Paul and Palestinian Judaism

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module explores the question whether Paul's writings and ideas are reflective of, or discontinuous with, Jewish thought in the context of ancient Palestine. The ramifications of Paul's relationship with Judaism has had a profound impact on how Christian communities in the following millennia related to Jewish communities, often with dire consequences. Who was Paul from Tarsus and what were the cultures and intellectual movements that shaped his thinking? What tools are available for the historical study of this man and his writings? Key themes and current debates that have come to define Pauline Studies in the last decade, especially the so-called "New Perspective on Paul" (i.e. Paul's relationship to Palestinian Judaism), are given significant attention.