Paul and the Torah

By Lloyd Gaston

Book Overview

While the task of exegesis after Auschwitz has been to expose theanti-Judaism inherent in the Christian tradition, the founding of theJewish state has also helped show the continuation of the covenantbetween God and Israel. For Lloyd Gaston, the living reality of Judaismmakes possible a better understanding of Paul's prophetic call asApostle to the Gentiles. In Paul and the Torah, Gaston argues that the terms ofPaul's mission must be taken seriously and that it is totallyinappropriate to regard his 'conversion' as a transition fromone religion to another. Paul's congregations were not made up ofChristian Jews: they were exclusively Gentile. Thus he focused onGod's promises to Abraham concerning Gentiles, which were fulfilledin the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. The inclusion of Gentiles in theelect people of God through their incorporation into Christ thus doesnot mean a displacement of Israel. Nowhere does Paul speak of the rejection of Israel as God'schosen people, of the Sinai covenant as no longer in effect for Israel,or of the church as the new and true Israel. He also says nothingagainst the Jewish understanding of Torah as it applies to Israel whenhe speaks of 'law' in reference to Gentiles. But for thoseoutside the covenant God made with Israel, the law acted in anoppressive and condemning way, and Gentiles needed liberation from it.Paradoxically, Paul finds the gospel of this liberation to beproclaimed already in Torah in the sense of scripture.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0774802847
• ISBN13: 9780774802840
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: University of British Columbia Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 9.0"