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.
Part 1: Paul the Apostle in the Context of Complexities and Variedness of Second Temple Judaism Chapter 1 God Is Jewish, but Gentiles Don't Have To Be: Ethnicity and Eschatology in Paul's Gospel Paula Fredriksen Chapter 2 The Anti-Judaic Moment in the "Pauline" Doctrine of Justification - A (Protestant) Misinterpretation of the Relevant Statements in Paul's Letters Michael Bachmann Chapter 3 From Nomos to Logos: Torah in First Century Jewish Texts Shayna Sheinfeld Chapter 4 Does Paul Need to Be a Covenantal Jew in Order to Be a Jew? Isaac W. Oliver Chapter 5 Paul in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Some Considerations Regarding Paul's Position Within Judaism Joerg Frey Chapter 6 Jesus, Paul, and the Pharisees: Observations on Their Commonalities and Their Understanding of Torah Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr Part 2: The Particular Issues of Paul's Message within Second Temple Judaism Chapter 7 Abraham in the Divine Purpose according to Paul: the Reception of Abraham Tradition in Romans 4 and Romans 9 William S. Campbell Chapter 8 Ioudaismos within Paul: A Modified Reading of Galatians 1:13-14 Daniel Boyarin Chapter 9 Trouble in Galatia: What Should be Cut? (On Gal 5:12) Kathy Ehrensperger Chapter 10 According to Paul: The Concept of in Galatians in the Context of Paul's Divine Vocation Frantisek Abel Chapter 11 Gentiles Identifying with Moses and Israel's Story in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13: Evaluating Aspects of the Wright-Hays Interpretive Framework J. Brian Tucker Chapter 12 Second Corinthians 3 "Within Judaism" Joshua Garroway
