Reading Paul
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Reading Paul

Michael J. Gorman

CASCADE Books • Eugene, Oregon

READING PAUL

Cascade Companions

Copyright © 2008 Michael J. Gorman. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf & Stock, 199 W. 8th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401.

Cascade Books

A Division of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

Eugene, OR 97401

isbn 13: 978-1-55635-195-2

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cataloging-in-Publication data:

Gorman, Michael J., 1955–

Reading Paul / Michael J. Gorman.

x + 196 p.; 20 cm.

Cascade Companions

isbn 13: 978-1-55635-195-2

1. Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul—Theology. 2. Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 3. Paul, The Apostle, Saint. I. Title II. Series.

bs2651 g64 2008

Cascade Companions

Contents

Acknowledgments

1: Why Paul?

2: “Grace and Apostleship”

Conversion, Call, Commission

3: “To Spread the Gospel”

Missionary, Pastor, Letter-Writer

4: “The Power of God for Salvation”

An Overview of Paul’s Gospel

5: “In the Fullness of Time”

Apocalyptic Crossroads

6: “The Gospel of God”

Covenant Faithfulness and Surprising Grace

7: “Even Death on a Cross”

The Meaning(s) of Christ’s Death

8: “God Raised” and “Highly Exalted Him”

Jesus is Son of God and Lord

9: “Justified by Faith … Crucified with Christ”

Reconciliation with God through Participation in Christ

10: “Called to be Saints”

Countercultural, Multicultural Community in the Spirit

11: “Conformed to the Image of God’s Son”

Cruciform Faith, Hope, and Love

12: “The Glory about to be Revealed”

Return, Resurrection, Renewal

13: Why Paul? (Reprise)

Works Cited

Further Reading

Scripture Index

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Jon Stock of Wipf and Stock Publishers for the invitation to contribute this volume to the Cascade Companions series. Special thanks go to those who read and commented on the manuscript, in whole or in part, before its publication. Among these were two New Testament colleagues and fellow Pauline scholars, Andy Johnson and Ron Witherup. I cannot adequately express my gratitude to Andy Johnson in particular; without his careful comments on every chapter, this book would be much poorer. My graduate students and research assistants, Lenore Turner and Bob Anderson, suggested improvements to the manuscript. Lenore also meticulously checked the Scripture references.

In addition, the book was “road-tested” with representatives of the intended audiences: motivated lay people and beginning students of Paul. These include my wife Nancy; several fellow-members of Community United Methodist Church and my adult-education class there: Mike Cantley, John Gurney, Adam Nucci, and Nelson Outten; two dear friends, Marilyn and ...

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Reading Paul

About Reading Paul

In this new introduction to the Apostle Paul and his gospel, written especially for lay readers, for beginning students, and for those unsure about what to make of Paul, Michael J. Gorman takes the apostle seriously, as someone who speaks for God and to us. After an overview not only of Paul’s radical transformation from persecutor to proclaimer but also of his letter-writing in the context of Paul’s new mission, Reading Paul explores the central themes of the apostle’s gospel: Gorman places special emphasis on the theopolitical character of Paul’s gospel and on the themes of cross and resurrection, multiculturalism in the church, and peacemaking and nonviolence as the way of Christ according to Paul. Gorman also offers a distinctive interpretation of justification by faith as participation in Christ—an interpretation that challenges standard approaches to these Pauline themes. Reading Paul demonstrates that the apostle of faith, hope, and love speaks not only to our deepest spiritual needs but also to the challenging times in which we live.

Reading Paul provides practical application and keen insight into the life of Paul for students, professors, and general readers.

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