Paul the Jewish Theologian: A Pharisee among Christians, Jews, and Gentiles [Paperback]

Brad H. Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

Paul the Jewish Theologian reveals Saul of Tarsus as a man who, though rejected in the synagogue, never truly left Judaism. Author Young disagrees with long held notions that Hellenism was the context which most influenced Paul's communication of the Gospel. This skewed notion has led to widely divergent interpretations of Paul's writings. Only in rightly aligning Paul as rooted in his Jewishness and training as a Pharisee can he be correctly interpreted. Young asserts that Paul's view of the Torah was always positive, and he separates Jesus' mission among the Jews from Paul's call to the Gentiles.

"The Pharisee Saul of Tarsus is arguably one of the most influential religious figures in the history of Western culture. . . . Brad Young is one of the important theologians who is leading the way for Christians to explore the Jewish roots of Jesus, Paul, and Christianity. . . . Brad Young has endeavored to excavate Paul's Pharisaic roots for all to examine, while at the same time leaving the family tree firmly planted and continuing to grow."
—Rabbi Dr. Burton Visotzky, Appleman Chair of Midrash and Interreligious Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York

"Brad Young offers an extremely well-informed, insightful study of Paul as a Jewish theologian. . . . Among the many important qualities Brad Young gained from his years of study from Jewish scholars is a love for and an almost exclusive focus upon the text, what it actually says and does not say; and this perspective has led him to some new, important, and sometimes 'unorthodox' conclusions."
—Rev. Dr. Cheryl Anne Brown, Professor/Consultant, Theological Assistance Group, European Baptist Federation

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brad H. Young, Ph.D. Hebrew University, studied under David Flusser and is the author of Jesus and His Jewish Parables and The Jewish Background to the Lord's Prayer. He is the president and founder of the Gospel Research Foundation, which is committed to exploring the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and is on the editorial board of the Compendia Rerum Iudaicarum ad Novum Testamentum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565632486
• ISBN-13: 978-1565632486
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Congregations & Orders

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nothing really new here, June 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Paul the Jewish Theologian: A Pharisee among Christians, Jews, and Gentiles (Paperback)

I got this book with much anticipation because of his previous book Jesus, Jewish Theologian. I was expecting some in-depth analysis of Paul's theology and how it related Judiasm to Gentile Christians. I was disappointed because the book was very sketchy and he basically took the discussion in Jesus, Jewish Theologian and applied it to Paul. In fact there was much redundant material between the two. He also repeated the same details throughout this book. If you haven't read anything by Young, find Jesus, Jewish Theologian and read it. Otherwise, save your time and money.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Young needs to interact with other scholars and more texts, December 31, 2002

By 

Scott Wheeler (Libby, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paul the Jewish Theologian: A Pharisee among Christians, Jews, and Gentiles (Paperback)

Dr. Young has a generally interested premise. One which is important and obviously must be considered when dealing with Pauline literature - namely that Paul always, to his dying day, considered himself a Pharisee and identified his theology with that of the Pharisees.

The major downfalls are twofold. The first problem is that he doesn't have a lot of interaction with contemporary scholarship. I realize that among Messianic Jews, or even gentile Christians interested in Jewish roots, Bultman is a menace. It doesn't follow that we throw out the research and scholarship of more liberal schools, rather we should interact with them. And contrary to one reviewer, not all who disagree with Young's conclusions are leftist scholars. Regardless, of the positioning of his opponents, the only area in his book that he even attempts to interact with other scholars is in the end notes. Kind of leaves a dry taste in you mouth.

The second problem is the lack of discussion of problem texts. Young interacts with Matt. 5:17 (which isn't even Pauline, the subject of the book) acceptably, and has some interesting points on occurances in Acts, but leaves out discussing problem texts in Galatians, Colossians, Romans, and 1 Corinthians.

Dr. Young's thesis is by no means original, so it would have been nice if he had made some contributions to the discussion, but the book was generally just restating the same arguments that have always been presented from the Jewish roots supporters. In the future I'd like to see Dr. Young write a more technical book such as other Jewish roots scholars are doing (alla Nanos) and actually make contributions to the discussion instead of restating the same ol' arguments.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paul the Jewish Theologian, April 28, 2001

By 

Barbara Di Gilio (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul the Jewish Theologian: A Pharisee among Christians, Jews, and Gentiles (Paperback)

All of Dr. Young's books are wonderful, and great for reading as well as for in-depth Bible study groups. This book is more then interesting, its a must read! Too long has the Church looked with "Greek eyes" at "Jewish things." Dr. Young teaches that the allegorical interpretations of the parables of Yeshua (Jesus) as taught by early Church fathers are far from the Roots System, Judaism. Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi, His means of teaching was indeed Hebraic, and not Greek as so many believe it to be. When He returns, He will still be Jewish, Dr. Young's books all point to this fact. We at Mayim Hayim Ministries rate this book 5 stars, and our prayer would be that it would be read by many many more pastors and teachers. Great book for home schooling.