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A Biography
by N. T. Wright
In this definitive biography, renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright offers a radical look at the apostle Paul, illuminating the humanity and remarkable achievements of this intellectual who invented Christian theology—transforming a faith and changing the world.
For centuries, Paul, the apostle who "saw the light on the Road to Damascus" and made a miraculous conversion from zealous Pharisee persecutor to devoted follower of Christ, has been one of the church's most widely cited saints. While his influence on Christianity has been profound, N. T. Wright argues that Bible scholars and pastors have focused so much attention on Paul's letters and theology that they have too often overlooked the essence of the man's life and the extreme unlikelihood of what he achieved.
To Wright, "The problem is that Paul is central to any understanding of earliest Christianity, yet Paul was a Jew; for many generations Christians of all kinds have struggled to put this together." Wright contends that our knowledge of Paul and appreciation for his legacy cannot be complete without an understanding of his Jewish heritage. Giving us a thoughtful, in-depth exploration of the human and intellectual drama that shaped Paul, Wright provides greater clarity of the apostle's writings, thoughts, and ideas and helps us see them in a fresh, innovative way.
Paul is a compelling modern biography that reveals the apostle's greater role in Christian history—as an inventor of new paradigms for how we understand Jesus and what he accomplished—and celebrates his stature as one of the most effective and influential intellectuals in human history.
"Brings alive not only Paul but also the communities where he formed churches and the religious ideas swirling around them... . This highly readable volume gives those interested in biblical history something to argue about and plenty to ponder." —Booklist (starred review)
"Wright draws from a lifetime of study to construct this useful biography. Accessible and engrossing ... Wright looks to the realities of what Paul dealt with ... anxieties, broken relationships, beatings, imprisonments [revealing] a very human Paul... . An excellent introduction." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The life of one of Christianity's founders is told by renowned biblical scholar N.T. Wright, who believes that in focusing on Paul's letters and theology, scholars and pastors have not considered Paul as a person and in the context of his times." —Publishers Weekly
"Walking a fine line between presenting a fresh perspective in Pauline theology and reworking the Pauline corpus according to his own biblical theology, Wright's work, although intended for the informed layperson, will spark much debate among scholars and students." —Library Journal
"An enthralling journey into the mind of Paul by one of the great theologians of our time, a work full of insight, depth and generosity of understanding." —Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, author of Not in God's Name
"A compelling, erudite, and readable biography of the most seminal Christian theologian by one of today's most celebrated Paul interpreters." —Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale University and author of Flourishing
This information about Paul was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
N. T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world's leading Bible scholars. He Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, and Senior Editor at Saint Andrews. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. Wright is the award-winning author of many books, including Paul: A Biography, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, and Scripture and the Authority of God.
My Darling Boy by John Dufresne
The story of of a man whose son collapses into addiction and vanishes into the chaotic netherworld of southern Florida.
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