Paul and "the Works of the Law"

Was Saul/Paul against Torah? And did he make things easier or harder for Gentile worshipers of the God of Israel?

Dr. Mark Nanos is a Jewish historian with a research focus on Saul of Tarsus, a.k.a. the Apostle Paul. He is the author of Reading Paul within Judaism, as well as numerous related studies, and is co-chair of the Paul Within Judaism section at the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on his research, publications, and other activities, please see his website: https://marknanos.com.

In this penetrating conversation with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber of the Israel Bible Center, Dr. Nanos elucidates his latest article, "Re-Framing Paul’s Opposition to Erga Nomou as 'Rites of a Custom' for Proselyte Conversion Completed by the Synecdoche 'Circumcision.'” He argues that Paul's infamous supposed diatribes against "the works of the law" have been grossly misinterpreted throughout history and actually have nothing at all to do with any objection whatsoever to the Biblical Torah. On the contrary, Paul is actually defending Torah (the "Instruction" or "Law" of God) and criticizing an entirely different custom altogether. 

See also Dr. Nanos’ Roundtable Talk on "Paul Within Judaism."