Becoming Acceptable before the God of Israel

Patterns of Transformation in Paul’s Letters and Joseph and Aseneth

Abstract

This study seeks to read the Pauline epistles alongside Joseph and Aseneth to make the argument that Paul and the author of Jos. Asen. perceived similar erroneous behaviour in the gentile world and that they made gentiles acceptable before the god of Israel in a comparable way. I argue that both authors find gentiles’ worship of idols, gods other than Israel’s god, and gentiles’ participation in non-Jewish cults to be the main problem. To become acceptable before the god of Israel, gentile Christ followers and Aseneth must undergo a transformation and only worship the god of Israel and participate in legitimate cultic behaviours.