallen. He would arrange games and contests
for his men. The affection for their leader was what galvanized his troops.
Returning to Babylon Alexander assumed the role he had coveted for so long - The
great Conqueror. Eventually, however, he gave way to a licentious lifestyle of
excessive drinking. He also gave way to fits of rage and paranoid suspicion. One
night he even murdered his closest associate, Clitus, in a fit of rage. This act was to
haunt for the remainder of his short life.
End Days :
In June, 332 B.C.E Alexander fell victim to malarial fever. He never recovered. The
man who no man could defeat died on June 13, 323 B.C.E. He was just 32 years and
8 months old. Soon after he came to terms with his own death and called for every
Macedonian solider in his army to pass through his tent for a final farewell.
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Christian Purview & Learning’s from the life of Alexander
Lesson no. 1
:
“ Alexander conquered the world through much blood shed
and violence but not so with Christ,
JESUS CHRIST HAS CONQUERED THE WORLD BY
HIS LOVE AND SACRFICE.
As it is written,
John 16:33 “I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD” and in
Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in
it.” ”
Lesson no. 2
:
“ Alexander was crowned “King of Kings” by the Persians, but
Pitifully his kingdom had no strength, his power was corrupt
and his tomb desecrated.
Jesus was glorified in Power and Authority and
His Kingdom has no end, nor His Dominion, He
rules for ever and ever winning the hearts of every
soul in every place from this side of the earth to
the other.
As it is written,
Revelations 19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a
name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelations 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys
of Hades and of Death.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name
will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be
no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To
order it and establish it with judgment and justice From
that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of
hosts will perform this.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit “
Lesson no. 3
:
“If Alexander can conquer the whole world with an
unquenched passion towards his personal ambition to become
a conqueror at the tender age of 32 years,
We as Christians can do much more than a mortal
such as Alexander with the Heavenly Hosts
standing by our side, with Christ as our
Intercessor, Angels to our help and by the Power
and Might of the Holy Spirit.
As it is written,
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence
behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us,
even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the
uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them.”
Lesson no. 4
:
“ Alexander’s success was on the strength of his generals
and commanders who were along with him to fulfill his wish
and purpose of a bloody revolution,
We as Christians are as Generals and
Commanders for Christ and are also His
Ambassadors fulfilling His Will and Purpose on
Earth and executing His Orders for the rule of His
Righteousness, His Justice and His Law.
As it is written,
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore
you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth
2 Corinthians 3:3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ,
written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not
on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the
heart.
2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also made us sufficient as ministers
of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit
Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God,
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having been built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone. “