The Bridge Builders Forum

Judaism For Gentiles? A Conversation with Anders Runesson - Part One

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386603/fan_mail/new] Paul is one of the most influential figures in human history. He is also one of the most misunderstood. For many people, Paul is remembered as the person who moved the Jesus movement away from Judaism and helped create what eventually became Christianity. But what if that framing misses something important? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Ryan Lambert sits down with New Testament scholar Dr. Anders Runesson to explore a radically different way of understanding Paul, the early Jesus movement, and the relationship between Judaism and the New Testament. Drawing from his book Judaism for Gentiles, Dr. Runesson challenges many of the assumptions modern readers bring to Paul, the word “church,” the synagogue, and even the idea of Christianity itself. Together, Ryan and Anders discuss: • Whether Paul was a “Christian” in the later sense • What Paul and his contemporaries would have understood by the word ekklesia • Why translating ekklesia as “church” can be misleading • How first-century synagogues functioned in the Greco-Roman world • The relationship between synagogues and Greco-Roman associations • The idea of “apostolic Judaism” and what life may have looked like for Gentile participants in the early Jesus movement This conversation explores what it might look like to read Paul more carefully within his original Jewish context and why that matters for Jews and Christians today. Part 2 coming soon. Judaism for Gentiles is available as an open-access book at https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/en/book/judaism-for-gentiles-9783161619960/  Learn more about Dr. Anders Runesson at http://www.andersrunesson.com/ Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] Download the free PDF [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf] "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"  The Weird Apostle  [https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Apostle-Strange-Mission-Changer/dp/B0CZJPWQ7K] Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate]

Turning the Tables: Ryan Lambert as a Guest on Water into Wine

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386603/fan_mail/new] Recently, Ryan Lambert joined Alec Dunlop on the Water into Wine podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@alecdunlop] for a wide-ranging conversation about Paul, Judaism, Jewish-Christian relations, and the personal journey that led Ryan into this work. Together, they explore why the Jewish context of Paul matters so much, how misunderstandings about Judaism have shaped Christian theology, and why healthier relationships between Jews and Christians remain deeply important today. This conversation also offers a more personal look into the vision behind Bridge Builders Forum and the growing work of Jewish-Christian bridge building. If you’ve ever wondered why recovering the Jewish context of the New Testament matters—or why these conversations are so important in today’s world—this episode is a great place to start. Topics include: Paul within Judaism The Jewish context of the New Testament Jewish-Christian relations Supersessionism and misunderstanding Recovering the Jewish Paul The mission behind Bridge Builders Forum Ryan Lambert’s personal journey into this work Here's a link to the Water into Wine YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@alecdunlop Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] Download the free PDF [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf] "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"  The Weird Apostle  [https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Apostle-Strange-Mission-Changer/dp/B0CZJPWQ7K] Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate]

Judeophobia and the New Testament: A Conversation with Meredith Warren

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386603/fan_mail/new] What is Judeophobia? And how does this term relate to the New Testament? In this episode of Bridge Builders Forum, Ryan Lambert sits down with Dr. Meredith Warren, co-editor of Judeophobia and the New Testament, for an important and thought-provoking conversation about how New Testament texts have been interpreted in ways that contributed to harmful ideas about Jews and Judaism. Together, they explore: What the term “Judeophobia” means How certain New Testament passages have been used in anti-Jewish ways The Gospel of John and difficult texts like John 8:44 Paul, Christian anti-Judaism, and problematic interpretations of Paul’s letters Why “Pharisee” became a spiritual insult in Christian culture How Judeophobia extends beyond biblical interpretation into art, imagery, and Christian imagination What pastors, teachers, and everyday readers can do to engage these texts more responsibly today This conversation is honest, challenging, and deeply relevant for anyone who cares about how Jews and Christians understand the Bible—and each other. Here's a link to the book, Judeophobia and the New Testament - https://a.co/d/0dTkVC4i Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] Download the free PDF [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf] "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"  The Weird Apostle  [https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Apostle-Strange-Mission-Changer/dp/B0CZJPWQ7K] Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate]

Alan Morinis on Refining the Soul, Mussar, and the Shabbat Effect

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386603/fan_mail/new] What is Mussar? And why are so many people being drawn to it today? In this episode of the Bridge Builders Forum, I sit down with Alan Morinis, one of the leading voices in the modern revival of Mussar, to explore a powerful and deeply practical stream of Jewish spiritual practice focused on the inner life. For some, Mussar is already a meaningful part of their spiritual journey. For others, it’s a completely new concept. But at its core, Mussar is about something universal: becoming more intentional about who we are and who we’re becoming. Together, we explore: What Mussar is and where it comes from Why interest in Mussar is growing today The role of middot (character traits) in shaping the soul How to actually practice Mussar in everyday life And how Shabbat plays a surprising and powerful role in spiritual formation We also dive into Alan’s newest book, The Shabbat Effect, and explore how sacred time—especially the practice of Shabbat—can serve as a vehicle for refining the soul and cultivating traits such as awareness, silence, and trust. Whether you’re new to Mussar or already exploring it, this conversation offers a thoughtful and accessible entry point into a tradition that is transforming lives. The Mussar Institute - https://www.mussarinstitute.org/ Alan's book, Everyday Holiness - https://a.co/d/0d0jamtf Alan's newest book, The Shabbat Effect - https://a.co/d/08DjYxPB Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] Download the free PDF [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf] "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"  The Weird Apostle  [https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Apostle-Strange-Mission-Changer/dp/B0CZJPWQ7K] Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate]

Rethinking Israel, the Church, and the Prophets: A Conversation with Shelley Neese

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386603/fan_mail/new] What does it really look like for Christians to stand with Israel and the Jewish people—and to do so in a way that is biblically grounded and relationally meaningful? In this episode of the Bridge Builders Forum, we sit down with Shelley Neese to explore how Scripture—especially the biblical prophets—can shape how Christians think about Israel, the Jewish people, and walking faithfully today. Shelley serves as the coordinator for American Christian Leaders for Israel and leads The Jerusalem Connection, where she helps Christians engage these questions thoughtfully and responsibly. She is also the author of Bible Fiber, an accessible and deeply insightful guide to the Minor Prophets (the Trei Asar, or “Twelve”). In our conversation, we discuss: Why many Christians feel drawn to support Israel—but aren’t always sure how The role of Christian leaders and organizations in shaping that engagement Common misunderstandings Christians have about Israel and the Jewish people Why the prophets are often misread—and what they were actually doing in their own time How the message of the prophets remains deeply relevant today Practical ways anyone can begin building meaningful relationships with the Jewish people If you’ve ever wondered how your understanding of the Bible connects to real-world relationships between Jews and Christians, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Shelley's website - https://shelleyneese.com/ Shelley's book, Bible Fiber - https://a.co/d/0ciQt26R The Jerusalem Connection - https://thejerusalemconnection.us/ American Christian Leaders for Israel - https://aclforisrael.com/ Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] An educational entity dedicated to helping Jews and Christians understand their faith, the Bible, and each other. Bridge Builders Forum Email News and Updates [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/] Download the free PDF [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/free-pdf] "Recovering the Jewish Paul: Three Keys to Understanding the Apostle and Building Bridges Between Jews and Christians"  The Weird Apostle  [https://www.amazon.com/Weird-Apostle-Strange-Mission-Changer/dp/B0CZJPWQ7K] Ryan's book places the Apostle Paul in his Jewish and Greco-Roman context. Make a tax deductible donation to the Bridge Builders Forum [https://www.bridgebuildersforum.com/donate]