The Message of Paul the Apostle within Second Temple Judaism

Noting that a traditional understanding of Paul as “convert” from Judaism has fueled false and often dangerous stereotypes of Judaism, and that the so-called “new perspective on Paul” has not completely escaped these stereotypes, František Ábel has gathered leading international scholars to test the hypotheses of the more recent “Paul within Judaism” movement. Though hardly monolithic in their approach, these scholars’ explorations of specific topics concerning Second Temple Judaism and Paul’s message and theology allow a contextually more nuanced understanding of the apostle’s thought, one free from particular biases rooted in unacknowledged ideologies and traditional interpretations transmitted by particular church traditions.Contributors include František Ábel, Michael Bachmann, Daniel Boyarin, William S. Campbell, Kathy Ehrensperger, Paula Fredriksen, Jörg Frey, Joshua Garroway, Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr, Isaac W. Oliver, Shayna Sheinfeld, and J. Brian Tucker.

“Since Krister Stendahl and E.P. Sanders challenged the conventional wisdom that Paul's life-changing experience near Damascus resulted in his rejection of Judaism, the debate over the apostle's relationship with Judaism (of lack thereof) has persisted. The Message of Paul the Apostle contains articles by many leading scholars who continue the quest to understand Paul in the context of first-century Judaism. Anyone with an interest in Paul and/or second temple Judaism will want to have this collection of essays near at hand.”

Since Krister Stendahl and E.P. Sanders challenged the conventional wisdom that Paul’s life-changing experience near Damascus resulted in his rejection of Judaism, the debate over the apostle’s relationship with Judaism (of lack thereof) has persisted. The Message of Paul the Apostle contains articles by many leading scholars who continue the quest to understand Paul in the context of first-century Judaism. Anyone with an interest in Paul and/or second temple Judaism will want to have this collection of essays near at hand. -- Paul B. Duff, George Washington University
In this volume, František Ábel brings into conversation numerous Pauline scholars who strive to read the apostle to the gentiles within the diversity and complexity of first-century Judaism. The essays that make up The Message of Paul the Apostle are a must read for anyone willing to rethink Paul. -- Matthew Thiessen, McMaster University
Paul remained a Jew throughout his lifetime! But what does this concretely mean if our images of Second Temple Judaism become increasingly complex and varied? In a fascinating manner, this book not only shows how we have to re-think key concepts of Pauline theology if we take this question seriously; it also demonstrates what all this means for the practice of the Church today. A great read! -- Tobias Nicklas, Universität Regensburg and The Catholic University of America

František Ábel is professor of New Testament at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Faculty of Comenius University.

Noting that a traditional understanding of Paul as "convert" from Judaism has fueled false and often dangerous stereotypes of Judaism, and that the so-called "new perspective on Paul" has not completely escaped these stereotypes, Frantisek Abel has gathered leading international scholars to test the hypotheses of the more recent "Paul within Judaism" movement. Though hardly monolithic in their approach, these scholars' explorations of specific topics concerning Second Temple Judaism and Paul's message and theology allow a contextually more nuanced understanding of the apostle's thought, one free from particular biases rooted in unacknowledged ideologies and traditional interpretations transmitted by particular church traditions. Contributors include Frantisek Abel, Michael Bachmann, Daniel Boyarin, William S. Campbell, Kathy Ehrensperger, Paula Fredriksen, Joerg Frey, Joshua Garroway, Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr, Isaac W. Oliver, Shayna Sheinfeld, and J. Brian Tucker.

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