Reinventing Paul
Reinventing Paul by John G. Gager, published by Oxford University Press on August 24, 2000, is a thought-provoking examination of the Apostle Paul’s teachings and their historical context. This first edition, comprising 208 pages, delves into the long-standing controversies surrounding Paul, particularly the accusations of his role in Christian anti-Semitism. Gager argues that many interpretations of Paul’s writings have been distorted over the centuries, leading to a misunderstanding of his true message.
In this accessible book, Gager analyzes Paul’s letters to the Galatians and the Romans to address critical questions about his views on the Law of Moses, the status of Jews, and the necessity of circumcision for salvation. He contends that Paul’s mission was primarily directed toward Gentiles and that his arguments were aimed at competing factions within the early Jesus movement rather than Judaism itself. By employing familiar rhetorical techniques of his time, Paul’s original intent has often been obscured. Reinventing Paul offers a fresh perspective that invites readers—whether theologians, historians, or laypeople—to reconsider the Apostle’s teachings and their implications for both Christians and Jews.
Official synopsis Publisher
Throughout the Christian era, Paul has stood at the center of controversy, accused of being the father of Christian anti-Semitism. But have we misunderstood the man and his teachings for nearly 2,000 years? In this highly accessible book, John Gager challenges this entrenched view of Paul, arguing persuasively that Paul’s words have been taken out of their original context, distorted, and generally misconstrued.
Gager takes us in search of the “real” Paul–using Paul’s own writings. Through an exhaustive analysis of Paul’s letters to the Galatians and the Romans, he provides illuminating answers to the key questions: Did Paul repudiate the Law of Moses? Did he believe that Jews had been rejected by God and replaced as His chosen people by Gentiles? Did he consider circumcision to be necessary for salvation? And did he expect Jews to find salvation through Jesus? To all these questions, John Gager answers no. First, he puts Paul’s proselytizing in context. Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, not the Jews. His most vehement arguments were directed not against Judaism but against competing apostles in the Jesus movement who demanded that Gentiles be circumcised and conform to Jewish law in order to be saved. Moreover, Paul relied on rhetorical devices that were familiar to his intended audience but opaque to later readers of the letters. As a result, his message has been misunderstood by all succeeding generations.
Reinventing Paul brilliantly sets forth a controversial interpretation of Paul’s teaching. This thought-provoking portrait is essential reading for theologians and lay people, historians and philosophers, Christians and Jews.
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