Paul--A Jew on the Margins

Pauls messianism put him at the margins of Pharisaism his preaching placed him in tension with the Synagogue and his Gospel set him on the outer border of Hellenistic religion. This book explores the tensions and creativity that Pauls marginality let loose. In six short chapters Roetzel explains Pauls complex relationship to first century Judaism and elements of the early church. In so doing he tackles a great many of the most disputed areas of Pauline theology: How can we speak of Paul as a convert? How far did Paul accept the apocalyptic myth? What are we to make of Pauls theology of weakness? How far did Paul embrace pluralism? And how could Paul preach that Gentiles shared in Gods election without excluding Jews?