Did Paul Really Teach Two Roads to Salvation? | Josh Ip Cho-suen

Exploring the Language of Scripture

Some scholars within the Paul within Judaism school (PWJ) argue that Paul taught two distinct paths to salvation—one for Jews through the Law and another for Gentiles through Christ. But is that really what Paul says?

In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Josh Ip Cho-suen (pastor and biblical scholar) to examine how Paul actually speaks about salvation for Jews and Gentiles. We trace the development of the PWJ view (including influences from E. P. Sanders and covenantal nomism) and test it against key texts like Galatians 2 and Romans 3.

They also talk about how Greek helps us understand the Great Commission (Matt 28) and grace in Romans 5.

Through close attention to Greek grammar, historical context, and theological reasoning, Daniel and Josh explore whether Paul envisioned two ways of salvation—or one gospel for all who believe—and why this still matters for the church today.

Don’t miss the next episode:
Creation in Genesis with Jens Bruun Kofoed—exploring how the original audience would have understood the opening chapters of the Bible.

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Chapters

00:00 – Coming Up…
01:01 – Meeting Josh Ip Cho-suen: Pastor, Scholar, and Theologian
04:37 – Why Learning Biblical Languages Still Matters
06:21 – Greek Grammar Shows What’s Most Important in the Great Commission
09:51 – The Meaning of Grace in Romans 5
18:06 – Who Are the “Paul within Judaism” Scholars?
27:15 – Why the Paul within Judaism Scholars Argue This Way
30:53 – Was Paul Writing Only to Gentiles? Inside the Debate
41:59 – How Paul Describes Salvation for Jews and Gentiles
49:52 – Galatians 2 and the Question of Two Roads to Salvation
01:01:14 – Testing the Paul within Judaism Interpretation
01:09:51 – What Paul Really Thought about Sin and Humanity
01:15:08 – Paul’s Theology of Salvation Explained
01:24:59 – Why This Still Matters for Christians Today

Music Credits:
Music from #Uppbeat
🔗 https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire

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Podcast Keywords:
biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study, Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

章

1. Coming up... (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Josh Ip Cho-suen: Pastor, Scholar, and Theologian (00:01:04)

3. Why Learning Biblical Languages Still Matters (00:04:37)

4. Greek Grammar Shows What’s Most Important in the Great Commission (00:06:21)

5. The Meaning of Grace in Romans 5 (00:09:51)

6. Who Are the “Paul within Judaism” Scholars? (00:18:06)

7. Why the Paul within Judaism Scholars Argue This Way (00:27:15)

8. Was Paul Writing Only to Gentiles? Inside the Debate (00:30:53)

9. How Paul Describes Salvation for Jews and Gentiles (00:41:59)

10. Galatians 2 and the Question of Two Roads to Salvation (00:49:52)

11. Testing the Paul within Judaism Interpretation (01:01:14)

12. What Paul Really Thought about Sin and Humanity (01:09:51)

13. Paul’s Theology of Salvation Explained (01:15:08)

14. Why This Still Matters for Christians Today (01:24:59)