376 - Fr. Stephen De Young - St. Paul the Pharisee
Digest
This podcast features Father Stephen DeYoung discussing his book on St. Paul, arguing for a reinterpretation of Pauline theology grounded in its first-century Jewish context. The discussion challenges common misinterpretations stemming from isolating Pauline epistles from their historical and scriptural context. Key themes include a nuanced understanding of "works of the law" as referring to specific Jewish practices, not simply "good works"; the dangers of ontologizing specific concepts in scripture; the importance of recognizing St. Paul's mystical experiences and his understanding of spiritual warfare; and the need to avoid anachronistic criticisms of early Christianity. The podcast also emphasizes the diversity of Christian life, highlighting St. Paul's message of faithfulness to individual callings rather than a single, universal model. Finally, it connects St. Paul's teachings to first-century cosmology and its relevance to understanding contemporary challenges, particularly in the context of technological advancements and AI.
Outlines
Reinterpreting St. Paul: Context and Continuity & St. Paul's Epistles and Contemporary Christian Disputes
The podcast begins by highlighting the absence of certain theological interpretations in the Gospels, emphasizing that many modern interpretations of St. Paul misrepresent his views by isolating his epistles from their historical context as a first-century Jewish Pharisee.
"Works of the Law" Reinterpreted & The Dangers of Ontologizing Concepts
The discussion clarifies the meaning of "works of the law," showing it referred to specific Jewish practices, not simply "good works," and explores the dangers of overemphasizing specific concepts in scripture, leading to misinterpretations.
St. Paul, Mysticism, and Caricatures & Anachronistic Criticisms of Early Christianity
The conversation addresses the common caricature of St. Paul as solely a legalistic theologian, highlighting the limitations of this interpretation and critiques anachronistic criticisms of early Christianity, particularly regarding slavery.
Faithfulness and Particular Callings & Reconnecting with First-Century Cosmology
The core of St. Paul's message is presented as faithfulness to individual callings, emphasizing the diversity of Christian life, and the conversation concludes by emphasizing the relevance of first-century cosmology and principalities in understanding the modern world.
Keywords
St. Paul
A reinterpretation of the Apostle Paul's teachings within their historical and scriptural context.
Second Temple Judaism
The Jewish religious and cultural context of the first century CE, crucial for understanding St. Paul.
Works of the Torah
A more accurate translation of "works of the law," referring to specific Jewish practices.
Spiritual Warfare
The concept of a cosmic struggle between good and evil, central to St. Paul's teachings.
Eschatology
The theological study of "last things," challenging a purely future-oriented understanding.
First-Century Cosmology
The cosmological understanding of the first century and its relevance to the modern world.
Apostolic Succession
The historical and theological concept of the unbroken line of authority from the apostles.
Historical Context
The importance of understanding St. Paul's writings within their historical context.
Q&A
How does understanding St. Paul's Jewish context change our interpretation of his writings?
Reading St. Paul as a first-century Jewish Pharisee clarifies his teachings, particularly regarding "works of the law."
What are the dangers of isolating specific passages from their broader scriptural and historical context?
Isolating passages leads to misinterpretations and neglects other crucial teachings, potentially leading to extreme theological positions.
How does the concept of spiritual warfare inform our understanding of St. Paul's mission and the early church?
St. Paul viewed his mission as a spiritual battle, impacting his actions and teachings, and offering a cosmic perspective on the early church's impact.
How does St. Paul's understanding of hierarchy differ from modern interpretations?
St. Paul's hierarchy is grounded in mutual self-sacrifice, contrasting with modern power structures.
How does a contextual understanding of St. Paul reconcile apparent differences between his teachings and those of other early Christians?
Perceived conflicts arise from misinterpretations; St. Paul clarified that Jewish practices weren't prerequisites for Gentile conversion.
Show Notes
-Buy Fr. Stephen’s book on the Ancient Faith Store - Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations: https://store.ancientfaith.com/saint-paul-the-pharisee-jewish-apostle-to-all-nations/
-On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Paul-Pharisee-Apostle-Nations/dp/1955890706
==========Book description==========
The centuries after the Protestant Reformation brought about a radical reinterpretation of the epistles of St. Paul, disconnected from any historical reality. But Paul operated, during his entire life, as a faithful Pharisee within the Roman Jewish world. In Saint Paul the Pharisee: Jewish Apostle to All Nations, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys Paul’s life and writings, interpreting them within the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. This survey is followed by De Young’s interpretive translation of St. Paul’s epistles, which deliberately avoids overly familiar terminology. By using words and ideas grounded in first-century Judaism, De Young hopes to unsettle commonly held notions and help the reader reassess St. Paul in his historical context.
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==========Other links==========
Lord of Spirits podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/
Fr. Stephen’s talk at the Symbolic World Summit 2024, Friedrich Nietzsche’s Guide to the Bodily Resurrection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OVbxZJ463Q
Daily Wire The Gospels seminar: https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-gospels
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==========Timestamps==========
00:00 - Coming up
01:13 - Intro music
01:38 - Introduction to St. Paul and Contextual Understanding
06:16 - Settling the "works vs faith" debate
13:06 - St. Paul and the Gospels: A Unified Message
15:37 - Scholasticism vs Mysticism
20:17 - The Transformation of Society through St. Paul's Vision
24:19 - Slavery and Christian Ethics in St. Paul's Writings
32:34 - The Kingdom of Heaven is already here
38:15 - Hierarchy bad
39:58 - The core of St. Paul's teachings: Faithfulness
41:34 - The Call to Individual Purpose
46:32 - The Nature of Christian Hierarchy
51:32 - St. Paul: Context and Misunderstandings
56:03 - Keeping Jewish practices
01:04:56 - The Sabbath
01:05:50 - Tradition preserves context
01:11:08 - Understanding St. Paul: A Personal Connection
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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
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