Paul: A Short Introduction
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
1851683143
ISBN 13
9781851683147
Category
The New Testament
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Publication Year
2003
Publisher
Pages
224
Description
If you're looking for an introductory textbook on Paul, you probably won't find a better one than Morna D. Hooker's Paul: A Short Introduction. Concise yet thorough, Hooker's small book covers every significant aspect of current Pauline studies. Though writing in a non-technical way for the reader with little theological background, she nevertheless articulately describes the current state of Pauline studies.
Hooker begins by carefully explaining the most basic issues � the legacy of Paul, the problems of reading Paul's biography from Acts, the problem of determining Pauline authorship, and so on. Students who are new to Pauline studies will find these opening chapters invaluable.
This book is firmly grounded in the new perspective on Paul (cf. pp. 120,145,146) � Hooker argues lucidly that Paul was "thoroughly Jewish in his thinking and his approach" (p. 146). He was neither the creator of Christianity nor the distorter of Jesus' original message (p. 148). Hooker closely associates Paul's "calling" (as apostle to the Gentiles) with his "conversion" (pp. 22,60,107), identifies Paul's Galatian opponents as Jewish Christians (p. 60), and works coherently through texts like Galatians 3:10-14 (p. 43).
In her treatment of justification, however, Hooker emphasizes simple trust in what God has done in order to achieve righteousness (p. 73), apparently implying the traditional idea of Gentiles being justified like Abraham rather than because of Abraham (cf. pp. 44,65). On the other hand, her treatment of "righteousness" on pp. 73ff is informative.
Hooker begins by carefully explaining the most basic issues � the legacy of Paul, the problems of reading Paul's biography from Acts, the problem of determining Pauline authorship, and so on. Students who are new to Pauline studies will find these opening chapters invaluable.
This book is firmly grounded in the new perspective on Paul (cf. pp. 120,145,146) � Hooker argues lucidly that Paul was "thoroughly Jewish in his thinking and his approach" (p. 146). He was neither the creator of Christianity nor the distorter of Jesus' original message (p. 148). Hooker closely associates Paul's "calling" (as apostle to the Gentiles) with his "conversion" (pp. 22,60,107), identifies Paul's Galatian opponents as Jewish Christians (p. 60), and works coherently through texts like Galatians 3:10-14 (p. 43).
In her treatment of justification, however, Hooker emphasizes simple trust in what God has done in order to achieve righteousness (p. 73), apparently implying the traditional idea of Gentiles being justified like Abraham rather than because of Abraham (cf. pp. 44,65). On the other hand, her treatment of "righteousness" on pp. 73ff is informative.
Number of Copies
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