A Hebrew of Hebrews
Paul's Epistle to Galatians within Israel
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 10. August 2026
Book
Hardback
978-3-525-50275-4 (ISBN)
Description
Jakub Pogonowski offers a fresh perspective on Paul and Galatians. Moving beyond traditional readings, he argues Paul neither rejected the Torah nor sought to start a new religion. Linguistic analysis within the context of Second Temple Judaism reveals Paul's full harmony with the Torah. Crucially, the author demonstrates that Paul recognized no separate commandments for Jews and Gentiles; instead, the same divine law applies to all followers of the Messiah. The study redefines "works of the Law" as extrabiblical proselyte transformation rite and other measures used to police the boundaries of Judean identity. Paul opposed these halachic innovations, arguing that Jesus's sacrifice is both sufficient and necessary to enter the covenant of Israel. By challenging traditional definitions of faith and grace, Pogonowski bridges the gap between the New Testament and its Hebrew foundations, proving Paul's message is entirely consistent with the Hebrew Bible and its legal discourse.
More details
Persons
Author
Jakub Pogonowski, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Center for the Study of Judaism, University of Warsaw, and co-chair of the New Testament Writings within Judaism research unit at the European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS).
Integrating nearly twenty years of professional interpreting experience into his scholarship, Pogonowski has been a key contributor to major translation projects of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Mishnah into Polish. Positioning his research at the intersection of early Judaism and biblical linguistics, he brings a unique, philologically grounded perspective to the halakhic and linguistic complexities of the Second Temple period.
Series Editor
Adam Kubis is Professor at the Faculty of Theology / Institute of Biblical Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.