The apostle Paul was kind of a jerk. He was arrogant and stubborn. He called his opponents derogatory, racist names. He legitimized slavery and silenced women. He was a moralistic, homophobic killjoy who imposed his narrow religious views on others. Or was he? Randolph Richards and Brandon O'Brien explore the complicated persona and teachings of the apostle Paul. Unpacking his personal history and cultural context, they show how Paul both offended Roman perspectives and scandalized Jewish sensibilities. His vision of Christian faith was deeply disturbing to those in his day and remains so in ours. Paul behaved badly, but not just in the ways we might think. Take another look at Paul and see why this "worst of sinners" dares to say, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

Author: E. Randolph Richards, Brandon J. O'Brien
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: IVP
Published: 11/01/2016
Pages: 224
Weight: 0.5lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.40w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780830844722


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/12/2016
Library Journal 02/01/2017 pg. 64
Choice 04/01/2017

About the Author

E. Randolph Richards (PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is dean and professor of biblical studies in the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University. His books include Rediscovering Jesus, Rediscovering Paul, The Story of Israel and Paul and First-Century Letter Writing.

Brandon J. O'Brien (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is assistant professor of Christian theology at Ouachita Baptist University and director of OBU at New Life Church. O'Brien is a senior editor for Leadership Journal. Together O'Brien and Richards are coauthors of Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes.