In the inaugural live stream of the class Paul the Pharisee: Faith and Politics in a Divided World, John Dominic Crossan joins me to dig into the radical historical Paul. Crosson argues for the importance of understanding Paul within the context of the historical Jesus, despite Paul's often radical and misunderstood teachings. We explore topics like Paul's controversial stance on gender and slavery, backed by textual analysis, and the influence of his letters within early Christian communities. The session also discusses the story of Thecla as an archetype of Paul's radical vision and how these narratives have been reshaped to fit different sociopolitical contexts. Questions from participants help flesh out the complexities around Paul's portrayal in the New Testament and subsequent interpretations.To access all 5 of Crossan's lectures, submit questions, and join future live streams, head here to join the class.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
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 CrossanJoin 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.Through the lens of his letters and historical context, we will explore Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ Life-Vision, his interpretation of the Execution-and-Resurrection, and their implications for nonviolence and faithful resistance against empire. Each week, we will delve into a specific aspect of Paul’s theology and legacy, reflecting on its relevance for our own age of autocracy and political turmoil. . For details and to sign-up for any donation, including 0, head over here._____________________Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.comFollow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices