The New Testament informs us not just concerning the early Christians, it additionally gives us understanding into the perspectives of some first-century Jews. For instance, Luke 18:9– 14 educates us that the Pharisees frequently, however not generally, pulled in adherents who took pride in their own exemplary nature and viewed compromisers — like Jewish assessment authorities — as miscreants past the beauty of God. This negative perspective of their own kinsmen could not hope to compare to the way the Pharisees saw Gentiles who did not have the contract (the Law or its guarantees). Indeed, even Jews who were not Pharisees had a tendency to receive a “us-versus-them” mindset towards Gentiles, which causes us decipher the present entry.

To demonstrate that defense is by confidence alone, Paul has put the Jews on an indistinguishable ground from the Gentiles regarding salvation. … Read the rest