Tracing the life and influence of one of Christianity's most important figures throughout the major periods of its history, this book explores the changing interpretations of Paul and his work, and in doing so throws new light on his writings and on religious history. The impact of the apostle Paul on Christianity is enormous. His missionary journeys, canonized epistles, and theological insights were cornerstones of the early church and pivotal in the formation of Christian doctrine. Over the past two thousand years, Paul's work and life have been widely dissected and discussed. Robert Seesengood charts the history of these shifting views of Paul, arguing that whether they were created during the Gnostic controversy, by Luther during the Reformation, or in the contemporary debates over religion and science, each new version is the result of a fresh set of cultural, social, and ideological circumstances. Given this, he questions whether it is ever possible to discover the real Paul. This insightful brief history offers a unique approach to the subject, distilling the many interpretations of Paul and his impact on Christianity. It will be a vital resource for anyone studying the life and letters of Paul and the New Testament.
"An accessible narrative of interpretations and manifestations ofPaul's intellectual, religious, and political effects inhistory. Seesengood offers a 'brief', thoughimpressive, survey of the history of scholarship about Paul,unmasking myths, legends, and popular images. This excellentresource for undergraduate and seminary students will also be ofinterest both to non-specialist, general readers and to biblicalscholars."
--David J. Lull, Wartburg Theological Seminary
"This outstanding and accessible book is a welcome and timelycontribution. At a time when writers beyond theologians andbiblical scholars have begun to examine Paul's thought, thisclear-eyed account and critique of the use (and abuse) of Paulthrough the centuries opens for students and sharpens for scholarsthe worlds of historical method and postmodern cultural critique. Arich addition to the study of Paul through the ages and paradigmfor how to think about such matters."
--Jerry L Sumney, Lexington Theological Seminary
--David J. Lull, Wartburg Theological Seminary
"This outstanding and accessible book is a welcome and timelycontribution. At a time when writers beyond theologians andbiblical scholars have begun to examine Paul's thought, thisclear-eyed account and critique of the use (and abuse) of Paulthrough the centuries opens for students and sharpens for scholarsthe worlds of historical method and postmodern cultural critique. Arich addition to the study of Paul through the ages and paradigmfor how to think about such matters."
--Jerry L Sumney, Lexington Theological Seminary