The Pauline view of man in relation to its Judaic and Helenistic background

Paul's mind contained three great ideas: Judaism as the preparation for the Gospel, the Gospel itself, and Judaism as a hindrance to the Gospel. On the first and third he is sometimes too emphatic, but he was a man of fervor, a missionary, writing to particular groups to meet definite, practical needs, so some exaggeration on the point at issue may be pardoned. On the second, over-emphasis was impossible, and the second grew in Paul's mind till it achieved the comprehensiveness shown in Ephesians. Paul, then, was a Jew, just so far as Judaism contributed to his faith in Christ. Opposition from his countrymen led Paul away from the Pharisaism of his youth, and made him ready to find points of contact elsewhere. Believing that the Gentiles were "fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus," he turned to them. - p. 17.