Reading the Way, Paul, and The Jews in Acts within Judaism

Jason F. Moraff challenges the contention that Acts'' sharp rhetoric and portrayal of "the Jews" reflects anti-Judaism and supersessionism . He argues that, rather than constructing Christian identity in contrast to Judaism, Acts binds the Way, Paul, and "the Jews" together into a shared identity as Israel, and that together they embark on a journey of repentance with common Jewishness providing the foundation. Acts leverages Jewish kinship, language, cult, and custom to portray the Way, Paul, and "the Jews" as one family debating the direction of their ancestral tradition. Using a historically situated narrative approach, Moraff frames Acts'' portrayal of the Way and Paul in relation to the Jewish people as participating in internecine conflict regarding the Jewish tradition-in-crisis, after the destruction of the temple. By exploring ancient ethnicity, Jewish identity and Lukan characterization, images of the Jews, the Way, and Paul, violence in Acts and the theme of blindness in Luke''s gospel, the Pauline writings and Acts, Moraff stresses that Acts speaks from "among my own nation," meaning "the Jews", and makes it possible to understand Acts'' critical characterization of "the Jews" within Second Temple Judaism.>

Préface
Jason F. Moraff argues that Acts uses common Jewish ethnicity and parallel characterization to bind the Way, Paul, and the Jews together into a shared identity as Israel, God's covenant people, on a communal journey of repentance.

Auteur
Jason F. Moraff is assistant professor of biblical studies at The King's University in Southlake, USA.

Résumé
Jason F. Moraff challenges the contention that Acts' sharp rhetoric and portrayal of the Jews reflects anti-Judaism and supersessionism. He argues that, rather than constructing Christian identity in contrast to Judaism, Acts binds the Way, Paul, and the Jews together into a shared identity as Israel, and that together they embark on a journey of repentance with common Jewishness providing the foundation. Acts leverages Jewish kinship, language, cult, and custom to portray the Way, Paul, and the Jews as one family debating the direction of their ancestral tradition. Using a historically situated narrative approach, Moraff frames Acts' portrayal of the Way and Paul in relation to the Jewish people as participating in internecine conflict regarding the Jewish tradition-in-crisis, after the destruction of the temple. By exploring ancient ethnicity, Jewish identity and Lukan characterization, images of the Jews, the Way, and Paul, violence in Acts and the theme of blindness in Luke's gospel, the Pauline writings and Acts, Moraff stresses that Acts speaks from among my own nation, meaning the Jews, and makes it possible to understand Acts' critical characterization of the Jews within Second Temple Judaism.

Contenu
Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Chapter One: Nothing against My Nation: Acts, Jews, and Judaism Chapter Two: I am a Jew: Ancient Ethnicity, Jewish Identity, and Lukan Characterization Chapter Three: Like You Are Today: Images of the Jews, the Way, and Paul Chapter Four: I Persecuted This Way: Agents of Violence in Acts Chapter Five: I Could Not See: Israel's Blindness, Paul, and the End of Acts Conclusion: Among My Own Nation Bibliography Index