NBN Book of the Day Paula Fredriksen, "When Christians Were Jews: The First Generation" (Yale UP, 2018)
6 snips
Aug 3, 2020 
The guest, Paula Fredriksen, is an esteemed scholar of early Christianity and a distinguished professor. In a captivating discussion, she explores how Jesus' first followers saw themselves within a vibrant Jewish landscape. Fredriksen sheds light on the complexities of first-century sects and the role of geopolitics under Roman rule. She delves into how pagans were drawn to the movement, the evolution of Jesus' divine status, and the implications of translation on doctrine. Her insights illuminate the fascinating dynamics of the earliest Jerusalem community.
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Jesus Followers Saw Themselves As Jews
- The first Jesus followers saw themselves as observant Jews within a contested Jewish world.
- Paula Fredriksen emphasizes early Christianity began as one sect among many Jewish movements, not a separate religion.
Jewish Variety Shaped Early Conflicts
- First-century Judaism was highly diverse with competing sects like Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Am Haaretz.
- Fredriksen argues this intra-Jewish conflict shaped how the Jesus movement developed and fractured.
Rome Reshaped Jerusalem's Politics
- Rome's rise created an international political layer that Jewish leaders had to manage.
- Herod's building projects and Roman patronage transformed Jerusalem's religious and political landscape.
