The letters of the Apostle Paul are central witnesses to the Christian faith and to the earliest history of Christianity. And yet, when students, preachers, and others turn to Paul, they find many things “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16) in these ancient writings. James Prothro’s new book aims to help readers see the Apostle’s faith and hope at work as he evangelized the nations. Steeped in up-to-date scholarship and a passion for the gospel Paul preached, Prothro draws readers into Paul’s life and letters in order to help them hear the Apostle’s voice. The book’s chapters offer introductions to Paul’s background, life, and legacy; an introduction to ancient letter writing; a guide to understanding Paul’s theology across the letters; a survey of the portrait of Paul in the Book of Acts; separate treatments of each letter’s background and purpose; treatments of key theological topics in each letter and a thorough outline of each letter showing its arguments and how they make sense. Prothro introduces complex matters with clarity, balance, and an inviting style. He not only offers answers but models how to ask questions, helping us reason through Paul’s letters as ancient documents and as Christian Scripture. This book will prove a valuable introduction for those who study, teach, and preach these biblical books.

Experience Paul's world-changing writings in the full, chronological context of his life story--from Pharisee and persecutor of the church to the most influential defender of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ..." So goes Paul's typical introduction, a modest title for one of Christianity's most authoritative figures. Unique among the apostles, Paul was well-educated and well-respected in the Jewish community of the day. His story is one of dramatic conversion and passionate instruction. His life's work was becoming a servant of Jesus Christ. From pastor and teacher Dr. John MacArthur, One Faithful Life is the first-of-its-kind harmony of Paul's message and life. As with One Perfect Life--which weaved the Gospels into the seamless narrative of Jesus' life--One Faithful Life walks us chronologically through the biblical ministry of Paul, tying together background information from the Gospels, the book of Acts, and Paul's epistles to the growing movement of Christ-followers. In this comprehensive storyline of the Apostle Paul's life, you'll find: Verse-by-verse explanations and section introductions from one of the most respected pastor-teachers of our time Introductory commentary of the major themes and purpose of each of Paul's letters A fresh perspective on the enduring truths of the gospel message

E. P. Sanders offers an expansive introduction to the apostle, navigating some of the thorniest issues in scholarship using language accessible to the novice and seasoned scholar alike. Always careful to distinguish what we can know historically from what we may only conjecture, and these from dogmatically driven misrepresentations, Sanders sketches a fresh picture of the apostle as an ardent defender of his own convictions, ever ready to craft the sorts of arguments that now fill his letters. E. P. Sanders has for many years been one of the leading scholars of Paul's life and work. His book is a key text for scholars and students alike.

These 111 charts cover a wide range of topics regarding Paul, which are organized into four sections: Paul's Jewish and Greco-Roman background; his life and ministry; his letters; and his theology.

In this comprehensive introduction to the apostle Paul, Stanley Porter devotes serious consideration both to the background and major contours of Paul’s thought and to the unique contributions of each of his letters. Porter begins by introducing the Pauline tradition and outlining the basics of Paul’s life, the chronology of his ministry, and his several imprisonments. Porter then discusses the background to Paul’s thought, examines some of the major themes of his writings, and treats issues concerning the Pauline epistles, such as pseudonymity and canon. Finally, Porter delves into all thirteen of Paul’s letters individually, placing them within their historical contexts and examining critical issues relating to the content and interpretation of each letter. The result is a thorough, balanced treatment of one of the most important figures in Christianity.