Regarding conversion: Beverly Roberts Gaventa wrote Aspects of
Conversions in the New Testament which deals specifically with these
issues (Overtures to Biblical Theology; Philadelphia: Fortress, 198?).
Unfortunately, it is now out of print but should be available at a local
theological library or by inter-library loan.
You must also remember that "conversion" was essentially an alien concept
in the ancient Mediterranean world. One could proclaim allegiance to
multiple gods, mystery cults, etc. simultaneously. Becoming a Jew or a
Christian did require a "conversion" in the sense of totally abandoning
allegiance to one's former gods. (As 1 Corinthians shows, this produced a
wide variety of pastoral and ethical concerns for early Christian
communities). However, I would argue that the relationship between
"Judaism" (a convenient label for a group in antiquity that had
self-imposed religious and cultural self-definitions) and early
Christianity was so varied and complex, that "conversion" is applicable
only on a case by case basis.
Lynn Kauppi
PhD cand.
New Testament
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago