The Parting of the Gods: Paul and the Redefinition of Judaism

in The ParTing of the Gods: Paul and the Redefinition of Judaism, David A. Brondos aims to provide a more precise historical sketch of the relationship between earliest Christianity as represented in the letters of Paul and the Judaism(s) of the Second Temple period than is currently available. Influenced by the critical work of scholars such as E. P. Sanders and more recently Mark Nanos, Brondos supports the view that Paul remained a faithful Jew who never intended to create anything like a new religion separate from his ancestral Jewish faith. He likewise agrees that the apparent criticism of Torah observance found in several of Paul’s letters should best be interpreted against the backdrop of his advocacy for the full inclusion of gentile Christ-followers among the covenant people of God, without requiring Torah observance. On this reading, Paul had no problem whatsoever with Jewish followers of Christ remaining devoted to the full range of Torah observance.