While promoting the Jewish faith and the Jewish community of Jerusalem over that of the Hellenistic invaders is the aim of the authors of both pieces, understanding that they are promoting is fundamentally different. The author of 1 Maccabees presents a Jewish faith constructed with layers of faithfulness; one can subscribe to some of the actions necessary for followers of the religion without taking part in others, given extenuating circumstances. People, in the eyes of the author of 1 Maccabee, will maintain their position as Jews without needing to be one hundred percent devout at all times. The author of 2 Maccabees, however, presents an immensely severe Jewish faith. Despite the pressures of self-preservation, the individuals presented by the author of 2 Maccabee are unwavering in their devotion to faith, they simply continue to follow their beliefs, and God acts for them as the needs of the situation require; this presents a picture of Judaism in 2 Maccabees as very black and white, either an individual is Jewish or they are not. It is important for the reader of both books of Maccabees to make the distinction that, although both authors are attempting to accomplish the same thing, there is a clear