What books do you recommend on the apostle Paul? I realize this is a huge topic but I have begun to study him and are interested in wh you may have found helpful.
This Counterpoints Series volume would give you a good start or introduction as to the dividing lines in Pauline Studies: Michael Bird (ed.), Four Views on the Apostle Paul.
It all depends on which School of Pauline Studies you belong into. The IVP Hawthorne,Martin,Reid Dictionary on Paul and his Letters is nevertheless useful.
Good general protestant (and/or evangelical) introductions:
F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Free Spirit (also known as Apostle of the Heart Set Free). Constantine R. Campbell, Paul and Union with Christ. Herman Ridderbos’ Paul: An Outline of His Theology. Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ, or the 2nd edition, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology, 2nd ed. | Logos Bible Software. Frank Thielman, Paul and the Law: A Contextual Approach. J. B. Polhill, Paul and His Letters.
FROM THE NPP (NEW PAULINE PERSPECTIVE):
If you think that the Lutherans got the Pauline doctrine of justification wrong and he was combatting against just the jewish boundary markers (circumcision, food laws etc.), then the NPP (New Pauline Perspective) is the way to go. In academic studies you can't bypass the NPP. Then you cannot ignore E. P. Sanders. He has several volumes on Paul: Paul and Palestinian Judaism, or the 40th anniversary version, Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion, 40th Anniversary Edition | Logos Bible Software. Also by Sanders, Paul, the Law, and the Jewish People. And Paul: The Apostle’s Life, Letters, and Thoughts. In these he advances his covenantal nomism approach to Paul and the jewish religion.
Besides Sanders the Swedish Lutheran Bishop and exegete Krister Stendahl played an important role in the emerging NPP studies. I would recommend his Paul Among Jews and Gentiles. One article you cannot ignore (found in that book) is this: The Apostle Paul and the Introspective Conscience of the West.
Closely following Sanders and Stendahl is James D. G. Dunn. He has The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Also N. T. Wright, Paul and the Faithfulness of God.
But the NPP has also received sharp criticism. If you want to go back to the classic protestant understanding of Paul, then I would recommend these volumes:
Stephen Westerholm. Perspectives Old and New on Paul. And Peter Stuhlmacher, Revisiting Paul’s Doctrine of Justification. And of course, Carson, O’Brien and Seifrid, Justification and Variegated Nomism.
Logos 9 Anglican Diamond, Logos 9 Lutheran Diamond
Thank you so much. Very helpful.
I was assigned this book and found it excellent and comprehensive. Michael J. Gorman holds the Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland. A highly regarded New Testament scholar, he has also written Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness and Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Logos carries a number of his books, published mostly by Eerdman's.
The book is Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters, 2nd ed. Gorman is heavily influenced by Morna Hooker, N. T. Wright, and (particularly) Richard Hays, if you like them (I am a big NT Wright and Hays fan myself). I thought the intro summary gave a good synopsis:
This comprehensive and widely used text by Michael Gorman presents a theologically focused, historically grounded interpretation of the apostle Paul and raises significant questions for engaging Paul today. After providing substantial background information on Paul's world, career, letters, gospel, spirituality, and theology, Gorman covers in full detail each of the thirteen Pauline epistles. Enhancing the text are questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter as well as numerous photos, maps, and tables throughout.
The new introduction in this second edition helpfully situates the book within current approaches to Paul. Gorman also brings the conversation up-to-date with major recent developments in Pauline studies and devotes greater attention to themes of participation, transformation, resurrection, justice, and peace.
Here is the Table of Contents:
List of Maps Foreword by John M. G. Barclay Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Acknowledgments for the Second Edition Acknowledgments for the First Edition Abbreviations
INTRODUCTION: APPROACHING PAUL Perspectives on the Apostle
1. PAUL’S WORLD(S) The Greco-Roman Context of His Mission
2. PAUL’S RÉSUMÉ The Mission of the Former Persecutor
3. PAUL’S LETTERS Apostleship in Absentia
4. PAUL’S GOSPEL The Good News of Christ Crucified and Raised
5. PAUL’S SPIRITUALITY Participation and Transformation in Christ
6. PAUL’S THEOLOGY A Dozen Fundamental Convictions
7. 1 THESSALONIANS Holiness and Hope in Faithful Witness to a Pagan World
8. 2 THESSALONIANS Cruciform Endurance and Goodness before the Parousia
9. GALATIANS The Sufficiency of Christ and the Spirit
10. 1 CORINTHIANS Chaos, the Cross, and the Spirit in Corinth
11. 2 CORINTHIANS Paul’s Defense of Spirit-Filled, Cruciform Life and Ministry
12. ROMANS Gentile and Jew in Cruciform Covenant Community in Christ
13. PHILIPPIANS The Master Story of the Crucified, Exalted Lord in the Cruciform, Missional Community
14. PHILEMON The Cross and the Status Quo
15. COLOSSIANS The Cosmic, Crucified Christ as the Fullness and Wisdom of God
16. EPHESIANS One New Humanity, Walking Worthy of the Cosmic, Crucified, Peacemaking Christ
17. 2 TIMOTHY Suffering Rather than Shame
18. 1 TIMOTHY Proper Order and Conduct in God’s Household
19. TITUS Ordering Church Life and Leadership between the Epiphanies
20. EPILOGUE Paul Our Contemporary
Index of Authors Index of Subjects Index of Scripture and Ancient Sources
John G. Butler has a very practical alliterated biography book on Paul: https://www.logos.com/product/17076/paul-the-missionary-apostle
And here‘s a link with various results that are helpful: https://www.logos.com/search?query=The%20Apostle%20Paul&sortBy=Relevance&limit=60&page=1&ownership=all&geographicAvailability=availableToMe
DAL
Found this very quotable.
https://www.logos.com/product/7555/capturing-the-pagan-mind
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This time with a working link: