PDF Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle by Pamela Eisenbaum in History

Review

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. useful in my Bible classBy Margaret VenemanHelpful perspective from the Jewish author. Well written; useful in my Bible class.22 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Paul's True FaithBy S. E. MooreThis is perhaps the best book about Paul from a Jewish perpective that I have ever read. I have always wanted to know Paul from the Jewish perspective; untainted by the theology of Augustine; Luther; and Calvin. Most Jewish portrayals are critical but fair and are worth reading; ie Daniel Boyarin; Samuel Sandmel; and Alan Segal. I have found only two which are not worthy; Hyam Maccoby's biased account and the absolutely absurd portrayal by Robert Eisenman. Pamela Eisenbaum's book rises above most of the others and is well worth reading.Eisenbaum focuses solely on the authentic letters of Paul and gives us an understanding of the apostle which is untainted by the doctrines of Augustine and Luther.Eisenbaum refutes the common notion among many Christians that Judaism is a legalistic religion in which salvation has to be earned. The Mosaic covenant; with its provision of atonement; was never merited by the Israelites who were saved by it. To Paul; salvation was never a problem for Jews who lived under the covenant; but it was a problem for gentiles who lived outside the covenant with no means of atoning for their sins. Thus Paul felt that the Law which was a blessing for Israel; was a curse for gentiles. Paul never condemned the Law as it applied to Jews. Israel was a chosen nation of priests. Therefore; Jewish ritual laws such as circumcision; and food laws only applied to Jews. Paul felt that it was inappropriate for gentiles to abide by Jewish ritual laws. Gentiles had to be included in God's kingdom according to prophecy; but as gentiles; not as Jews. Eisenbaum sresses that Paul's letters were addressed to gentiles and not to Jews.Paul was proud of his Jewish heritage and his schooling as a Pharisee. His experience of the risen Christ was not a conversion away from Judaism. The resurrection of Jesus convinced Paul that the final judgement was imminent and that the prophecies of gentile nations being gathered into the Kingdom of God had to be fulfilled. Paul felt a prophetic calling to preach the gospel to the gentiles. He never preached a "replacement theology" and chastises gentiles for their idolatry and moral failings. Paul was not obsessed with individual salvation but with gentile nations on a large scale. Eisenbaum places Paul in the mold of a first century apocalyptic Jew; not a Baptist preacher.Eisenbaum demonstrates that Paul never taught a doctrine of faith without works. This is so blatantly clear in Romans 2:13 which so any of Paul's detractors seem to overlook. Eisenbaum explains how gentile salvation by "faith in Jesus Christ" should be read as salvation by the "faithfulness of Jesus Christ". To Paul; the problem of atonement for gentiles; who lived outside the covenant; was solved by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Gentiles were saved by the faithful obedience of Jesus just as Jews were saved by the faithfulness of Abraham and the Patriarchs. Paul stresses that it was the power of God which raised Jesus and exalted him in Heaven. While Jesus is the heavenly mediator; it is the God of Israel which gentiles must worship.This book should be required reading for anyone who truly wants to understand the enigma of Paul the Apostle.2 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Dr. Eisenbaum really gets it...By David ZaslowFor those of us who study first-century Judaism; and the extraordinary paradigm shift that was occurring within the Jewish world; this is one of the first books that properly puts the "apostle" Paul in his rightful historical context. He was Jewish; practiced Judaism; and never advanced the idea that Jewish people ought to convert to Christianity. The power of this book is Dr. Eisenbaum's excellent writing combined arising out of the most current scholarly research.