71 – Life at the End of the World: The Imminent Eschatology of Paul | Dr. Matthew Novenson

Paul's relationship with Jewish law is notoriously difficult to grasp. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Novenson joins the podcast and proposes a new interpretive framework to make sense of the prolific apostle—Paul saw himself as a Jew, not at the end of Judaism, but at the end of history. Dr. Novenson is a Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of “Paul and Judaism at the End of History.” In this conversation we will examine Paul's views on justification, legalism, and chauvinism, as well as his criticism of Jewish conversion for Gentiles. These perspectives help explain some of the tensions and seeming contradictions in his letters as he addressed communities he believed were on the cusp of a radical transformation to a new era of human history.

—  Takeaways  —

►  Paul's view of himself and Judaism: Paul considered himself a Jew and did not see his teachings as a departure from Judaism but rather as a part of its historical progression.

►  Paul's imminent eschatology and its implications: Paul's belief in the imminent end of the age and the coming of the new creation heavily influenced his views on the law, justification, and conversion. 

►  The interpretation of "justification": The concept of justification in Paul's letters is interpreted as a "transfer term" referring to the transfer into the new creation rather than merely a forensic declaration of righteousness.

►  Paul's opponents: Contrary to the common assumption that Paul's opponents were Jewish, Dr. Novenson suggests that they were actually Gentile converts advocating for proselyte circumcision.

►  Paul's "legalism": Dr. Novenson challenges the traditional view of Paul as being anti-legalistic by pointing out instances in his letters where he sets strict standards and prohibitions, indicating a form of "legalism."

—  Chapters  —

(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Matthew Novenson

(06:30) Galatians 1:3 – Did Paul abandon Judaism? 

(11:28) How Imminent Theology Informed Paul’s View of Justification

(16:57) Paul’s Opponents Regarding Circumcision and Conversion

(26:29) Legalism: Paul as a Legalist

(30:57) Paul’s Ethnic Perspective and Chauvinism

(38:20) Perspectives that Emerge from a World Steeped in Idolatry 

(40:37) Romans 10:4 – Paul’s View of the Law Based on the End of History

(48:52) Imminent Eschatology and Its Implications

(58:30) Reception of Paul’s Eschatology in Contemporary Scholarship

(01:04:56) Methodological Approaches to Jewish Texts in New Testament Studies 

—  Resources  —

Paul and Judaism at the End of History, by Dr. Matthew Novenson

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