Between the Testaments

The period between the Testaments—those 400 years from the prophet Malachi to the Gospel of Matthew—is often called the “silent years.” Yet history shows they were anything but silent. Empires rose and fell, cultures collided, and God was quietly preparing the world for the coming of His Son. From the Persian restoration to the spread of Greek language and thought, from the Maccabean revolt to the rise of Rome, every step set the stage for the gospel. In this section, we explore how prophecy, politics, and faith in this crucial era help us better understand the New Testament.