The commentary tradition regarding 1 Corinthians unanimously identifies the «weak» as Christ-followers whose faith was not yet sufficient to indulge in the eating of idol food with indifference, as if ideally Paul wanted them to become «strong» enough to do so. Commentaries also do not hesitate to explain that Paul advised the Corinthians that he behaved like non-Jews (e.g., ate idol food) in order to win non-Jews to Christ, convinced that he was free from any obligation to observe Jewish...
The dominant portrayals of the apostle Paul are of a figure who no longer valued Jewish identity and behavior, opposing them for both Jew and non-Jew in his assemblies. This prevailing version of Paul depends heavily upon certain interpretations of key «flashpoint» passages. In this book and the subsequent volumes in this series, Mark Nanos undertakes to test a «Paul within Judaism» (re)reading of the apostle, especially of these «flashpoint» texts. Nanos demonstrates how traditional...
Over fifty years ago, Vatican II's Nostra Aetate 4 drew from Romans 11 to challenge the way Paul's voice has been used to negatively discuss Jews and Judaism. The church called for Catholics to conceptualize Jews as «brothers» in «an everlasting covenant,» and many other Christian organizations have expressed similar sentiments in the years since. Nevertheless, the portrayal of Jews as «branches broken off,» «hardened,» «without faith,» «disobedient,» and «enemies of God» whom...
