List Price: $22.95 Details

Save: $9.96 (43%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime & FREE Returns

FREE delivery: Sunday, Oct 3 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Details

Fastest delivery: Friday, Oct 1
Order within 12 hrs and 18 mins Details

Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).

$$12.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Secure transaction

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Return policy: Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

1-Click ordering is not available for this item.

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery: Wednesday, Oct 6 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Details

Fastest delivery: Sunday, Oct 3

Used: Good | Details

Sold by BooqRocket

Fulfilled by Amazon

Share

Other Sellers on Amazon

$10.78
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: The Art of Savings

$6.86
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: Inspiration Media

$8.73
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: Lucky's Fulfillment

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 3 images

Follow the Author

A. N. Wilson

Paul: The Mind of the Apostle Paperback – Illustrated, April 17, 1998

by A. N. Wilson (Author)

81 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$20.33

$10.77

$1.55

Paperback, Illustrated

"Please retry"

$12.99

$3.95

$1.30

Enhance your purchase

"Wilson . . . does a tremendous job here of not only examining all that is known about Paul's life but also putting it into context with what was happening throughout the Roman Empire. As always, Wilson's insights fascinate and provoke."―Booklist

It begins on the road to Damascus, in a moment graven on the consciousness of Western civilization. "Saul, Saul," asks the crucified Jesus of Nazareth, "why persecutest thou me?"

From this experience, and from the response of the Jewish merchant later known as Paul, springs the Christian Church as we know it today. For as A. N. Wilson makes clear in this astonishing and gripping narrative, Christianity without Paul is quite literally nothing. Jesus, with the layers of scholarship and ceremony stripped away, is a fastidious and fervent Jew who will lead his followers into a stricter, purer observance of Judaism; it is Paul who will claim divinity for him, who will transform him into the Messiah, center of an entirely new religion.

In Wilson's astute narrative, we see Paul negotiating the dangerous political currents of the Roman Empire, making converts, and writing the great epistles that define our understanding of Christ and of the sublime paradoxes of his teaching. What drove Paul? What would he think of what his church has become? The answers lie in Wilson's extraordinary biography, which lays bare the psychological journey of Christianity's true inventor.

Print length

290 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

April 17, 1998
Dimensions

6.2 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
ISBN-10

0393317609
ISBN-13

978-0393317602
See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

A. N. Wilson
63
Paperback
$15.95
Robert E. Picirilli
182
Paperback
$13.39

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

A. N. Wilson
63
Paperback
$15.95
A. N. Wilson
39
Hardcover
$14.97
Geza Vermes
43
Paperback
$21.09
Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
19
Paperback
$32.65

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Intelligent, gracefully written and provocative."
― David Myers, Chicago Tribune

About the Author

A. N. Wilson is the author of the acclaimed biographies Tolstoy, C. S. Lewis, Jesus, and Paul; God's Funeral, and several celebrated novels. He lives in London.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (April 17, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393317609
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393317602
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #495,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #275 in New Testament Biographies
- #538 in Paul's Letters (Books)
- #1,111 in General History of Religion

Customer Reviews:
81 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		21%
3 star		7%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

james helin

Excellent review of Paul's views and context in history

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

A fine book that convinced me that Paul was THE central person in creating Christianity as we Americans currently understand it.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

KristiDNYC

Interesting (But Lacking) Insight into Saul of Tarsus' Life

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

I'm going to be nice and give it four stars, because it does include a lot of information and I did learn something new. A.N. Wilson is very knowledgeable about the era, the Roman gods, the belief systems of the time, and the situation in Israel.

Unfortunately, A.N. Wilson goes to great lengths to convince the readers that Paul was a wonderful man and a religious genius, and that everyone who believes that Paul was a self-serving trouble maker must have misunderstood the Bible. Oh well. We weren't there, we will never know the truth. But the "proof" in the book is weak and lacks credibility.

What makes the book difficult to read, is that it is not laid out logically. The content jumps from speaking about Paul or Jesus or the other apostles, to going into depths about the history of the Roman Empire (hundreds of years BC) or how the church has developed after his death. Many sentences are also long and winding and difficult to read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

barryb

WILSON: BIOGRAPHY AS THEOLOGY:

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

A. N. WILSON :
wiki quote: In the late 1980s, he publicly stated that he was an atheist and published a pamphlet Against Religion in the Chatto & Windus CounterBlasts series; however, religious and ecclesiological themes continue to inform his work. For nearly 30 years he continued to be both a sceptic, and a prominent atheist.
In April 2009, he published an article in the Daily Mail affirming his rediscovery of faith, and conversion to Christianity, attacking at the same time both academic and media atheists. (WIKI)

In 1997 he published "Paul, the Mind of the Apostle"; approaching Paul as "biographer".
Review : pp. 1-127 :

WILSON: BIOGRAPHY AS THEOLOGY:
Any serious student of theology would be interested in this exposition by Wilson. Written during his atheist-period, it takes on an interesting atmosphere. But; regardless of his stance at the time; one cannot help but interject "theology" in the midst of objective biography when it comes to the emerging first look at this movement that became known as Christianity.

Personally, I found the manuscript to be a treasure and I rate it as "excellent", especially as a supplement for anyone doing an in-depth study of the book of Acts. It becomes "essential" in that regard.

