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Did Paul redefine Israel in Romans 9 or defend Israel’s covenant identity?

Romans 9:6 is one of the most debated verses in Paul’s letters. Many Christians read it as proof that “true” Israel is no longer ethnic Israel, but a spiritual category made up only of believers in Jesus. But is that what Paul meant?

In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we dig into Romans 9:1–6 and look closely at Paul’s anguish for his people, his present-tense affirmation of Israel’s covenant privileges, and the translation challenges that have shaped common misunderstandings of verse 6. Drawing on the work of scholars like William S. Campbell and Mark Nanos, we’ll see why Paul wasn’t redefining Israel at all. Instead, he was defending her.

This episode will help you see Romans 9 in a whole new light and why this matters for Jewish-Christian relations today.

Bridge Builders Forum
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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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Are Christians the “Spiritual Jews” Paul Talks About in Romans 2?

What does Paul really mean in Romans 2:28–29 when he says, “A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart”?

For centuries, this passage has been used to argue that Christians are now the “real” or “spiritual Jews.” But is that what Paul was teaching in Romans 2?

In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore the meaning of Romans 2:17–29. You’ll learn why Paul isn’t redefining Jewish identity or replacing it. Instead, Paul is confronting a Gentile who wrongly assumes a Jewish identity through circumcision.

We’ll challenge the common interpretation of Romans 2 that supports replacement theology and show why Paul remained deeply rooted within Judaism.

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

What if the Apostle Paul showed up at church this Sunday to deliver a sermon on God’s heart for Israel?

In this special episode of Bridge Builders Forum, Ryan Lambert shares a powerful message delivered at The Church at Bushland in Amarillo, Texas. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and the Jewish context of Paul’s letters, Ryan invites listeners to rediscover the real Paul—a Jewish apostle, a bridge builder, and a passionate advocate for the enduring relationship between Christians and the Jewish people.

In this timely and eye-opening message, you’ll hear:

Why Paul would urge the Church to stay positively connected to the Jewish people

How anti-Judaism still subtly shows up in Christian theology and language

Why “Pharisee” isn't a slur—and what Paul actually meant

A bold call to build bridges, not barriers, between Jews and Christians

What Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and today’s Church can learn from Romans 11

This is more than a sermon. It’s a heartfelt invitation to see Paul, and the gospel, through a more faithful, Jewish lens.

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

What is Galatians really about?

Many Christians assume Paul wrote Galatians to declare freedom from the Torah and pronounce Judaism a spiritual dead end. But what if that common interpretation misses the point entirely?

In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we take a fresh look at Paul’s letter to the Galatians and discover that he wasn’t rejecting Judaism or the Torah at all. Instead, Paul was confronting a specific idea: that Gentile followers of Jesus needed to be circumcised in order to truly belong in God’s family.

We explore what Paul meant by “works of the law” (erga nomou), why “customary rites” may be a better translation, and how this impacts Jewish-Christian understanding today.

If you’ve ever wrestled with Galatians, or wondered how Paul truly viewed the Law and Jewish identity, this episode is for you.

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

What is the Talmud—and what does it have to do with Jesus, Paul, and the New Testament?

In this episode of the Bridge Builders Forum, Ryan Lambert is joined by Dr. Isaac Oliver, a scholar of early Judaism and Christian origins, to explore the true nature of the Talmud and its role in Jewish tradition. Together, they unpack common misconceptions, trace the development of rabbinic literature, and discuss how the Talmud can illuminate the Jewish roots of Christianity.

They also confront the ways the Talmud has been misused to promote antisemitism and challenge listeners to think more deeply about Jewish-Christian understanding.

Whether you’re new to the Talmud or curious how it connects with your faith, this episode offers clarity, context, and insight.

Learn more about Talmud for Everyone at https://www.talmudforeveryone.com/

Talmud for Everyone YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@TalmudforEveryone

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

What does Paul really mean by “One New Man” in Ephesians 2:15?
In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore how a widely misunderstood phrase has fueled theological confusion and erased the very Jewish-Gentile harmony Paul worked to establish.

Is “One New Man” about replacing identities—or reconciling them?
You’ll learn why mistranslations have shaped Christian theology for centuries, what Paul’s original Greek actually says, and how recovering his true vision challenges ideas of uniformity, replacement, and division in the church today.

If you're passionate about Jewish-Christian understanding, biblical context, and rethinking Paul’s mission, this episode is for you.

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

What if the Book of Revelation—long seen as a mysterious, apocalyptic Christian text—is actually rooted in Jewish thought and tradition?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rebekah Haigh, a scholar of Second Temple Judaism whose research challenges the way most people read Revelation. We explore Revelation’s connections to Jewish apocalyptic literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and themes of ritual purity, offering a radically different lens on the New Testament’s final book.

We also confront how Revelation has been misread in ways that fuel antisemitism, including the notorious “synagogue of Satan” verses. Whether you’re a Bible teacher, pastor, scholar, or just curious, this episode will challenge and deepen your understanding of Revelation.

Keep up with Rebekah Haigh's work at https://rebekahjhaigh.com/

Sign up for the Bridge Builders Forum Email Newsletter - https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/

Download the free PDF "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians at https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf

Make a tax-deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum at https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate

Check out Ryan's book, The Weird Apostle, at https://a.co/d/cehW5Iy

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum

Send us a text

Did Paul believe Christians replaced the Jewish people? In this episode of Journey with the Jewish Paul, we explore what Romans really says about Replacement Theology and Israel. Far from promoting triumphalism, Paul urges Gentile believers to stay humble—and to see themselves as joined among Israel, not instead of Israel.

Discover how reframing Romans in its Jewish context challenges centuries of misunderstanding and opens a path toward healing in Jewish-Christian relations.

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

Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates

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.

Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum