Paul the Apostle is a thorough study of the background of the Apostle Paul, his ministry, and his writings. It is perfect as a textbook.
Written by one of the best known and most respected biblical scholars of all time, this illustrated volume explores all of the primary themes in Paul's thought as they developed in the historical context of his life and travels. While Bruce's primary concern is to portray the life of the apostle Paul, he also examines the main themes of Paul's thought, set in their historical background and illustrated from his letters. Originally published in 1977, this new paperback edition of Paul will be used with profit by all who have an interest in the primitive church—from general readers to the most advanced biblical scholar.
The apostle Paul. The converted terrorist, inspired author, amazing teacher, and patient mentor.This colossal figure strode boldly onto the stage of the first-century world and left an indelible signature of greatness never to be forgotten. His life? Magnificent! And his ministry? Impressive. While assigned sainthood by some today, by his own description he was "the chief of all sinners." No other person in the Bible, aside from Christ Himself, had a more profound influence on his world and ours than Paul.
He was a man of real grit, with a firmness of mind and spirit and unyielding courage in the face of personal hardship and danger. Tough, tenacious, and fiercely relentless, Paul pursued his divine mission with unflinching resolve. And God used him mightily to turn the world upside down for Christ in his generation.
But Paul's message and his style were also marked by gentle grace. This man, who tormented and killed the saints of God, understood and explained grace better than any of his contemporaries. Why? Because he never got over his own gratitude as a recipient of it. God's super-abounding grace transformed this once-violent aggressor into a humble-but-powerful spokesman for Christ. A man with that much grit desperately needed that much grace.
Perhaps that's why Paul's life is such a source of hope for us. If the chief of sinners can be forgiven and become God's chosen vessel, can He not forgive and use us as well? He can, if we too become people of both grace and grit.
Paul is the sixth of a multi-volume series exploring Great Lives from God's Word and searching them to find the qualities that made them great. Join us for an exciting, in-depth look at this amazing life, as only Chuck Swindoll can describe it: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit.
"An amazingly comprehensive book on the apostle. . . . I do not know when in recent years a scholar has grappled with the history behind Paul's life and produced as coherent a statement of Paul's thought as it arises out of the circumstances of his ministry. This massive book will no doubt be read primarily by scholars and graduate students and perhaps serve as a textbook or resource for others. Eugene Boring ably translates the book and adapts the bibliographical documentation for English-speaking readers. . . . Schnelle's work represents an important milestone in Pauline studies. It will be a major conversation-partner for scholars for a long time to come."
--Charles B. Cousar, Interpretation
"A magisterial work that will become an essential reference volume for students and scholars alike desiring a convenient book that examines all important primary texts and scholarly positions in Pauline research, particularly English and German. . . . The author and translator have worked well together to produce a work that surpasses the German original: it should be regarded as an entirely new study! Schnelle's book will undoubtedly become a classic in the field."
--Kenneth Atkinson, Review of Biblical Literature
"A significant contribution to the study of Paul's theology. . . . The writing and theological analysis is crisp, logical, and precise. . . . The work provides an interesting way to access much German Pauline scholarship. It is a pleasure to read and each page holds new insights even for the advanced scholar."
--Dennis L. Stamps, Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Jurgen Becker, one of the most respected German New Testament scholars, delves into the person, world, work, letters, and thought of Paul in order to provide a comprehensive and through study that answers both historical and theological questions. He gives a detailed, careful, and imaginative presentation of the chronology of Paul's life and works diligently thorough evidence available concerning the Hellenistic world in which Paul, Judaism, and early Christianity existed.
The drama of a novel meets scholarship in leading Christian biographer John Pollock's classic work about one of the most transforming persons in history: the apostle Paul.
The Apostle masterfully combines careful adherence to biblical text, detailed research, and a storyteller's gift to create a book equally relevant for both casual readers fascinated by Paul's life and serious biblical scholars. Pollock begins his fast-movig narrative with Stephen's death and follows Paul through his conversion, missionary journeys, and eventual execution. Many will enjoy it simply as a satisfying and insightful true-life story, although maps and a study guide allow for deeper exploration. The Apostle was originally published in 1969, and this new edition marks the first significant revision in many years.
In this compelling portrait of Paul the man, his message, and his world, Robin Griffith-Jones reveals the apostle as a brilliantly entrepreneurial witness to the transforming presence of Jesus himself. This groundbreaking book unlocks Paul's letters, revealing their purpose and power as never before.
No other book has shown the way that St. Paul's chains and his imprisonment influenced him to change his views about Roman rule.
This book presents a completely new, and much more vivid and dramatic, account of the life of Paul than any before. While continuing to give consideration to the Acts, Murphy-O'Connor reconstructs the apostle's life--from his childhood in Taursus and his years as a student in Jerusalem, to the successes and failures of his ministry--from his own writings. Reinforcing his critical analysis of Paul's letters with close attention to archaeology and contemporary texts, Murphy-O'Connor not only charts Paul's movements, but extracts a new understanding of his motives and the social and cultural aspects of his ministry. Most important of all, this biography transforms a fountain of theological ideas into a human being.
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