Research exploring the scholarly debate about who “created” Christianity - examining the theory that Jesus operated within Judaism while Paul’s theological developments led to Christianity as a separate religion.

Core Questions

  • Did Jesus intend to start a new religion, or was he a Jewish reformer?
  • What role did Paul play in shaping Christianity as distinct from Judaism?
  • What is the relationship between the Noahide Laws and early Christian teachings?
  • When and how did Christianity become a separate religion from Judaism?

Documents

DocumentDescription
Jesus as Jewish Teacher vs Paul as Christianity’s ArchitectComprehensive examination of scholarly perspectives on Jesus’s Jewish identity versus Paul’s theological innovations
Gospel of Thomas Authenticity AnalysisSystematic application of four scholarly criteria (Multiple Attestation, Embarrassment, Dissimilarity, Orality) to evaluate Thomas’s authenticity
Pauline Epistles Authenticity AnalysisSystematic application of scholarly criteria (Style/Vocabulary, Theological Content, Historical Context, Internal Evidence) to evaluate which of the 13 Pauline letters Paul actually wrote

Key Scholars Referenced

  • Geza Vermes - “Jesus the Jew” thesis, Third Quest for the Historical Jesus
  • Bart Ehrman - Paul and Jesus comparative analysis
  • Daniel Boyarin - “Paul Within Judaism” perspective
  • Paula Fredriksen - Paul and Gentile inclusion
  • Hyam Maccoby - Controversial theories on Paul’s origins