How Jewish Was Paul, Really? Rabbi Joe Charnes and Ryan Lambert in Conversation

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In this Bridge Builders Forum episode, Ryan Lambert sits down with Rabbi Joe Charnes to explore one of the most important and debated questions in biblical interpretation:

How Jewish was the Apostle Paul, really?

This conversation comes from a recent Bridge Builders Forum Coffee & Connection live gathering, where Rabbi Joe and Ryan continued a thoughtful discussion that began in an earlier episode about Paul as a Jewish figure.

Both speakers approach Paul as Jewish interpreters who respect him deeply, yet they arrive at different conclusions about how Paul related to Judaism after becoming a follower of Jesus and the apostle to the Gentiles.

Did Paul move beyond Judaism?
Did he remain fully within it?
Or does the answer require more nuance than the traditional categories allow?

In this conversation, Rabbi Joe and Ryan explore questions such as:

• How Jewish interpreters understand Paul today
• Whether Paul continued to affirm Jewish practices such as Torah observance
• How Paul has been misunderstood by both Jews and Christians
• Why Paul still shapes modern Jewish–Christian relationships

Importantly, this discussion models something that is often missing in conversations about Paul: respectful dialogue between friends who share common ground but do not hold identical views.

At Bridge Builders Forum, we believe these kinds of conversations help Jews and Christians better understand their faith, the Bible, and each other.

If you are interested in Paul, Jewish–Christian relations, or the historical context of the New Testament, this conversation will offer insight, nuance, and thoughtful engagement.

Bridge Builders Forum
An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other.

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Download the free PDF "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"

The Weird Apostle
Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context.

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