376 - Fr. Stephen De Young - St. Paul the Pharisee
Jan 19, 2025
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Fr. Stephen De Young, a priest and author focused on St. Paul and Second Temple Judaism, dives deep into the complexities of St. Paul's writings. He challenges common misunderstandings by positioning Paul within his historical context as a Pharisee. The conversation reveals how misinterpretations stemming from the Protestant Reformation have influenced key Christian divisions. Fr. Stephen also emphasizes St. Paul's teachings on faith, community, and inclusivity, encouraging a more nuanced understanding that aligns with Jesus' vision.
Understanding St. Paul as a Pharisee provides essential context that clarifies misconceptions about his writings and their connection to Jesus' teachings.
The interpretation of 'works of the law' highlights the importance of historical context, revealing St. Paul's emphasis on faithfulness over mere good actions.
St. Paul's insights on leadership promote a model of mutual responsibility and sacrificial service, challenging contemporary views of authority and power dynamics.
Deep dives
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St. Paul and Early Christian Disputes
St. Paul's interpretations of the Gospels and his epistles often sit at the center of significant theological debates within Christianity today. These disputes range from discussions about salvation and faith to discussions on gender roles in ministry, illustrating the lasting impact of St. Paul’s teachings. Understanding St. Paul as a Jewish Pharisee in the context of first-century Judaism can clarify many misconceptions about his writings and their intended meaning. This historical perspective helps bridge the perceived chasm between St. Paul and Jesus, as many of his messages align closely with the teachings of Christ.
Rethinking 'Works of the Law'
There is a crucial distinction in how St. Paul's phrase 'works of the law' is interpreted, which is often translated without considering its original context. Rather than viewing it simply as 'good works,' the phrase actually relates to specific Jewish practices that set the Jewish community apart from others. This contextual understanding reorients St. Paul's message away from a condemnation of good actions towards a more nuanced view of faith and adherence to Jewish customs. Consequently, St. Paul emphasizes faithfulness and genuine effort to please God rather than a simplistic rejection of moral conduct.
The Role of Tradition in Understanding St. Paul
Tradition plays an essential role in preserving the context of St. Paul's writings, helping modern readers decipher and appreciate their significance. With the advent of archaeological discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls, new insights are providing clearer connections between St. Paul’s messages and the cultural narratives of his time. This resurgence of understanding underscores the importance of tradition in interpreting biblical texts, allowing for a richer comprehension of St. Paul's contributions to early Christianity. By connecting historical cultural contexts to scriptural teachings, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the timelessness of St. Paul's insights.
Engagement with Spiritual Hierarchies
St. Paul's understanding of spiritual hierarchies and the relationships between various authorities significantly impacts his teachings on community dynamics. He views leadership not merely as domination but as a mutual responsibility rooted in love and service to others. This perspective challenges modern notions of authority that often lean towards a self-centered exercise of power, emphasizing instead a model of sacrificial leadership. By engaging with the complexities of spiritual hierarchy, St. Paul's teachings provide valuable insights for contemporary discussions on ethics, authority, and community structure.
Fr. Stephen De Young is back on the podcast to discuss his latest book, St. Paul the Pharisee. St. Paul is at the core of many modern misunderstandings about Christianity; Fr. Stephen presents how we can understand St. Paul’s writings within the context of who he was, when he lived, and who he was addressing in his epistles, ultimately bringing us closer to the vision Christ Himself gave us.
-Buy Fr. Stephen’s book on the Ancient Faith Store - Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations: https://store.ancientfaith.com/saint-paul-the-pharisee-jewish-apostle-to-all-nations/ -On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Paul-Pharisee-Apostle-Nations/dp/1955890706
==========Book description========== The centuries after the Protestant Reformation brought about a radical reinterpretation of the epistles of St. Paul, disconnected from any historical reality. But Paul operated, during his entire life, as a faithful Pharisee within the Roman Jewish world. In Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys Paul’s life and writings, interpreting them within the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. This survey is followed by De Young’s interpretive translation of St. Paul’s epistles, which deliberately avoids overly familiar terminology. By using words and ideas grounded in first-century Judaism, De Young hopes to unsettle commonly held notions and help the reader reassess St. Paul in his historical context.
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==========Other links========== Lord of Spirits podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/ Fr. Stephen’s talk at the Symbolic World Summit 2024, Friedrich Nietzsche’s Guide to the Bodily Resurrection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OVbxZJ463Q Daily Wire The Gospels seminar: https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-gospels
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==========Timestamps========== 00:00 - Coming up 01:13 - Intro music 01:38 - Introduction to St. Paul and Contextual Understanding 06:16 - Settling the "works vs faith" debate 13:06 - St. Paul and the Gospels: A Unified Message 15:37 - Scholasticism vs Mysticism 20:17 - The Transformation of Society through St. Paul's Vision 24:19 - Slavery and Christian Ethics in St. Paul's Writings 32:34 - The Kingdom of Heaven is already here 38:15 - Hierarchy bad 39:58 - The core of St. Paul's teachings: Faithfulness 41:34 - The Call to Individual Purpose 46:32 - The Nature of Christian Hierarchy 51:32 - St. Paul: Context and Misunderstandings 56:03 - Keeping Jewish practices 01:04:56 - The Sabbath 01:05:50 - Tradition preserves context 01:11:08 - Understanding St. Paul: A Personal Connection
Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
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