--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "WillyTex" <willy...@...> wrote: > > emptybill: > > "...Paul's view of women, though inconsistent, > > reflects his Gnosticism in its misogynist aspects." > > > If Paul had been a Gnostic, then we could infer that > somehow some Pagan Gnostic notions got inside the > Judaism of the times - not very likely, since the > theology of Judaism does not support polytheism in > any way.
According to Maccoby, Paul was likely not a born Jew but rather a pagan convert to Judaism. Maccoby theorizes that Paul, with the zeal of a new convert, tried to become a Pharisee but didn't make the grade. His disappointment turned to a sour-grapes type of attitude, which is why he so easily rejected Judaism to become a Jesus follower.
