The reception of Paul in the first century is a highly debated issue. Daniel Marguerat defends the position of a threefold reception of Paul in parallel ways: documentary, biographical and doctoral. Marguerat advocates that the value of the phenomena of reception be appreciated, in particular the figure of Paul in Acts. It should not systematically be compared to the apostle's writings, even though this image evolves from a Lukan reinterpretation. The essays concern the literary and theological construction of the book of Acts, focusing on the figure of Paul: his rapport with the Torah, the Socratic model, the Lukan character construction, the resurrection as central theme in Acts, the significance of meals. They also treat themes of Pauline theology: Paul the mystic, the justification by faith, imitating Paul as father and mother of the community, and the woman's veil in Corinth.
Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James
Leading biblical scholar Thomas Schreiner provides an easy-to-navigate resource for studying and understanding the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Letters. This accessibly written volume summarizes the content of each major section of the biblical text to help readers quickly grasp the sense of particular passages. This is the first volume in the Handbooks on the New Testament series, which is modeled after Baker Academic's successful Old Testament handbook series. Series volumes are neither introductions nor commentaries, as they focus primarily on the content of the biblical books without getting bogged down in historical-critical questions or detailed verse-by-verse exegesis. The series will contain three volumes that span the entirety of the New Testament, with future volumes covering the Gospels and Hebrews through Revelation. Written with classroom utility and pastoral application in mind, these books will appeal to students, pastors, and laypeople alike.
Stanley E. Porter focuses upon the depiction of Paul in the book of Acts from literary-critical, rhetorical, and theological perspectives, among several others. The essays within this volume examine various topics related to the Paul of Acts such as the extent to which the we passages of Acts should function as a source regarding Paul, and the theology and perspective of these passages in terms of their portrait of him. Porter analyzes the Acts passages that deal with Paul and the Holy Spirit and the question of whether Paul is an epistolographer or rhetorician. He examines Paul s missionary speeches and apologetic speeches in Acts. Porter also looks at Acts 21 and Paul s arrest in Jerusalem before he closes with an analysis of some common conceptions and misconceptions of the Paul of Acts and the Paul of the letters.The Library of Pauline Studies is a series of books exploring key issuesin Pauline and related studies. This series is edited by Stanley E. Porter, Principal, Dean, and Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada."
Volume 7 of the Mercer Commentary on the Bible is comprised of the book of Acts and thirteen Pauline writings, plus several appropriate articles from the Mercer Dictionary of the Bible. This convenient text is for the classroom and for anyone who wishes to focus on the study of Acts and the Pauline writings.Mercer University Press intends these texts to be available, appropriate, and helpful for Bible students both in and out of the classroom, and indeed for anyone seeking guidance in uncovering the abundant wealth of the Scriptures.
This Greek-English synopsis of parallel passages in the Pauline corpus and the Acts of the Apostles is an essential tool for studying the New Testament. "It has become fashionable in recent years to lay out parallels to Paul's writings. The value of being able to examine such parallels so conveniently--without having to use fingers, thumbs, spare pens, and bookmarks to maintain access to multiple passages at the same time--hardly needs to be stressed. This volume, however, provides also the Greek, with some indication of variant readings, which is much better for those who can handle the Greek and who don't want to be confused by varied translations or misled by any hidden agendas of translators." --James D. G. Dunn, University of Durham "We have long needed a thorough and up-to-date synopsis of the Pauline letters. The synopsis edited by James Ware does not limit itself to parallels in content but also explores parallel texts in terms of literary form and epistolary structure. This immensely practical tool is a vital resource for the study of the Pauline letters." --Thomas R. Schreiner, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "Ware has produced an invaluable tool for beginning and more advanced students of Paul. Synopsis of the Pauline Letters in Greek and English provides a user-friendly way to view how Paul addresses similar concerns in different contexts, allowing ready access to how Paul formulates the ramifications of the good news as he addresses the needs of diverse congregations. When turning to the study of Paul, you will want to keep this volume within easy reach." --Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary "Synopsis of the Pauline Letters in Greek and English provides students, pastors, and scholars with a powerful tool for comparing the Pauline letters. While there are other Pauline synopses, this is the only one that employs the Greek text with a critical apparatus as well as an English translation. By bringing together groups of related passages, Ware's synopsis enables readers to see how the Pauline letters treat similar themes. This synopsis, which fills a long-standing need, is destined to become a standard tool for Pauline exegesis." --Frank J. Matera, The Catholic University of America (emeritus) "A wonderful resource that will delight and inform students and scholars alike. Simply reading it is an education in Paul's letters and theology! Using it carefully will provide endless opportunities to make connections and see new things. Every serious student of Paul should own it." --Michael J. Gorman, St. Mary's Seminary & University
How do the Letters of Saint Paul connect to the history of the Acts of the Apostles? What was the structure and governance of the Apostolic Church? How should the Catholic interpret the difficult passages in Paul's writing? Find the answers to these and many other questions in the pages of Acts and Letters in the popular Come and See Bible study series. This study uses modern study tools inductive and deductive learning, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of popes and saints to unlock an ancient treasure and show its current application.
