The Bridge Builders Forum Mark Nanos on Paul Within Judaism: Its Past, Present, and Future
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Sep 9, 2025 Mark Nanos, a New Testament scholar and a leading authority on the 'Paul within Judaism' perspective, shares insights from his journey into biblical scholarship. He argues that Paul was a Torah-observant Jew, reframing how we understand his teachings on Gentiles. The discussion covers the impact of translations on interpretations of Paul, emphasizing the need for new translations that align with this viewpoint. Nanos also explores the implications of his research for improving Jewish-Christian relations and the future direction of the Paul within Judaism movement.
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From Business Owner To Paul Scholar
- Mark Nanos left a business career to study Paul after an undergrad interest in Jewish studies sparked a decades-long re-evaluation of Paul.
- He pursued scholarship partly from a humanitarian motive to correct harmful Christian portrayals of Jews.
Paul As Intra‑Jewish Figure
- Nanos argues Paul should be read as operating within first-century Judaism, not as an apostate who founded a separate religion.
- That shift reorients Paul's criticisms as intra-Jewish debates, not anti-Jewish polemic.
Synagogue Subgroups, Not Separate Churches
- Nanos insists Paul wrote to synagogue subgroups, not independent Gentile churches, shifting how we read communal practices and disputes.
- Viewing assemblies as Jewish subgroups explains Paul's appeals to Torah, calendar, and communal norms.
