Review of God and the Faithfulness of Paul

Last updated on: January 19, 2017 at 5:56 am by Michael F. Bird

Review of God and the Faithfulness of Paul 2017-01-13T17:23:14-04:00 Michael F. Bird

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Over at Books at a Glance is a very, very positive review of God and the Faithfulness of Paul which is a series of responses to N.T. Wright’s Paul and the Faithfulness of God. The review is by Mark Baker who’s conclusion is probably the best sales pitch for the book one could make:

It seems fitting to outline how this book might be used for various people in the church and academy. First, it goes without saying that God and the Faithfulness of Paul should be required reading for anyone engaged in Pauline scholarship or seeking to write a dissertation in Pauline studies. The scope of the volume is so broad that it touches almost every major area in the field. The book is worth reading cover to cover for those in this category. It is also an important work for any biblical scholar to have in his library for reference.

Second, the book will also prove helpful for pastors and educated laypeople who want to stay abreast with cutting-edge Pauline scholarship. The task of staying current can seem overwhelming for busy people in ministry. But there are a few essays in this book that provide excellent overviews of major topics of discussion that will allow those interested to be informed about some of the most important conversations in the field. The chapters by Steve Moyise on Wright’s understanding of Paul’s use of Scripture, Seyoon Kim on Paul and the Roman Empire, Peter Stuhlmacher on Wright’s understanding of justification and redemption, and Jörg Frey on apocalyptic thought come to mind as key introductions to their respective topics. Readers should bear in mind that the essays are unapologetically academic, including untranslated Greek, Hebrew, and German, and that the authors rarely come from an evangelical perspective. Still, receiving the fruit of scholarship from key experts in the field is well worth the effort of a close reading of these chapters.

Finally, anyone wanting to work through PFG in a thoughtful manner will want to have God and the Faithfulness of Paul within arm’s reach as a guide for understanding Wright’s magnum opus. The chapters on Wright’s methodology will prove especially helpful in understanding Wright’s points. Readers who are not familiar with technical epistemological and literary terms may even want to read a few chapters in God and the Faithfulness of Paul before reading Wright’s sections on his theological method. The chapters by Oda Wischmeyer on Wright’s hermeneutics, Andreas Losch on Wright’s critical realism, and Joel White on Wright’s narrative approach will each provide a general outline of the methodological landscape in which Wright engages in these chapters.

Note a much cheaper edition of God and the Faithfulness of Paul is out with Fortress in March 2017 and is already #1 in Paul’s Letters according to Amazon.com!!!

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