Matthew Novenson: Paul and Judaism at the End of History
Homebrewed Christianity
Intro
This chapter explores the complex relationship between Paul and Judaism during a crucial historical period. It examines the nuances of Paul's writings and their interaction with Jewish thought, highlighting the theological implications for early Christianity.
In this episode, Dr. Matthew Novenson returns to the podcast after his move from the University of Edinburgh to Princeton Theological Seminary. We discuss his new book "Paul and Judaism at the End of History," which develops a radical reframing of how we understand the Apostle Paul: not as someone who rejected Judaism for Christianity, but as a Jewish thinker who believed that history had already ended with the resurrection of Jesus. We unpack into Paul's unique eschatological vision, his understanding of the resurrection, and how modern theological traditions often misread Paul by projecting their own frameworks onto his writings.
Themes Discussed
- Paul's Jewish Context: The conversation highlights how Paul remained deeply Jewish throughout his life, challenging the common notion that he rejected Judaism for Christianity.
- The End of History: Novenson argues that Paul genuinely believed history had ended with Christ's resurrection, making his theology fundamentally eschatological rather than focused on atonement.
- Resurrection as Present Reality: For Paul, the resurrection wasn't a distant future event but something already beginning through the Spirit's work in baptized believers.
- Justification Reframed: The discussion reexamines Paul's concept of justification not as merely a way of "getting right with God" but as participation in the new creation.
- Keeping Paul Weird: Novenson emphasizes the importance of understanding Paul in his historical context rather than forcing him to fit modern theological frameworks.
You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube
Dr. Matthew Novenson is a distinguished New Testament scholar now teaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. His scholarship focuses on Paul's letters, early Judaism, and early Christianity. His latest book, "Paul and Judaism at the End of History," offers a fresh perspective on understanding Paul's theological vision and his relationship to Judaism. Novenson is known for his nuanced approach to historical interpretation that resists simplified readings of Paul through later Christian theological frameworks.
Previous Visits to the Podcast
His books:
- Paul and Judaism at the End of History
- The Grammar of Messianism: An Ancient Jewish Political Idiom and Its Users
- Christ Among the Messiahs: Christ Language in Paul and Messiah Language in Ancient Judaism
- Paul, Then and Now
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