Paul as a Problem in History and Culture: The Apostle and His Critics through the Centuries
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
As one of the most significant figures in the history of Western civilization, the apostle Paul has influenced and inspired countless individuals and institutions. But for some, he holds a controversial place in Christianity. This engaging book explores why many people have been wary of Paul and what their criticisms reveal about the church and the broader culture. Patrick Gray brings intellectual and cultural history into conversation with study of the New Testament, providing a balanced account and assessment of widespread antipathy to Paul and exploring what the controversy tells us about ourselves.
Key Features
- Surveys historical opposition to the theology and person of Paul
- Addresses alleged discrepancies between Jesus and Paul
- Analyzes theological distinctives of Paul’s letters
Contents
Part 1: Anti-Paulinism through the Centuries
- The First Hundred Years: The Problem of Paul in the New Testament
- The Premodern Era: The Early Church, Late Antiquity, and the Middle Ages
- The Enlightenment and Beyond: Jesus, Paul, and the Rise of Modern Biblical Scholarship
- The Nineteenth Century: Paul's Cultured Despisers
- Yesterday and Today: Jesus versus Paul in the Public Square
Part 2: Anti-Pauline Contexts, Subtexts, and Pretexts
- In the Tents of Shem: Paul among Jews and Muslims
- Jesus versus Paul: Spiritual but Not Religious?
- A World without Paul? Christian History in Counterfactual Perspective
- Not by Paul Alone: Other "Founders" of Christianity
- From Jesus to Paul: An Experiment in Comparative Religion
- Conclusion: What We Talk about When We Talk about Paul
Praise for the Print Edition
Many scholars write only for other scholars, and some experts are adept at writing for more general audiences, but only a few can write well with both audiences in mind. Patrick Gray is one of those rare scholars, and his book on reactions to Paul through the centuries is a gem that merits the attention of all readers interested in early Christianity’s most controversial apostle.
—John T. Fitzgerald, professor of New Testament and early Christianity, University of Notre Dame
With much erudition, eloquence, and wit, Patrick Gray sets forth a fascinating two-thousand-year history of anti-Paulinism. Citing both scholarly and popular sources, he exposes the various (and at times bewildering) attitudes, assumptions, and motivations that lie behind the virile dislike of the apostle to the gentiles. This book will challenge both friends and foes of Paul to reflect critically on the relationship between Paul and the one he proclaimed as Messiah and Lord.
—Thomas D. Stegman, SJ, professor ordinarius and chair of the ecclesiastical faculty, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Every Paul scholar knows that Paul has always been controversial, but I wager that few know the breadth and depth of the animus toward him surveyed by Patrick Gray. Not everyone will agree with Gray’s perspectives on all issues, but everyone will benefit from his thorough research and astute insights. I will not be able to resist using this volume in upcoming Paul seminars. It is sure to be a great discussion starter.
—Mark D. Given, associate professor, department of religious studies, Missouri State University
Product Details
- Title: Paul as a Problem in History and Culture: The Apostle and His Critics through the Centuries
- Author: Patrick Gray
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2001
- Pages: 272
- Resource Type: Monorgraph
- Topic: Pauline Studies
About Patrick Gray
Patrick Gray (PhD, Emory University) is associate professor of religious studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the author of Opening Paul’s Letters and Godly Fear: The Epistle to the Hebrews and Greco-Roman Critiques of Superstition. He has also coedited several books, including Scripture and Traditions: Essays on Early Judaism and Christianity, Teaching the Bible through Popular Culture and the Arts, and Teaching the Bible: Practical Strategies for Classroom Instruction.