ABSTRACT
Excellent biblical scholars have disagreed among themselves regarding the depth of Paul's roots in Judaism. He attempts to show that Paul's view of the cosmic Christ was fundamentally pagan in origin. Hyam Maccoby seeks to demonstrate that Paul had roots in Hellenistic religion. He attempts to show that Paul’s view of the cosmic Christ was fundamentally pagan in origin. Paul epistles abound with the Hellenistic writing style, reasoning, and arguing. Something quite surprising was at play in Paul's notion of a crucified Messiah. Like the Trojan horse, the divine Messiah’s human form contained hidden power. The thought that enormous authority erupted from absolute weakness apparently captured Paul's imagination. Just as Plato emphasized Love's harmony or symmetry, so Paul stresses that all the spiritual gifts are like the various members of the body working in harmony, each contributing to the work and honor of the others.
