Without Saint Paul to reform the Christian cult within Judaism into it's own religion, how long would this cult last within Judaism before it is either eradicated by the Roman authorities or it's followers simply return to mainstream Judaism?
On the other hand, @ArchimedesCircle, someone else could always open up "The Way" (as early Christianity was called) to Gentiles. According to the Book of Acts, Peter made a couple steps in that direction by preaching to Cornelius the Roman, and some other unnamed believers preached in Cyprus. Peter was later pulled back by other Jewish believers' disapproval according to Galatians, but there was still the possibility of reaching out to Gentiles.
A case for "great people don't make history, but they are made by history" can probably be made here.That's true and a definite possibility, but I feel like saying "If you stop this guy someone else will do the same thing later" is something of a cheating answer.
What do you mean? There was already a large Jewish diaspora throughout the Middle East and Rome; do you mean no further diaspora after the Jewish Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt?But perhaps no diaspora means that it never spreads outside Judaism.
What do you mean? There was already a large Jewish diaspora throughout the Middle East and Rome; do you mean no further diaspora after the Jewish Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt?