Paul
the man and the myth
By Calvin J. Roetzel
Calvin J. Roetzel invites readers to discover the authentic Paul beneath centuries of legend and interpretation. Rather than presenting the towering figure often portrayed in religious tradition, this scholarly exploration reveals a profoundly human apostle whose struggles and vulnerabilities shaped early Christianity.
Through careful examination of historical evidence, Roetzel reconstructs Paul's actual world, tracing his roots in Jewish tradition and Hellenistic culture. The portrait that emerges challenges conventional assumptions about this pivotal religious figure. Here is not the powerful hero of popular imagination, but a physically frail preacher who wrestled with opposition, endured persecution, and worried deeply about the communities he served.
The author questions long-held beliefs about Paul's background, including his supposed Roman citizenship, while exploring how this complex individual navigated between his Jewish heritage and the broader Mediterranean culture of his time. Roetzel demonstrates how Paul's experiences as a vulnerable missionary, facing imprisonment and slander, informed his revolutionary theology.
This fresh perspective illuminates Paul's enduring commitment to supporting society's marginalized members and transcending social divisions. For readers seeking to understand how spiritual leadership emerges from human struggle rather than superhuman strength, Roetzel offers valuable insights into how one person's authentic journey of faith transformed the ancient world and continues to influence spiritual seekers today.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Biography
- ✓ Explore Christian saints
- ✓ Explore Mythevorming
- ✓ Explore Bijbelse personen
- ✓ Explore BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
- ✓ Explore Religious
- ✓ Explore Saints
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1998
- Publisher
- University of South Carolina Press
- ISBN-10
- 1570032645
- Pages
- 269
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- BS2506.R595 1998
