Paul of Tarsus: The Origins of Christianity in Jewish Context

Illustration from Melchior Lotter's Bible (Sweden, 1524). Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Illustration from Melchior Lotter’s Bible (Sweden, 1524). Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Credited with the popularization of Christianity, Saul (later Paul) of Tarsus was influential in mediating Jewish ideas to an increasingly Gentile audience. Combining appealing concepts such as life after death and a personal Deity with a relaxed approach to the requirements of Rabbinic Judaism, the former Pharisee succeeded in spreading Christianity well beyond its narrow origins among a small group of Jews in Jerusalem to become a massively powerful world religion, albeit distant from its Jewish origins.

NEXT WEEK: Sherira Gaon and the Jews of Babylon

[youtube=http://youtu.be/oLSELg4TNPU]

7 Comments

  1. didaskologos says:
    April 1, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    Excellent lecture. I will note that Paul was not the author of Replacement Theology, but his writings when viewed through the lens of a “Victorious Christian Church” has been used as the basis of replacement theory. The anti-Israel statements have always overshadowed the pro-Israel statements in the eyes of theologians especially from the third century on. But Paul/Sha’ul believed,…

    For I don’t desire, brothers, to have you ignorant of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Yisra’el, until the fullness of the Goyim has come in, and so all Yisra’el will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Tziyon the Deliverer, And he will turn away ungodliness from Ya`akov.
    This is my covenant to them, When I will take away their sins.” Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. Romans 11:25-28 HNV

    Paul was never confused about who the elect of G-d was and is. It was his escalogical view that the second advent of Ye’shua was imminent and that in his lifetime he would see all Israel come to accept Ye’shua.

    Thank you for your insights and teaching.

    Reply
    1. Ms says:
      April 2, 2016 at 11:44 pm

      Well that Did not happen. Once you embrace that the Romans fabricated the Jesus story you’ll settle down.

      Reply
  2. Badamacee says:
    May 16, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Please, can i have a copy of western civilization? Thanks.

    Reply
  3. Dorothy says:
    May 26, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    Was Saul of Tarsus a Roman Soldier in his early years?

    Reply
    1. Henry Abramson says:
      May 27, 2014 at 8:05 am

      Not sure. It seems there is some evidence to support this, but I haven’t studied the matter deeply enough to speak meaningfully to your question.

      Reply
  4. Tracy Avent-Costanza says:
    April 10, 2018 at 9:49 am

    maybe this is especially naive of me, but I’ll ask it anyway. Henry/Hillel seems rather “careful” about what he says “on tape” and I wonder why. I found his story about yeshua and his rebbe at the hotel on the way back from egypt, to be VERY revealing. I have never heard that story before. I wonder where it is to be found- torah?
    In any case, why not state what you know and let the chips fall where they may. Obviously as a jew, he has learned to “be careful” and also mentions consciously avoiding talking too much about “…Jesus…” although obviously he has some relevant insights that do not appear in the KJV as far as I am aware.
    Why does he have to be so careful?

    Reply
  5. calev Jamron says:
    August 27, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    Question: I there’s a rumor that goes around in the yeshiva world that paul was really sent by the Rabbis to ensure that christianity become a clearly distinct religion from Judaism. Is there any basis for this whatsoever?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.