In this
comprehensive work on Paul, we see not only the theology, but also
the social, cultural, and political dynamics that helped to form his
thinking. The book takes a chronological perspective starting with
his Jewish upbringing, follows him through his conversion to a
follower of Jesus and his journeys to the early Christian
communities.
The book is well
written and easy to follow even if you’re not a Paul scholar. I
found the early chapters some of the most interesting. It’s easy to
ignore the fact that the early Christians living in world shaped by
political and social realities. Paul was raised in the Jewish
tradition and the scope of that history had a significant bearing on
his later writing.
My other favorite
chapter was the last chapter where Wright puts the whole thing
together. He emphasizes that Paul’s concept of love and the outward
looking church were significant factors in the way Christian
communities developed and responded to social challenges. He suggests
this world view was responsible for founding hospitals to care for
everyone and for the development of education.
Weaving the cultural
and historical factors of the time into Paul’s story and teachings
made the scriptures come alive for me. I highly recommend this book.
Whether you’re a Paul scholar or even particularly religious, this
book will make you think and, I hope, bring a new level of
understanding to Paul’s Letters.
I received this book
from BookLook Bloggers for this review.
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