Jew among Jews: Rehabilitating Paul (2015 Ambrose), book

Kimberly Ambrose, Jew among Jews: Rehabilitating Paul (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015).

Abstract

"Misunderstanding of Paul had started already in his lifetime, and his letters offer many examples of this. Throughout the centuries, Paul has continued to be misunderstood by both Jews and Gentiles, especially in relation to his view of the law and the covenant. Paul has often been misunderstood because his form of argument, his use of Scripture, his view of Jews and Gentiles in Christ (especially of those Jews who were not convinced that Jesus was Messiah), and his view of what constitutes true Judaism do not seem to conform to our expectations and perceptions of the apostle. We have been accustomed to read his letters as of one who was emancipating people from Judaism, as one who sought to obliterate all ethnic and other distinctions rather than maintaining the identity of Jews and Gentiles even in Christ. By building on some of the insights of the New Perspective, and developing other more recent insights as well, a more consistent and credible Paul as a first-century Diaspora Jew organizing a mission to Gentiles will be presented."--Publisher description.

Contents

1. Why Paul's Jewishness matters. A Pharisee of Pharisees -- Turning against tradition -- Paul and Hellenistic thought. Baur : "a new religion" -- Contemporary scholars' views. Boyarin : platonic Paul -- Engberg-Pedersen : neither Jew nor Greek -- Malherbe, Betz, and Stowers -- Barclay, Sampley, and Deming -- Hock, van Unnik, Longenecker, and Ehrensperger -- To what extent was Paul influenced by Hellenism? -- More recent views of Paul. In search of the historical Paul -- A different kind of Judaism -- The political apostle -- Views of Paul's embeddedness in Judaism -- Paul's thought and Jewish roots -- Divergent perceptions of Paul's theology -- How Paul uses scripture -- Paul, Judaism, and unbelieving Jews. How does Luke portray Paul? -- Did Paul turn his back on Judaism? -- Did Paul advocate exclusion of the Jews from salvation? -- Did Paul curse Jews who opposed the Gospel? -- The controversy over the Mosaic covenant -- Did Paul consider Judaism rubbish? -- Did Paul deny the election of Israel? -- Did Paul urge believers to separate? -- Did Paul encourage abandoning Jewish identity? -- Gentile believers' identity -- A faithful Jew -- Paul and true Judaism. Love beyond purpose -- More like marriage -- Redemption not completed -- The promise of future restoration -- Is the church the "Israel" of Galations 6:16? -- Equal in Christ -- Paul, a Hebrew of Hebrews. What we know of Paul. Paul's way of thinking -- Paul and scripture -- Paul and covenant -- Paul and Jewishness -- Paul, defined.