The Concept of 'Zeal' in Second-Temple Judaism and Paul's Critique of it in Romans 10:2
Smiles discusses zeal as an important characteristic of the piety of Second Temple Judaism, as well as Paul's words regarding this zeal in Romans 10:2. Paul had to make "activism," rather than "separatism," the primary target of his attack, because the former grounded the latter, not vice versa.