Paul's Christians as Gentile-Jews
Book Description
Joshua D. Garroway tackles one of the most perplexing questions in early Christian history: how could the apostle Paul simultaneously refer to the same group of converts as Jews, Gentiles, and neither Jews nor Gentiles? This scholarly exploration reveals Paul wrestling with fundamental questions of identity that continue to resonate today.
Drawing from ancient debates about what it truly means to be Jewish, Garroway presents Paul as a religious innovator facing an unprecedented challenge. When Gentile converts embraced Christianity through baptism, Paul believed they had genuinely become Jews. Yet describing this spiritual transformation proved remarkably complex, as it required both invoking and transcending traditional categories of Jewish identity.
The author proposes that Paul resolved this tension by creating something entirely new: a hybrid identity that was simultaneously Gentile and Jewish. This fresh perspective illuminates Paul's letters, especially Romans, in ways that challenge conventional interpretations and offer new insights into the apostle's theological reasoning.
Beyond its historical significance, this work invites readers to consider how spiritual transformation shapes identity and belonging. Garroway's analysis reveals Paul's pivotal role in Christianity's early development, showing how one religious leader navigated the delicate balance between honoring tradition and embracing revolutionary change. For those interested in the intersection of faith, identity, and community, this study offers valuable perspectives on how spiritual movements evolve and define themselves.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 235 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore RELIGION / Christianity / History
- ✓ Explore Christians
- ✓ Explore RELIGION / Christian Church / History
- ✓ Explore Gentiles in the New Testament
- ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
- ✓ Explore Identification (Religion)
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Jews in the New Testament
