Paul's famous "submit to governing authorities" may not have been about Rome. Reading Romans 13 in its synagogue setting reveals a different take on who the "rulers" were, and what Paul may have meant.
Is the New Testament antisemitic? Scholars like Amy Jill-Levine would argue, though it wasn't intended, the texts have been read to that conclusion.
Paul's teachings are seen as a break from Judaism, but what if his ideas on Jewish and Gentile identity are not a rejection of Rabbinic thought, but deeply rooted in it? How does that change how we read a pivotal verse in 1 Corinthians?
For centuries, Paul's vision of the “One New Man” has been used to erase Jewish identity in the name of Christian unity. But what if we've misunderstood him entirely?
The New Testament, particularly the letters of Paul, reflects the Jewish legal process (Halacha) in the era before the codification of the Mishnah (cir. 2nd century). In this podcast episode, learn the fundamentals of Jewish law and see how these ideas transform your understanding.
Did Paul teach the Gentiles early kabbalistic ideas about the Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshamah? If so, this may make his letters some of the earliest appearances of these ideas. How does this change the understanding of these popular verses?
Is heaven the soul's last stop, or is there more? In this article, we will explore the tradition behind the ideas of the Messianic era, Heaven, and the World to Come - including a few key references to these in the New Testament.
One of the most important components to understanding the "New Testament" is found amid an incident that most Bible readers have never heard of. We'll learn how a particular disagreement between predominant Pharisaic schools shaped the contours and the perplexing milieu of first-century Judaism.
The writings of the Apostle Paul, commonly known as the Epistles, hold immense significance in Christian theology. How will we re-evaluate his letters if we view them within a specific Rabbinic correspondence framework?
Does G_D rule the world through a Divine Council of supernal angels? For many, this may be a new idea, however, deep within the Rabbinic tradition, this is quite ancient.
Of course, Paul converted, right? The chapter heading says so, and his name was changed to Saul, wasn't it?
With this article, we will start to cover some of the more complex concepts that are featured in the New Testament. Hopefully, we'll lay a foundation to understand ideas many see as controversial and/or a major departure from Jewish thought.
