"Paul and the Philosophers" - The Jewish Paul in Athens

Luke's account of Paul in Athens is one of the most famous scenes in the Book of Acts. Paul's masterful ability to adapt his rhetoric to his audience is on full display. However, in addition to adapting his rhetoric, most interpreters also understand Paul to have adapted his behavior—particularly his Torah observance—depending on his audience. But did Paul really have the flexible attitude toward the Torah that most interpreters assume?

In this episode, Ryan Lambert argues that "the Jewish Paul" remained a loyal Jew within Judaism even as he brought the gospel to places like Athens. Along the way, he explores Paul's encounter with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, the significance of the Areopagus, and what Acts 17 reveals about Paul's Jewish identity and his engagement with the Greco-Roman world.

This episode is an excerpt from Bridge Builders Forum's online study, Journey with the Jewish Paul, in which participants "journey" to cities Paul visited and/or wrote to, including Athens, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and Corinth. The series also serves as a preview of the 2027 Journey with the Jewish Paul Cruise, where participants will visit many of these cities in person.

Learn more about the Journey with the Jewish Paul cruise at https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/expeditions

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Download the free PDF "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians" 

The Weird Apostle 
Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context.

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