Making Sense of Paul: A Basic Introduction to Pauline Theology
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Manufacturer: Hendrickson Publishers
EAN (European Article Number): 9781565631175
Number of Items: 1
Binding: Paperback
Author: Virginia Wiles
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers
Dewey Decimal Number: 225.92
Publication Date: 2000-02-01
Reading Level: 176
Description: Wiles introduces Paul's theology by helping readers bridge the gaps of time and place between twenty-first-century Western readers and the first-century Mediterranean apostle. Writing with undergraduates in mind, Wiles especially relies upon solid interpretation coupled with modern analogies and engages the reader in a meaningful way. Taking her cue from the notion that what may be familiar may not necessarily be understood, Wiles shows how assuming knowledge of Paul's thought world and language leads to confusion and misunderstanding. Thus "familiar" terms such as righteousness, sin, law, and grace take on a new dimension under Wiles's guiding hand. Paul's experience of God is also factored in as a very real dimension of his relationship with God. Wiles thinks once we are able to appreciate Paul in his own context, then Paul's writings offer lessons about human existence for believer and nonbeliever alike.
"Making Sense of Paul is a refreshingly insightful and splendid attempt to allow the complexity of the Apostle's theology to become intelligible both for the beginner as well as for the mature learner. Even those who might wish to place the emphases at different points in Paul's thought will profit from the lucidity of expression and the use of consistently thought-provoking and helpful illustrations. This magnificent little gem fills a huge void in Pauline literature and rightly will find very wide usage." -Karl Paul Donfried, Professor and Chair, Department of Religion and Biblical Literature, Smith College
Customer Reviews
Review Summary: Getting into Paul's Skin
Date: 2000-04-18
Details: Dr. Virginia Wiles has composed a workbook aimed at readers with at least a Sunday school knowledge of the New Testament, but quickly deconstructs that knowledge by giving a series of redefinitions of the Apostle Paul's terminology, i.e. salvation, justification, righteousness, law, and the like. Written in the form resembling a self-teaching text, Wiles inserts 'sidebars' of review questions, reader response queries, and modern application scenarios. Her approach should not be offensive to the non-Christian, but does challenge many traditional views of evangelical Christianity as she approaches her subject with a "This is the real Paul-take him or leave him" attitude. Especially thought-provoking is her take on Paul's seemingly contradictory views of the Mosiac Law-that one is condemned by not following it, but is also condemned by following it. Dr. Wiles has fired an opening salvo at the traditionalists who try to fit the square peg of Paul's theology into the round hole of the standard repent-be forgiven-be restored cycle which she, and according to her book, Paul, says won't work. She makes a strong case that Paul's definition of the Christian experience requires a much more radical approach in order for the individual to attain the goal of 'shalom' for oneself, the Christian community, and the entire created order.
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