John Dominic Crossan: Paul & the Fictional History of Luke-Acts
Homebrewed Christianity
Intro
This chapter delves into the themes and historical context of the books of Luke and Acts, analyzing them through critical lenses. It discusses the author's narrative techniques and the relationship between historical fact and literary fiction, revealing the motivations behind these key early Christian texts.
In this episode, I am joined by renowned biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan for an exploration of the relationship between Paul and Luke in early Christian texts. Crossan provocatively challenges traditional understandings by arguing that Luke-Acts presents a deliberately modified version of Paul's mission to make Christianity more palatable to Roman authorities. Through detailed textual analysis, Crossan reveals how Luke downplays Paul's apostleship, reimagines his conversion, and strategically portrays Jews as hostile while depicting Romans as receptive. The discussion weaves through complex topics, including the Jerusalem Council, Paul's missionary strategy targeting "God worshipers," and the broader political implications of religious accommodation to the empire. With his characteristic blend of historical insight and contemporary relevance, Crossan ultimately suggests these ancient dynamics remain instructive today, as the merging of religion and politics continues to threaten not just democracy but "our soul." Perfect for listeners interested in biblical criticism, early Christianity, and the intersection of faith and power.
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You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube
John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus, How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, God and Empire, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, The Greatest Prayer, The Last Week, and The Power of Parable. He lives in Minneola, Florida.
Previous Podcast Episodes with Dom & Tripp
- Paul & Thecla
- Ask JC Anything
- Diana Butler Bass & John Dominic Crossan: The Resurrection of Jesus
- Brian McLaren & John Dominic Crossan: The Message of Jesus & the Judgement of Civilization
- Brian Zahnd & John Dominic Crossan: God, Violence, Empire, & Salvation
- Why the Biblical Paul is Awesome
- Christian Resurrection & Human Evolution
- The Cross & the Crisis of Civilization
- The Coming Kingdom & the Risen Christ
- The Parables of Jesus & the Parable of God
- How to think about Jesus like a Historian
- the Last Week of Jesus’ Life
- Jesus, Paul, & Bible Questions
- Saving the Biblical Christmas Stories
- the most important discovery for understanding Jesus
- The Bible, Violence, & Our Future
- Resurrecting Easter
- on the First Christmas
- From Jesus’ Parables to Parables of God
- Render Unto Caesar
- on God & Empire
Join Dom Crossan at ...Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025
3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends.
A Five-Week Online Lenten Class w/ John Dominic Crossan
Join us for a transformative 5-week Lenten journey on "Paul the Pharisee: Faith and Politics in a Divided World."This course examines the Apostle Paul as a Pharisee deeply engaged with the turbulent political and religious landscape of his time. For details and to sign-up for any donation, including 0, head over here.
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