Episode Details

In the inaugural live stream of the class Paul the Pharisee: Faith and Politics in a Divided World, John Dominic Crossan joins me to dig into the radical historical Paul. Crosson argues for the importance of understanding Paul within the context of the historical Jesus, despite Paul's often radical and misunderstood teachings. We explore topics like Paul's controversial stance on gender and slavery, backed by textual analysis, and the influence of his letters within early Christian communities. The session also discusses the story of Thecla as an archetype of Paul's radical vision and how these narratives have been reshaped to fit different sociopolitical contexts. Questions from participants help flesh out the complexities around Paul's portrayal in the New Testament and subsequent interpretations.

To access all 5 of Crossan's lectures, submit questions, and join future live streams, head here to join the class.

John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus, How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, God and Empire, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, The Greatest Prayer, The Last Week, and The Power of Parable. He lives in Minneola, Florida.

Previous Podcast Episodes with Dom & Tripp

• Ask JC Anything
• Diana Butler Bass & John Dominic Crossan: The Resurrection of Jesus
• Brian McLaren & John Dominic Crossan: The Message of Jesus & the Judgement of Civilization
• Brian Zahnd & John Dominic Crossan: God, Violence, Empire, & Salvation
• Why the Biblical Paul is Awesome
• Christian Resurrection & Human Evolution
• The Cross & the Crisis of Civilization
• The Coming Kingdom & the Risen Christ
• The Parables of Jesus & the Parable of God
• How to think about Jesus like a Historian
• the Last Week of Jesus’ Life
• Jesus, Paul, & Bible Questions
• Saving the Biblical Christmas Stories