Jesus and Paul before Christianity
Subtitle: their world and work in retrospect
By: V. George Shillington
Publisher: Cascade Books
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Eugene, Or
Language: eng
Number of pages: 251
ISBN-13: 9781608996940
Subjects: Origin; Christianity
Description: Who was the real founder of Christianity as it is known today--Jesus or Paul? What, if any, was the connection between them? These and other questions about the two historical figures have occupied biblical scholars and the Christian church for many years up to the present time. This book proposes new ways of framing the questions as well as new approaches to answering them. Neither Jesus nor Paul spoke of a new world religion, separate from Judaism, that would envelop the planet and last for millennia. This study seeks to locate both figures in their respective places in the first century, in Jewish contexts and within the larger Greco-Roman society. The aim is to transcend the language and thought patterns of later generations of theologians in order to hear more clearly the prophetic voices of Jesus and Paul on their terms and in their social locations. By so doing, Shillington lays the groundwork for a more authentic translation of their vision and mission into modern alternatives, including better Jewish-Christian relations.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-233) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Invitation to read this book; title: Before Christianity; title: Beyond the Jesus-Paul debate; title: Where to look for Jesus; title: The crux of the matter; title: Growing up in lower Galilee; title: From John to Jesus; title: Enacting the kingdom of God; title: Speaking of the kingdom of God; title: The last days in Jerusalem; title: Interface : between Jesus and Paul; title: Prophetic call in Jewish context; title: Gathering the nations into Jesus Messiah; title: Life together in the fellowship of Jesus Messiah; title: Universal restoration : God, Israel, and the nations; title: Conclusion: Jesus first and also Paul.