Oral Group Memory – Written Fragmented Memory: A Note on Paul and the Jews

The ‘narratorial vacuum’ of a written text in early Christianity, at the time that Paul wrote his letters, works in his favor when he speaks to Diaspora Jews. In order to attract them, Paul dissociates from historical memories concerning the history of Jesus and its aftermath in Palestine. Paul wants to isolate Diaspora Jews from the history of constant conflicts between Palestinian Jews and the Jesus group. Even the crucifixion, which is practically the only fragmented memory that Paul repeatedly mentions, is ‘purified’ of its Jewish context and role (with the exception of 1 Thessalonians, where he blames the Jews) and is in fact divorced from its historical context.