What Was Paul Thinking?: Introducing the New Perspective on Paul and His Thoughts on Women and Homosexuality [Paperback]

Richard A Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0984481508 | ISBN-13: 978-0984481507

This 8-lesson study text introduces the New Perspective on Paul and offers a fresh interpretation of Paul's writings regarding the role of women in church and society and homosexuality. Of particular interest is Paul's calling as Apostle to the Gentiles (while remaining a faithful, practicing Jew)), his name change from Saul to Paul, the importance of faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant, and a comparison of Adam and Christ.

Comparisons are made between the Pauline letters all scholars agree are authentic (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon) and those whose authenticity is disputed (2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). Also, a brief comparison is made between the Pauline letters and the accounts of his ministry and travel in Acts.

This approach will appeal especially to those self-identifying as progressive Christians. Contrasts are made between a progressive (liberal or mainstream) Protestant and conservative evangelical Protestants. Some basic grammar issues from the original biblical Greek translated to modern English are examined.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

For 2,000 years Apostle Paul has been surrounded by controversy. In the first century CE that centered on conflicts between Jews and Gentiles. Today's Christianity has little to do with that, yet Paul is praised and vilified for ideas that define vastly different approaches to Christian discipleship.

Forty years ago a new movement among biblical scholars began to emerge. Eventually it was given the name "The New Perspective on Paul." Christian and Jewish scholars have produced a stunning array of books, journal articles, essays, and published lectures. Sadly, only a fraction of that scholarship has found its way to church members in the pews. That's why this study text for adults was written.

What did Paul really think about his Jewish roots? Why is Abraham such a pivotal figure? Did Paul actually hate both women and gays as many people would have us believe today? Why is the translation of one little Greek word, pistis, so critical to his entire "theology"? And why did he change his name from Saul to Paul?

Table of Contents
Introduction
Lesson 1: First the Forest, Later on the Trees
Lesson 2: Call Not Conversion
Lesson 3: Paul's Authentic Letters
Lesson 4: Paul's Disputed Letters & Acts
Lesson 5: Our Father Abraham
Lesson 6: Adam and Christ
Lesson 7: Women's Roles & Marriage
Lesson 8: Homosexuality Then & Now
Afterword
For Further Reading

From the Inside Flap

"Richard Brown seeks to help the contemporary Christian understand shifting ideas in the study of Paul that have arisen in the past four decades but still have not become widely known outside of scholarly circles or seminary classrooms. This is no simple task, not least because of the enormous cultural gaps between the concerns of Paul and his audiences and those of our own times. Moreover, this revolution in reading Paul is in its middle stages, at best. These new perspectives on Paul can unsettle in helpful ways, challenging long held views with substantial evidence to the contrary, but they can also seem confusing because often they are still framed by later traditional Christian ways of posing the issues that remain alien to the first-century language and ideas of Paul, of his practice of Judaism, and of his Greek and Roman culture. I am confident Brown's teacher, Lloyd Gaston--may his memory be for a blessing--would have been pleased with his student's effort to popularize current trends in the development of these ideas and some of their implications for Christian readers of Paul today."

--Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D. (University of St. Andrews, Scotland), Rockhurst University; author of The Mystery of Romans: The Jewish Context of Paul's Letter (Fortress, 1996; winner of The 1996 National Jewish Book Award in Jewish-Christian Relations), and The Irony of Galatians: Paul's Letter in First-Century Context (Fortress, 2002).




"I thought I knew Paul well, but Richard Brown's very readable study gave me many startling new insights, especially about Paul's Jewishness and his desire to include all people in loving community. He does a great job of presenting the findings of recent research and their implications for contemporary Christian practice. I highly recommend use of this excellent resource in adult study classes everywhere. It will deepen people's engagement with the Bible."

--Don H. Compier, Ph.D. (Emory University), dean of Community of Christ Seminary, Graceland University; author of Calvin: Theology, Power and Resistance (Oxford University Press), John Calvin's Rhetorical Doctrine of Sin (Edwin Mellen Press, 2001), and What Is Rhetorical Theology?: Textual Practice and Public Discourse (Trinity Press International, 1999).

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Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Isaac's Press (May 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984481508
• ISBN-13: 978-0984481507
• Product Dimensions: 0.3 x 8.9 x 5.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #699,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Brown is editor and publisher of Isaac's Press, dedicated to producing quality religious curriculum for progressive Christians. He studied in seminary with one of the early proponents of the New Perspective on Paul, Lloyd Gaston, at Vancouver School of Theology. He holds a master's degree in religion from Park University Graduate School of Religion and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

A former newspaper reporter, he retired after 23 years as a book and magazine editor for Herald Publishing House and Community of Christ International Headquarters. Rich authored more than a half dozen books published under the Herald House imprint and was a frequent contributor to numerous denominational publications and other journals.

At various times he edited the devotional guide, DAILY BREAD, the testimony magazine, RESTORATION WITNESS, and edited and founded the scholarly journal THEOLOGY and the spirituality journal FACE TO FACE. At the time of his early retirement he was managing editor of the HERALD, the denomination's flagship monthly magazine with a circulation of more than 17,000.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to the New Paul July 16, 2010

By Andrew J Shelton

Format:Paperback

Rich Brown has written a very accessible introduction to "New Paul" scholarship. Perfect for adult Sunday school classes or church book study groups, Brown clearly and concisely exposes the reader to a new way of seeing Paul, one which has been prevalent in the academy for some time but hasn't reached the pew. Topics include the authenticity of letters attributed to Paul; a new way of looking at the traditional understanding of Paul's "conversion" to Christianity; the role of Abraham and Adam in Paul's writings; a historical trace of Pauline, Augustinian, and Lutheran theologies of justification; the role of women in Paul's letters; and the "clobber texts" which have been used to discriminate against members of the sexual minority. Brown's new Issac's Press is dedicated to publishing "religious curriculum for progressive Christians," but Christians of many theological stripes will find WHAT WAS PAUL THINKING to be a challenging but pastoral approach to new ideas about Paul, the "apostle to the Gentiles."