ePub Who Made Early Christianity?: The Jewish Lives of the Apostle Paul (American Lectures on the History of Religions) by John Gager Jr. in History

Review

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating readable study of paul and early church.By Scott A. BirnbaumIncredibly interesting summary of the author's erudite and innovative scholarship that offers a highly convincing revisionist view of the apostle Paul; treating him as firmly situated as a first century Practicing Jew; whose role has been corrupted beginning with early church fathers . Very approachable for general readers because of excellent writing and absence of typical academic jargon and scholarly apparatuses (though extensive notes are included).3 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Required readingBy louis d rollmannA carefully crafted; well referenced; and beautifully written story of the religious teachings of Paul and their importance to Christianity and Judaism even to this day. It should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in understanding early Christianity. (And be sure to read the Introduction a second time; after you finish reading the book. It's a gem.)0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Revised view of Paul's anti-JudaismBy GderfThis is a very interesting; albeit incomplete; history of the early development of Christianity. It focuses on the changing viewpoint of the role of the apostle Paul and to a lessor extent that of Peter. It describes first; second; fourth and medieval changing viewpoints along with a modern version advanced by the author; more like a PhD study than a popular history. The traditional viewpoint of Paul as rejecting Jewish law applies only to Gentile converts to Christianity. Judaism also welcomed Pagan convertsGager rejects the traditional view of Paul's anti-Judaism as not accurate; attributing a seeming rejection of Jewish law to later editing of his writing. There was the controversy between Jerome and Augustine and later views of Tertullian and medieval interpretors. There was thin distinction between ant-Judaic outlook and anti-Antisemitism. It's hard to tell how much is based on a desire to whitewash Paul of charge of being the originator the tradition of anti-Antisemitism in Christianity.It's all very interesting but not entirely convincing. Apparently this new Pauline viewpoint will undergo further scholarship and develop further.