Jew Among Jews: Rehabilitating Paul

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. Kim Ambrose clearly makes the case that Paul continued to embrace his Jewishness even after his Damascus Road encounter. Interacting with the latest scholarship over the nature of Pauls religion she presents Paul as a Jew among Jews--influenced by Hellenism yet grounded in Judaism--all the while transformed by Christ. For Ambrose Paul was the interpreter of Christ to his generation both to Jews and Gentiles. She additionally examines the scriptural historical and theological arguments for supersessionism only to find them wanting. This is a worthy resource for ministers and seminary students. --R. Alan Streett Senior Research Professor of Biblical Exegesis Criswell College Due to the many ambivalent texts in his letters Pauls stance concerning his ancestral faith is notoriously difficult to discern. By carefully investigating the relevant texts in close conversation with current scholarly opinion Ambrose succeeds in achieving clarity to present a convincing portrait of Paul as a very Jewish apostle to the nations. For those interested in deepening their understanding of Pauls Jewishness this study provides a host of valuable new insights. --William S. Campbell Reader in Biblical Studies School of Theology Religious Studies and Islamic Studies University of Wales Trinity Saint David Paul remains an important religious figure. However Rabbi Saul student of the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel has faded into the mists of history. Forgotten is the Pharisee of the Pharisees who was more zealous for the Torah than they all. Fortunately Dr. Ambrose has not forgotten. Hence her title: Jew among Jews: Rehabilitating Paul. Well said and very well articulated throughout. I have already placed her book on my various syllabi as a required text. --John Fischer Vice President of Academics for St. Petersburg Seminary and Yeshiva; President of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance; Rosh Yeshiva (director) of Netzer David International Yeshiva; Rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash; Executive Director of Menorah Ministries Kimberly Ambrose is Associate Professor in Bible (of New Testament) at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary at Florida.