Bestselling authors of The Last Week and The First Christmas, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan join once again to present a new understanding of early Christianity—this time to reveal a radical Paul who has been suppressed by the church. Paul is second only to Jesus as the most important person in the birth of Christianity, and yet he continues to be controversial, even among Christians. How could the letters of Paul be used both to inspire radical grace and to endorse systems of oppression—condoning slavery, subordinating women, condemning homosexual behavior? Borg and Crossan use the best of biblical and historical scholarship to explain the reasons for Paul's mixed reputation and reveal to us what scholars have known for decades: that the later letters of Paul were created by the early church to dilute Paul's egalitarian message and transform him into something more "acceptable." They argue there are actually "Three Pauls" in the New Testament: "The Radical Paul" (of the seven genuine letters), "The Conservative Paul" (of the three disputed epistles), and "The Reactionary Paul" (of the three inauthentic letters). By closely examining this progression of Paul's letters—from the authentic to the inauthentic—the authors show how the apostle was slowly but steadily "deradicalized" to fit Roman social norms in regards to slavery, patriarchy, and patronage. In truth, Paul was an appealing apostle of Jesus whose vision of life "in Christ"—one of his favored phrases—is remarkably faithful to the message of Jesus himself.
Most commentaries on Acts are written by Western scholars for a Western audience. This book comes out of more than forty years of teaching in the Majority World. It is aimed at the new breed of emerging missionaries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The apostles in Acts faced a hostile world. Yet in that context, the Holy Spirit gave them incredible courage. The scenes of Peter, Stephen, and Paul facing angry mobs and the fury of the Jewish Sanhedrin are being played out in India, China, and Eritrea today. Acts teaches us how to have a "courageous witness in a hostile world." Further, this work addresses the powerful forces that assault the worldwide church--particularly the racism that splits the church all over the world. Acts: Courageous Witness in a Hostile World will thrill you as you see how God's Spirit overcomes every obstacle and keeps the church on track, even when we think all is lost. Read this book for yourself and become courageous.
Except for Christ himself, no figure has been more influential in the history of Christianity than the apostle Paul. And yet his remarkable life remains shrouded in mystery. In this probing new book, John B. Polhill scrapes away the myths about this great man and uncovers the truth of his life and thought. Using Acts, the Pauline epistles, and reliable traditions from non-canonical sources, Polhill weaves together the remarkable story of Paul's transformation from persecutor to persecuted, producing a dynamic account of his entire ministry. By placing each of Paul's letters in its proper historical context, Polhill brings new light to these foundation stones of the Christian faith. He follows Paul from his early years in Tarsus and Jerusalem to his imprisonment and eventual martyrdom, painting a detailed, comprehensive portrait of Paul that will serve as an indispensable resource for students, teachers, and pastors alike.
