|
Review Summary: No Better Biography On Paul |
Date: 2007-09-24 |
|
| |
Details: Frederick Fyvie Bruce was a conservative evangelical who had much influence in the British Isles. His work still stands as a testimony to his beliefs, in stark contrast to the majority of scholars in Britain who have capitulated to modernism, due to an abundance of the New Perspective on Paul gathering. As the influence of FF Bruce faded, the core doctrinal assumptions that he had cherished and articulated began to lose its vitality in the evangelical fold.
The basic confusion that has set in is due to editorial oversight that 'the historical Paul' is static and immobile. So I heartily enjoyed this read, as it was free from the debates of 'which Pauline theology' was being portrayed from the outset. Bruce singularly and emphatically went to work on the biblical text available to him, as his primary source.
The life of Paul is a complex one. His missionary work would fill a whole volume. His Epistles do. His theology has unsuccessfully been attempted to be formulated from the first century to the present day. In Bruce's work, we have a non-contradictory, chronological reading of Paul's life. This makes for good reading and assists in understanding the varying challenges Paul faced and stood up to, at specific times in his life.
Paul's motto, 'To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain', is made alive in the pages that repeatedly deal with his unique ability to prioritize this life subjected to the next. He lives for the upward calling and heavenly reward.
'Incorporation into this body is effected by personal faith in Christ, sacramentally sealed in baptism and sustained by the eucharist. For Paul, baptism symbolizes the believer's dying and rising with Christ. It is plain, however, that for Paul dying and rising with Christ was not merely a matter of sacramental theology or church doctrine, but of personal experience. This personal appropriation of the love manifested to mankind in the self-sacrifice of Christ was as real as his awareness of personal faith-union with Christ, and of that faith-union as the source of his Christian life.' pg 138
Soteriology is evidently a major theological issue in Paul's contribution to the New Testament. Bruce engages with the subject matter and frequently makes assessments that are fresh, yet are in keeping with the conservative convictions.
As I continued to read, I found Bruce's knowledge of the ancient Middle-East and modern Mediterranean a valuable help in establishing the social systems unique to each place and culture. He conveniently does not overstate the historical facts, but nicely highlights these cross-cultural boundaries that our first missionary had to contend with.
There is no better resource on Paul than this, given that there are hidden undercurrents in the New Perspective agenda.
'It is a mysticism of very exceptional order...but he (Paul) does not have a mystical theology.' pg 147
|
| |
|
Review Summary: Bruce - Distorting the life of Paul |
Date: 2007-04-28 |
|
| |
Details: Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free, by F. F. Bruce is a well known work on the life of the Aposlte Paul and his contribution to the New Testament. It appears to derive its title from 2 Cor 3.17. Bruce has the following quote on page 21: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there the heart is free." This is the first of many problems with this book. It is not an accurate quote of the verse which actually reads: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."(NASB). I checked other versions and was unable to find one which translated the verse as quoted by Bruce. In fairness Bruce did not cite the version he quoted (in my opinion that is another failure on his part) so he may have the quote correct, but misquoting, or failing to provide a reference for a quotation this important at best demonstrates inattention to detail and at worst deliberate modification. This is unfortunate as I approached this book with a fair degree of anticipation. I was looking forward to learning about Paul and his influence on the early church.
For me, the fatal flaw in the book occurs on page 188 where Bruce writes:
"To keep the whole law was no easy task, but it was not impossible. The rich man who assured Jesus that he had kept all the commandments of the Decalogue from his youth was no hypocrite, and no more was Paul when, looking back on his earlier life from the perspective of twenty to thirty years' Christian experience, he says that "as to righteousness under the law" he was "blameless" (Phil 3.6),"
Fundamental to the need for the cross is the fact that no one can live a blameless life ...a life without violating the law. If it was possible to do so, even for one person, then Jesus did not need to die on the cross for our sins. Bruce appears to strike at the heart of this fundamental doctrine of Christianity. I disagree with Bruce on this. [Strike one]
On page 340, while recounting the story of Eutychus from Acts 20.9, Bruce says of this account that Eutychus was not dead but merely knocked unconscious by the three story fall and far from performing a miracle, Paul merely revived Euthychus "(perhaps performing some form of artificial respiration)". This statement severely troubled me as I tried to remember, without success, if Bruce had mentioned any miracles in the preceding 328 pages. I disagree with Bruce's conclusion on this event. [Strike 2]
Then on page 373 commenting on Acts 28.3-6, Bruce comments in a footnote that there are no poisonous snakes on Malta today and goes on to cite W. M. Ramsey suggesting that the snake Paul encountered was not poisonous either. Based on his comments regarding this and the incident with Eutychus I do not think that Bruce believes that miracles are possible. I disagree with Bruce on this item. [Strike 3]
I am not a new Christian. I have been studying the Bible and reading related books for 30 years. Much of the information in this book is, of necessity, based on speculation by the author. For that reason, the author must have the trust of the reader. When the author betrays either bias or error regarding facts which I as the reader have knowledge of, he loses credibility to be trusted in correctly relating information which I do not know. Well footnoted garbage is still garbage. The problems cited above are not a complete list of the issues with this book. However, they are sufficient for me to go against the majority opinion. Based on the above I believe this book to be an unreliable source of information.
|
| |
|
Review Summary: A Worthy Study on the Apostle Paul |
Date: 2004-08-02 |
|
| |
Details: This is a worthy study on the fourth most important man of Christianity...Paul, former Pharisee, cheif of sinners and apostle to the Gentiles. The book abounds in historical references and notes. Paul is certianly a man
of his time. Bruce covers Paul's life from the fragments of quotes on his childhood..on through to
his end. Interspersed is chapters that Bruce provides additional insights like "Paul and the Historical Jesus",
"Flesh and Spirit" , "Baptism and the Lord's Supper in Pauline Thought", also "Paul and the Life to Come."
The weakness of the book is the frequent quotes from liberal scholars..like Karl Barth and others. Their arguements have no validity since their "higher criticism" deny the supernatural working of God in the life of Paul. Another weakness is that Bruce is of the Covenant Theology view...which tends
to mix God's purpose for Israel with His purpose for the Church.
But the strengths over come these weaknesses. |
| |
|
Review Summary: Wow, this book is great |
Date: 2004-07-03 |
|
|
| |
|
Details: I'm about half way thru this book. It is filled with info you need to know: the history of the early church; Roman politics, laws; what the Sanhedrin could/could not do; political/theological battles between the Pharisee and the Saducees; politics of Stephens death; theological dilemma of Paul (pre Damascus) if Jesus was the Messiah yet was crucified/hung on a tree; development of the early Christian theology. Every page has something intensely interesting to we Christians. Really makes Acts come alive. Really helps illuminate some of Paul's writings when you understand what was going on at the time and why he was defending himself at times. Exciting, interesting, keep your bible open and be ready for an adventure. |
| |
|
Review Summary: Wow, this book is great |
Date: 2004-07-03 |
|
|
| |
|
Details: I'm about half way thru this book. It is filled with info you need to know: the history of the early church; Roman politics, laws; what the Sanhedrin could/could not do; political/theological battles between the Pharisee and the Saducees; politics of Stephens death; theological dilemma of Paul if Jesus was the Messiah yet was crucified/hung on a tree; development of the early Christian theology. Every page has something intensely interesting to we Christians. Really makes Acts come alive. Really helps illuminate some of Paul's writings when you understand what was going on at the time and why he was defending himself at times. |
| |
|
out of 10 Reviews
