This book was recommended to me and I was surprised to find it readable and relatable. Well-researched, it tells the story of the apostle Paul’s life including his early years, his conversion to Christianity, his years of sharing the Gospel throughout the world through the end of his life. Moore was able to convey Paul’s passion for Christ while also describing his perseverance through all the abuse and trials he went through during his ministry travels. She combined historical facts with theological beliefs, using the Bible as her foundation.

What made this book stand out was Moore’s ability to explain Paul’s humanness. The description of his final years in prison was touching. I had never before considered this aspect of Paul’s life.

There are discussion questions at the conclusion of the book, making this perfect for small groups. I'm rating this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. ( )

Fifty shortish chapters about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. The author is knowledgeable not just about the Bible passages that feature him, but about the typical life of a Jewish family in the first century. So the earliest chapters set the scene for his life, based on historical evidence.

The book then moves into what we know about the apostle from the Bible, particularly the book of Acts, but also some of his letters. It’s essentially a biographical account fleshed out with Beth Moore’s knowledge and research, and with plenty of application to modern believers.

The writing is good, there are some interesting personal touches here and there, giving insights into the author’s life, and on the whole I thought it excellent. There were a few minor things that grated, some because of our different cultures and backgrounds, some because the author takes a traditional view of some authorship rather than a more scholarly and open one. But they were minor blips in what was otherwise a well-written and sometimes thought-provoking book. ( )

Beth Moore is a popular author of women's Bible studies, and To Live Is Christ is an example of why she is so popular. This particular study covers the life of Paul. It covers the passages dealing with Paul in the book of Acts and explores some of Paul's writings in the epistles. The study weakened for me when it began examining the epistles, but only certain passages in them. These sections would have been best left for studies of those books rather than lumping them in with the book of Acts. Additional questions for each chapter are at the end of the book, but would probably be better to include at the end of each chapter. ( )

Goes with To Live Is Christ

NO OF PAGES: 265 SUB CAT I: Biblical Biography SUB CAT II: SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: His undying passion for Christ continues to inspire and challenge those with a deep spiritual hunger for the things of God. Now acclaimed Bible teacher and author Beth Moore traces the life of the apostle Paul from his childhood to his martyrdom. Readers will be greatly refreshed by the obvious mercy of God that cause those who have failed him to repent and serve Him wholeheartedly and effectively.NOTES: Anonymous donation. SUBTITLE: Embracing the Passion of Paul