Jesus, Paul and the Law

Jesus, Paul and the Law examines the complex relationship between Jesus' teachings, Paul's theology, and Jewish law in early Christianity. The book focuses on how both Jesus and Paul interpreted and responded to Torah observance and Jewish legal traditions. Dunn analyzes key passages from the Gospels and Pauline epistles to trace the development of attitudes toward the law in first-century Christianity. The work compares Jesus' approach to Sabbath, purity laws, and other Torah requirements with Paul's later teachings on law and grace. The text explores tensions between maintaining Jewish identity and expanding the faith to Gentiles, particularly through Paul's ministry. Dunn presents historical context about Second Temple Judaism and early Christian communities to frame these theological discussions. This scholarly work contributes to ongoing debates about continuity versus discontinuity between Judaism and early Christianity, while addressing fundamental questions about religious law, faith, and the formation of Christian doctrine.

Readers note this book offers a detailed analysis of how Jesus and Paul interpreted Jewish law, though some found it dense and technical for non-academic readers. Strengths mentioned in reviews: - Clear explanations of complex theological concepts - Strong scholarship on the Jewish context of early Christianity - Thorough examination of primary sources - Balanced treatment of different scholarly perspectives Common criticisms: - Academic writing style can be difficult to follow - Assumes prior knowledge of Biblical Greek and Hebrew - Some sections are repetitive - Cost is high for a relatively short book Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) Multiple reviewers suggested reading Dunn's other works first to better understand his arguments. One seminary student called it "invaluable for understanding the New Perspective on Paul," while another reader found it "too technical for casual study."

Paul and Palestinian Judaism by E.P. Sanders This work reframes the relationship between early Christianity and Judaism through analysis of Second Temple period texts and Paul's writings.

The New Perspective on Paul by James D.G. Dunn The book examines Paul's understanding of the law and justification within its first-century Jewish context.

Paul: An Apostle's Journey by Douglas A. Campbell The text explores Paul's theological development through historical analysis of his missionary journeys and letters.

Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God by Brian S. Rosner This study investigates Paul's complex relationship with Torah through examination of his letters and Jewish theological concepts.

The Law in Jewish Christian Sources by Peter J. Tomson The work traces the development of Jewish law interpretation in early Christian communities through textual analysis.

🔹 James D.G. Dunn coined the influential term "New Perspective on Paul" in 1982, which revolutionized scholarly understanding of Paul's writings about Jewish law and justification 🔹 The book challenges traditional Protestant interpretations of Paul's views on the law, suggesting Paul opposed not Judaism itself, but rather its ethnocentric exclusivity 🔹 Dunn's work demonstrates how Jesus' teachings about the law were radically inclusive for his time, welcoming tax collectors and "sinners" who were typically ostracized by religious authorities 🔹 The author served as Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University (1990-2003), a position named after biblical scholar Joseph Lightfoot, whose work on Paul greatly influenced the field 🔹 The book's analysis of the "works of the law" (ergon nomou) suggests these primarily referred to Jewish identity markers like circumcision and dietary laws, rather than moral behavior in general