Paul and Jesus: How the Apostle Transformed Christianity

276 Pages·2012·3 MB·English

by  James D. Tabor

PRAISE FOR PAUL AND JESUS
“James Tabor is a meticulous historian who carefully and convincingly lays out
the actual Jewish theology of earliest Christianity which lies shrouded in the New
Testament. . . . Tabor’s thorough yet succinct writing style brings a welcome new
clarity to our understanding of the development of Christianity.”
—The Rev. Jeffrey J. Bütz, S.T.M., adjunct professor of Religious Studies, Penn State University, and
author of The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity
“A fresh, imaginative and insightful treatment of the original years of the
Christian faith. It is not as we have been taught through the centuries. It is
infinitely more complex and infinitely more exciting. James Tabor makes this
clear.”
—John Shelby Spong, author of Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World
“This superb, well written book carefully shows just how different Paul’s religion
was from that of Jesus and his first followers. . . . A fascinating book, packed with
illuminating insights. Highly recommended.”
—Barrie Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, Humanities and Religious Studies, York University, and author of
How Jesus Became Christian
“Tabor does a particularly fine job of explaining Paul’s unique view of Jesus. . . .
The crisp, clear writing gives readers much to consider—especially the fact that it
is a Pauline Christianity that most Christians practice today. . . . The depth of his
scholarship shows, but he also makes this an enjoyable read for those who want
to know more about one of history’s great mysteries.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Digging beneath the acceptable, scholars like Tabor . . . break through
assumptions—even the sacred ones—and give rise to new perspectives and
stories.”
—Robert Orlando, Huffington Post
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CONTENTS
MAP: THE WORLD OF PAUL
TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS AND FIGURES
PREFACE: DISCOVERING PAUL
INTRODUCTION: PAUL AND JESUS
ONE: CHRISTIANITY BEFORE PAUL
TWO: RETHINKING RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
THREE: READING THE GOSPELS IN THE LIGHT OF PAUL
FOUR: LAST BUT NOT LEAST
FIVE: A COSMIC FAMILY AND A HEAVENLY KINGDOM
SIX: A MYSTICAL UNION WITH CHRIST
SEVEN: ALREADY BUT NOT YET
EIGHT: THE TORAH OF CHRIST
NINE: THE “BATTLE OF THE APOSTLES”
APPENDIX: THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL PAUL
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT JAMES D. TABOR
NOTES
INDEX
TO MY ESTEEMED TEACHER
JONATHAN Z. SMITH
WHO FIRST TAUGHT ME TO MAKE
THE FAMILIAR STRANGE
AND THE STRANGE FAMILIAR

TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS AND FIGURES
63 B.C. Roman conquest of Palestine by Pompey; Judea made a province
31 B.C.–A.D. 14 Rule of Augustus, 1st emperor of Rome
37–4 B.C. Rule of Herod the Great, King of the Jews, over Palestine
4 B.C. Death of Herod the Great and uprisings in Galilee and Judea
5 B.C. Birth of John the Baptizer, Jesus, and Paul
4 B.C.–A.D. 39 Rule of Herod Antipas, son of Herod, over Galilee and Perea
A.D. 14–37 Rule of Tiberius, 2nd emperor of Rome
A.D. 29
Execution of John the Baptizer
A.D. 30
Execution of Jesus
A.D. 37 Conversion of Paul to the Nazarene movement
A.D. 37–41 Rule of Caligula, 3rd emperor of Rome
A.D. 41–54 Rule of Claudius, 4th emperor of Rome
A.D. 50