Synopses & Reviews
Traditionally the
Acts of the Apostles has provided the framework for biographies of the Apostle Paul. In recent years, however, the historical value of the
Acts has come into question. Many scholars argue that, despite the accuracy of many details, the text as a whole reflects the interests of Luke rather than objective reality.
This book presents a completely new, and much more vivid and dramatic, account of the life of Paul than any before. While continuing to give consideration to the Acts, Murphy-O'Connor reconstructs the apostle's life--from his childhood in Taursus and his years as a student in Jerusalem, to the successes and failures of his ministry--from his own writings. Reinforcing his critical analysis of Paul's letters with close attention to archaeology and contemporary texts, Murphy-O'Connor not only charts Paul's movements, but extracts a new understanding of his motives and the social and cultural aspects of his ministry. Most important of all, this biography transforms a fountain of theological ideas into a human being.
Review
"This is likely to become the standard work on Paul's life for the next generation and is warmly recommended as such."--Choice
"An important scholarly biography of Paul based on an extensive analysis of his letters rather than on Luke's Acts of the Apostles, as is traditionally done....Recommended for academic libraries."--Library Journal
"Jerome Murphy O'Connor has brought to a climax 30 years of contributions to this field. His fine new work shows him apparently undaunted by the complexity of the task."--The Tablet
"Of the books I know that deal with Paul's life, this is by far the most detailed, the most carefully argued, and the most imaginative...This is an amazing book. It is characterized by erudition and precision."--The Princeton Seminary Bulletin
"...he offers many historical details and local color that illumine the social context of Paul's ministry."--Southwestern Journal of Theology
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [372]-395) and indexes.
About the Author
Jerome Murphy-O'Connor is Professor of the New Testament at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française, Jerusalem. He is a world expert on Paul, and a contributor both to the
Oxford Companion to the Bible, and the forthcoming
Oxford Bible Commentary.