Paul

The Pagans' Apostle

By: Paula Fredriksen

Narrated by: Pam Ward

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Often seen as the author of timeless Christian theology, Paul himself heatedly maintained that he lived and worked in history's closing hours. His letters propel his listeners into two ancient worlds, one Jewish, one pagan. The first was incandescent with apocalyptic hopes, expecting God through his messiah to fulfill his ancient promises of redemption to Israel. The second teemed with ancient actors, not only human but also divine: angry superhuman forces, jealous demons, and hostile cosmic gods. Both worlds are Paul's, and his convictions about the first shaped his actions in the second.

Only by situating Paul within this charged social context of gods and humans, pagans and Jews, cities, synagogues, and competing Christ-following assemblies can we begin to understand his mission and message. This original and provocative book offers a dramatically new perspective on one of history's seminal figures.

©2017 Paula Fredriksen (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Brilliant, elegant, and important - this volume reshapes an entire field of study. Here stands the finest history of the Apostle Paul to appear in generations." (J. Albert Harrill, The Ohio State University)

Extremely useful survey of the world around Paul

Christians will find some challenges here, including the author's suggestion that the Gospel emphasis on outreach to nations was an unanticipated byproduct of apostolic confusion caused by Parousia delay.

Read this book anyway! Fredriksen takes seriously that the Jesus Movement was driven by conviction that Jesus was raised from the dead, by the fervent expectation of his return as messiah, by the experience of charismatic wonders and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and by the Jewish prophetic hope that all nations will eventually become loyal to Israel's God.

The provocative title doesn't indicate that the author's project is to argue that Paul corrupts biblical Judaism with foreign doctrines. Rather it alludes to one of this book's most important points: religion and ethnicity were not independent categories for the ancients as we imagine them to be. The concept of Israel among the nations is critical to any attempt to understand what Jesus and Paul mean by "kingdom." This book illuminates these concepts masterfully.

I really liked this one. Good. Wasn't haughty.

I really enjoyed this one. She seemed ro stick to the subject matter, was unpretentious and unbiased. (I can't say the same about her newest work that came out 2 weeks ago about the Jewish church.) Bravo. Keep this up and I'll buy every book you write.

Excellent insight into Paul

Paula Fredriksen does not disappoint. She has excellent scholarship and an easy style of comprehension. If you want a better understanding of Paul, this is the book!

unabridged bias.

Fredrickson uses trivial grammatical nuances to discredit the truth of the ages. The tenor of her commentary is consistently mocking.

Highly Scholastic

Highly technical, scholastic study, of an semi-alternate theory of St Paul's, mission. She may have some legitimate arguments deeply hidden in complicated scholastic theory.

Why so angry?

I’ve tried several times to give this book a go. The person reading the book sounds angry much of the time. Lack of inflection in her voice makes listening difficult. The content does not form a foundation to build on. There are plenty of scriptural references, but they don’t work together to clarify a point being made.

Enlightened

Shows how Paul fought for the salvation of all peoples.
A very monotonous listen though.