In this definitive biography, renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright offers a radical look at the apostle Paul, illuminating the humanity and remarkable achievements of this intellectual who invented Christian theology—transforming a faith and changing the world.
For centuries, Paul, the apostle who "saw the light on the Road to Damascus" and made a miraculous conversion from zealous Pharisee persecutor to devoted follower of Christ, has been one of the church’s most widely cited saints. While his influence on Christianity has been profound, N. T. Wright argues that Bible scholars and pastors have focused so much attention on Paul’s letters and theology that they have too often overlooked the essence of the man’s life and the extreme unlikelihood of what he achieved.
To Wright, "The problem is that Paul is central to any understanding of earliest Christianity, yet Paul was a Jew; for many generations Christians of all kinds have struggled to put this together." Wright contends that our knowledge of Paul and appreciation for his legacy cannot be complete without an understanding of his Jewish heritage. Giving us a thoughtful, in-depth exploration of the human and intellectual drama that shaped Paul, Wright provides greater clarity of the apostle’s writings, thoughts, and ideas and helps us see them in a fresh, innovative way.
Paul is a compelling modern biography that reveals the apostle’s greater role in Christian history—as an inventor of new paradigms for how we understand Jesus and what he accomplished—and celebrates his stature as one of the most effective and influential intellectuals in human history.
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"N. T. Wright is always interesting and enjoyable to read; he is amazing with words. As his title infers, he does offer a "fresh perspective" on interpreting Paul. The question remains, is his interpretation correct? I don't see it necessary to say that either he's completely right or completely wrong. There are no doubt some salient points raised that will contribute to a better understanding of Paul. On the other hand, some of the fresh perspective that he offers goes too far. As a proponent of the "New Perspective", this definitely comes out in his writing. As Wright alludes to, the "New Perspective" is a moving target and there is not agreement among scholars holding to this perspective. Ultimately, my current sentiment is that there are some points that he raises that are worth adding to our understanding of justification by faith, but it is NOT the only or definitive word on the issue. It is far to forced, simplified, and reductionistic. The strength of his book is rooting and grounding Pauline thought in Judiasm, the 2nd Temple context, and covenants, which frame the lenses by which Wright then interprets Paul.
Anyone interested in, or who studies Pauline Epistles will both want and need to read this work."
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Ben (4 out of 5 stars)