Paul and the Crucified Christ in Antioch: Maccabean Martyrdom and Galatians 1 and 2

The so-called Antioch Incident –the confrontation between the apostles Peter and Paul recorded in Galatians 2.11-21–continues to be a source of controversy in scholarly as well as popular estimations of the emerging early church. This innovative interpretation of the event argues that the central issue at stake in Antioch–whether the Torah or Jesus Christ determines who are the people of God–gains great clarity and force when viewed in relation to a form of Judaism knows as Maccabean martyr theology.