A Hebrew of Hebrews

Opposing the Proselyte Transformation Rite, Defending Full Torah Praxis: Reclaiming the Hebrew Paul and His Halachic Discourse

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.

• By (author) Jakub Michał Pogonowski
• Series edited by Adam Kubiś