Judaism for gentiles: reading Paul beyond the parting of the ways paradigm
Für Geistliche, Gelehrte und Laien sind die Briefe des Paulus von großer Bedeutung und ziehen immer wieder neue Leser an. In dieser Aufsatzsammlung hört Anders Runesson auf die Stimme des historischen Paulus – eines Juden, der Nicht-Juden eine Form des Judentums verkündet, um sie vor dem göttlichen...
| Summary: | Für Geistliche, Gelehrte und Laien sind die Briefe des Paulus von großer Bedeutung und ziehen immer wieder neue Leser an. In dieser Aufsatzsammlung hört Anders Runesson auf die Stimme des historischen Paulus – eines Juden, der Nicht-Juden eine Form des Judentums verkündet, um sie vor dem göttlichen Zorn zu bewahren -, erkundet aber auch, was es bedeutet, dieser historischen Figur im 21. Jahrhundert neues Leben einzuhauchen.InhaltsübersichtPart I: Approaching Paul 1. Understanding Paul as a First-Century Jew in the Twenty-First Century: The Problem of Relevance, Bias, and Approach2. Particularistic Judaism and Universalistic Christianity? Critical Remarks on Terminology and Theology3. Was there a Christian Mission Before the Fourth Century CE? Problematizing Common Ideas About Early Christianity4. Entering the Conversation on Paul: Was he a Christian and did he Attend Church? Part II: Reading Paul 5. Entering a Synagogue with Paul: First-Century Torah Observance6. Paul's World: Women, Men, and Power7. Placing Paul: Understanding Theological Strategy in Institutional Context8. Paul's Rule in all the Ekklēsiai: Finding a Core in his Message9. Paul and the Joining of the Ways Part III: After Paul 10. Jewish and Christian Interaction from the First to the Fifth Century CE11. Inventing Christian Identity: From Paul to Theodosius I12. The Rise of Normative Judaism and Christianity Part IV: Theologizing Paul 13. Reforming the Reformer: Reading Paul with Luther in Contemporary Europe and Beyond For almost two millennia, readers of the New Testament have been trying to figure out Paul. The struggle with his words begins already within the canon itself. While Acts portrays with ease a Torah-observant, Pharisaic-messianic Paul working in partnership with James and other leaders in Jerusalem, the author of 2 Peter famously admitted that the apostle to the nations is difficult to understand. From that moment on debate has ebbed and flowed on all things Pauline; on women as leaders in assemblies and on the status of Jews and Gentiles in God's plan, just to mention two of the contentious topics associated with Paul. For clergy, scholar, and lay person, Paul's letters hold weight and continue to draw in new readers. Anders Runesson seeks to listen to the voice of the historical Paul – a Jew proclaiming a form of Judaism to non-Jews to save them from divine wrath – but also to probe what it means to breathe new life into this historical figure in the twenty-first century.»The Paul-within-Judaism movement is here to stay, and Anders Runesson is arguably its most hermeneutically sophisticated spokesperson. In this remarkable book, Runesson expertly guides us through difficult questions of social history, exegesis, ancient reception history, and modern constructive theology, all of which we need in order to understand Paul ‘beyond the parting of the ways paradigm.’«Matthew V. Novenson, University of Edinburgh»In this compelling book, Anders Runesson incarnates Roman-period types of Judaism—thus, the seedbed of later Christianities—within their institutional matrix, the ancient synagogue. Radically reconceiving the so-called “parting of the ways,” he traces a developmental arc from Paul through Theodosius I to explore how and why this apocalyptic Jewish movement, with its odd outreach to ethnic others, became the anti-Jewish arm of the late Roman state. If new ideas are food for thought, Runesson has served a feast.«Paula Fredriksen, author of »Paul, the Pagans’ Apostle«»This is the mature fruit of intensive research over a significant period of time, drawing together Runesson’s explorations on Paul and Pauline theology, locating him firmly within his Jewish context on the one hand, and taking seriously that he is addressing gentiles. The historical depth and methodological rigor as well as the key awareness of hermeneutical presuppositions render this a rich and challenging source for scholars and students alike. But this is not only another academic contribution to the important field of Pauline studies, Runesson demonstrates how this approach to Paul is also relevant for theologizing in contemporary churches and interreligious interaction today. Thus the volume is a must for all engaged in Pauline Studies as well as in contemporary church and interreligious work.«Kathy Ehrensperger, Abraham Geiger Kolleg, Potsdam»In recent years, Anders Runesson has emerged as a leading voice in the (distinct but related) projects of reading Matthew and Paul »within Judaism.« In this significant volume on Paul, he draws on material from a number of his previous articles and book chapters, working it into a cohesive and comprehensive account of Paul's »Judaism for gentiles« and its place within a larger interpretive horizon. Over against approaches that see Paul as the architect of a »parting of the ways,« Runesson understands him as working towards a »joining of the ways«-mixed groups of Jewish and gentile Christ-believers existing within the larger environment of Jewish diaspora synagogues. An impressive achievement, highly recommended.«Terence L. Donaldson, Professor Emeritus, Wycliffe College, University of TorontoSurvey of contentsPart I: Approaching Paul 1. Understanding Paul as a First-Century Jew in the Twenty-First Century: The Problem of Relevance, Bias, and Approach2. Particularistic Judaism and Universalistic Christianity? Critical Remarks on Terminology and Theology3. Was there a Christian Mission Before the Fourth Century CE? Problematizing Common Ideas About Early Christianity4. Entering the Conversation on Paul: Was he a Christian and did he Attend Church? Part II: Reading Paul 5. Entering a Synagogue with Paul: First-Century Torah Observance6. Paul's World: Women, Men, and Power7. Placing Paul: Understanding Theological Strategy in Institutional Context8. Paul's Rule in all the Ekklēsiai: Finding a Core in his Message9. Paul and the Joining of the Ways Part III: After Paul 10. Jewish and Christian Interaction from the First to the Fifth Century CE11. Inventing Christian Identity: From Paul to Theodosius I12. The Rise of Normative Judaism and Christianity Part IV: Theologizing Paul 13. Reforming the Reformer: Reading Paul with Luther in Contemporary Europe and Beyond |
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| ISBN: | 316161996X |
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1628/978-3-16-161996-0 |