The Video Overview

25. Rethinking Jesus and Paul.mp4

The Podcast Dialogue:

25. Jesus and Paul - Unearthing the Jewish Roots of Early Christianity.mp4

Main Theme:

This text explores a "New Jewish Perspective" on Jesus and Paul, marking a significant scholarly shift over the past 50 years that re-evaluates their deep connections to first-century Judaism. It highlights that Jesus was a thoroughly Jewish figure whose teachings, parables, and concept of the "Kingdom of God" were rooted in Jewish tradition and debated within Jewish law, not a rejection of it. Similarly, the "New Perspective on Paul" emphasizes Paul's identity as a Jewish Pharisee, reinterpreting "works of the law" as "boundary markers" rather than legalistic attempts at salvation, and understanding "justification by faith" as God's inclusive act for Gentiles within the covenant. This reinterpretation aims to dismantle anti-Judaic views, offer a richer understanding of Christian origins, and foster improved interfaith dialogue by affirming the Jewish roots of Christianity.

Analysis

Scholarship over the past 50 years has significantly re-evaluated the Jewish nature of Jesus and Paul, moving away from earlier interpretations that often presented them as founders of a new religion entirely separate from Judaism. This shift, sometimes called the "New Perspective on Paul" or the "Jewish Jesus" movement, emphasizes their deep roots within first-century Judaism and has profound implications for understanding early Christianity.

Most Significant Findings:

1. Jesus within Second Temple Judaism:
   • Galilean Jewish Context: Scholars now widely agree that Jesus was a thoroughly Jewish figure, operating within the diverse religious and political landscape of Second Temple Judaism, particularly in Galilee. His teachings, parables, and actions are increasingly understood as rooted in Jewish tradition, scripture, and wisdom literature.
   • Halakhic Observance: While Jesus challenged certain interpretations of the Law, particularly those of some Pharisaic schools, he is not seen as rejecting the Law itself. His disputes are viewed as internal Jewish debates about proper halakha (Jewish law) and its application, similar to debates among different Jewish groups of his time (e.g., Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes).
   • Kingdom of God as a Jewish Concept: The "Kingdom of God," central to Jesus's message, is understood as a deeply Jewish concept, referring to God's sovereign rule and eschatological intervention to restore Israel and bring justice to the world.
   • Messianic Expectations: Jesus's identity and mission are framed within the rich tapestry of Jewish messianic expectations, though his specific understanding of Messiahship often diverged from prevailing political or nationalistic hopes.
2. Paul within Second Temple Judaism (The New Perspective on Paul - NPP):
   • Paul as a Pharisee: The NPP strongly reaffirms Paul's identity as a thoroughly Jewish Pharisee, even after his conversion experience. His training and theological framework were shaped by his Pharisaic background.
   • Critique of "Works of the Law": E.P. Sanders' groundbreaking work in the 1970s challenged the traditional Lutheran understanding of "works of the law" as legalistic attempts to earn salvation. Instead, Sanders argued that first-century Judaism (what he called "covenantal nomism") understood the Law as the means by which one stayed in the covenant that God had already graciously established. "Works of the law," in Paul's context, are reinterpreted by NPP scholars like James D.G. Dunn and N.T. Wright as "boundary markers" (e.g., circumcision, food laws, Sabbath observance) that identified Jews as distinct from Gentiles, rather than as a means of earning individual salvation.
   • Justification by Faith as Inclusivity: Consequently, "justification by faith" in Paul is understood less as a critique of Jewish legalism and more as God's gracious act of including Gentiles into the covenant community without requiring them to adopt these Jewish boundary markers. It's about how one becomes a member of God's people, not primarily about how an individual earns salvation.
   • Paul's Eschatology and Christology: Paul's understanding of Christ, the resurrection, and the "new creation" is deeply rooted in Jewish eschatological hopes and apocalyptic thought. He sees Jesus as the Messiah who brings about the climax of God's redemptive plan for both Israel and the nations.

Importance to Christianity:

1. Re-evaluating Anti-Judaism: This scholarship helps dismantle long-standing anti-Judaic interpretations within Christianity, which often portrayed Judaism as a legalistic, superseded religion. By understanding Jesus and Paul as deeply Jewish, Christians can better appreciate the Jewish roots of their own faith and avoid historical caricatures of Judaism.
2. Richer Understanding of Jesus: It offers a more historically nuanced and robust understanding of Jesus, situating him firmly within his own cultural and religious context. This helps Christians connect more authentically with the historical Jesus and the Jewish matrix from which Christianity emerged.
3. Correcting Paul's Image: Paul is no longer seen as the "inventor" of Christianity or as the primary opponent of Judaism. Instead, he is understood as a Jewish apostle whose mission was to bring Gentiles into the Jewish Messiah's community, sparking internal debates within early Jewish Christianity about the terms of their inclusion.
4. Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue: This scholarship provides crucial bridges for interfaith dialogue between Christians and Jews, fostering mutual respect and understanding. It highlights shared heritage and allows for a more constructive engagement with theological differences.
5. Theological Renewal: It prompts a theological renewal within Christianity, encouraging a re-reading of the New Testament that is sensitive to its Jewish context. This can lead to fresh insights into concepts like law, grace, covenant, and salvation.