Paul Among Diaspora Jews: Anomaly or Apostate?
Since Paul spent most of his Christian life in the Diaspora, it makes sense to compare his mutation of the Jewish tradition with the socio-cultural stances of other Diaspora Jews. To this end, the concept of 'Hellenization' needs to be broken down, here into three categories: assimilation,...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
1996
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the New Testament
Year: 1996, Volume: 18, Issue: 60, Pages: 89-119 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Since Paul spent most of his Christian life in the Diaspora, it makes sense to compare his mutation of the Jewish tradition with the socio-cultural stances of other Diaspora Jews. To this end, the concept of 'Hellenization' needs to be broken down, here into three categories: assimilation, acculturation and accommodation. After placing some other Diaspora Jews on each spectrum, Paul's theology and social practice are examined. He emerges as one quite highly assimilated, but comparatively low in acculturation and accommodation. Anomalously, he deracinates a culturally conserva tive form of Judaism for the sake of his largely Gentile churches. But is he also an apostate? The term is, in fact, not an objective category but a label which can be differentially applied by insiders. Thus, study of Paul's theology and self-descrip tions matter less in social terms than his treatment at the hands of his fellow Jews. Jewish hostility and synagogue beatings probably indicate that Paul was consistently repudiated as an 'apostate', despite his continuing loyalties to the Jewish people. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5294 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the New Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0142064X9601806004 |