Wilson begins with a triad for "Paul's Jerusalem". This triad consists of: 1. The temple-of-Herod", 2. Ebionite Christianity, and 3. The "Galmaliel-Synagogue-School". This triad preps the reader for the next triad that begins to gel the various streams of thought into a theological/mythical whole. The second and more-definitive triad consists of: 1. Conversion: and the writing of a "MUTHOS-ALETHIA" (truth-thru-myth), 2. The wilderness years of travel in order to sort out the significance of the experience on the road to Damascus (including a 3-part practice of: MUSTERION-PERIPATEO-SUDZETEOS; interpretation of the sensate-vision experience; wanderings to define life; and "debate" which he had been trained for. And then finally 3. The benefit of "spiritual-division" between Jerusalem and Antioch-Syria.
By organizing his thought-picture for us, Wilson has provided us with "essential" material for any serious study of Paul, or Luke, or Acts in general.
I strongly recommend you pick up a copy of this superb study. 5 stars, of course.

WRAPPING THINGS UP: pp. 127-180 :

Wilson presents the historical-Paul in pages 1-127, as reviewed above. The only thing left is to articulate the emergence of his "new-mind" theology which gets articulated to the Ephesian Elders, during Paul's departure. That means the ministry to the "Athens /Corinth metroplex" becomes the concentrated site for theological-emergence.

The positive aspect of a spiritual division between the Ebionites and the Hellenists results in a determined and original theological effort on the part of Paul in Athens, and then in Corinth. In Athens, Paul develops his DIKAIOSUNE-doctrine; which is not obtainable as a "techne", but only through Jesus Christ who embodies "Diakaiosune" righteousness.

In Corinth, Paul couples together the "Agape-Meal" with the "Mithra-Sacramental-Feast" & the understanding of the "sacrificial-nature" of Christ's crucifixion; in order to record the first emergence of the Eucharist-rite as taking place in Corinth, not Jerusalem.

That gives us the Historical-Paul, the Doctrinal-Paul, and the Ritual-Paul. The only thing left is the "unfinished narrative of "what happened?"" how does it end?" We are not given the answer. The book wraps-up at page 180.

5 stars for certain, a wealth of information in these 180 pages.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Wilson--The Ramblings of the Writer

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2003

Verified Purchase

Wilson approaches his biographies of Paul and Jesus from a somewhat conflicted perspective. He wants to be very skeptical of the conclusions of modern Christianity, yet he isn't sure whether Acts and the Synoptics are complete fiction or literal truth. He seems to careen from one extreme to another throughout the book. He'll cite a passage from Acts as if it were literal history to cast doubts on one of Paul's Epistles. Two pages later, he'll do the opposite. At the end of the book, you're left scratching your head. Does Wilson think the entire New Testament is literal truth or sophisticated mythmaking? Or does he favor some parts over others? Also, it is interesting to read an author who is both skeptical of the New Testament and of other skeptics. For instance, most modern critics of the New Testament accept the existence of Q. Wilson practically dismisses it out of hand. Also, Wilson seems nearly completely ignorant of the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi library.
All that said, I enjoyed reading this book. I was entertained by trying to figure out what Wilson's intended message was.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ernie Dossin

Stick with it

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2002

Verified Purchase

There is a lot of information in this audio book. The Author spends the first half of the book setting up the history of the times and it isn't until the second half of the book when we really get to know Paul. I am not a theologian, so I can't say how accuratly the book ties in with the bible. On the other hand, the author takes pains to express that his writing is based on history and the biblical portrait of Paul is relevant only to the extent that it supports the history. It is very English so from a "yank's" perspective the author often uses four or five words when, in my opinion, two words would do just as well. I can't imagine reading this book but as an audio book it is palpable. In the end it is a very well documented perspective on the Life of Paul.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Avery Chenoweth, Sr.

The truth about the creation of Christianity—which Paul "invented!"

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

This should be read by all Bible-thumpers!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Whidbey

A glimpse into Paul’s life

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2019

Verified Purchase

Inspiring words!

Helpful

Lyn Wilhelm

This book is the very best Sunday School class on Christianity I have ever had ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book is the very best Sunday School class on Christianity I have ever had the privilege of reading. I have bought 2 copies and have recommended it and given it to several people. Without Paul the Apostle we would have no Christianity. READ IT!!! lYN

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Algie

Typical cheap quality product from a British publisher

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

The content and the quality of writing by A.N. Wilson is, as usual, excellent. However, as usual the product produced by a British publisher is of a sub-standard condition. The paper is of poor quality and the 'bleary' print is of a dire quality. Also, typical of a British publisher the price for this second rate product is very high for a paperback.

One person found this helpful

Mr. Keith Alexander

Informative and worth the read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have not yet read it through but it is obvious that the author is very biased in his view. However, I have certainly found the book full of interesting background. This background history is very interesting indeed and gives me a true flavour of life in that place in the first century.

One person found this helpful

Alcuin

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

AN Wilson, as always erudite and engaging.

One person found this helpful

Andrew I Polkey

An eye-opener and full of majestic scholarship, though not ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

An eye-opener and full of majestic scholarship, though not all will be convinced by this idiosyncratic view of the apostle.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Was in good condition. Recipient loved

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Bought as a present . Was in good condition. Recipient loved it

See all reviews

Buy new: $12.99 FREE delivery: Sunday, Oct 3 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com

Buy used: $6.28

Other Sellers on Amazon

Follow the Author

Paul: The Mind of the Apostle Paperback – Illustrated, April 17, 1998

Enhance your purchase

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Customers who bought this item also bought

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Product details

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new:

$12.99

FREE delivery: Sunday, Oct 3 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Ships from: Amazon.com

Sold by: Amazon.com

Buy used:

$6.28