Paul and Rabbinic Judaism: Some Rabbinic Elements in Pauline Theology

W.D. Davies was one of the mentors of a young E.P. Sanders while the latter was in graduate school. E.P. Sanders' work "Paul and Palestinian Judaism" seems to tweak what his former mentor has already written. Even so, this work by Davies is one of the seminal books when it comes to understanding the so-called 'New Perspective on Paul' in that one can see from this book the developement of what came to be known as 'covenantal nomism' in relation to the 2nd temple Judaic mindset. This book is more scholarly than readable and requires the reader to know a great deal of history in relation to the first century world of the Christ, as well as Greek and Roman history. Even if you are not a historian, this book will begin to open your mind to the world in which St. Paul, Jesus and the disciples walked and breathed.