E. P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977)

Abstract

A contribution of the "new perspective on Paul" to New Testament Scholarship is that it provides a crucial clue to reconsidering the pervasive misunderstandings and misrepresentations of Judaism widespread among religious scholars. The publication of E. P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism in 1977 triggered controversies over Paul's relationship to Judaism in the new perspective. In his book Sanders attempts a new understanding of Paul and Palestinian Judaism. My paper aims to summarize several key points of his book and suggest some problems with which it may be confronted.