introduction to life & letters

Generally a very useful introduction to the Pauline literature. and is to be highly commended for reminding us of the context of the literature. Perhaps takes a rather dated line on the authenticity of some letters, (2 Thess & to a lesser extent Colossians have been 'rehabilitated' in recent years. I would also argue for 2 Tim) and the actual analysis of the letters is perhaps a lttle superficial, so that the excelent first section on the multiplicity of 'contexts' is a little let down by the latter section which actually looks at the 'conversations'. Neverthelss he makes interesting and credible attempts to reconstruct what Paul is responding to, and so all in all I could (and do) recommend this book to undergraduates wanting an introduction to Paul.

NB this was a review of the 4th edition. There is now a 5th edition which I have yet to read ( )

Course book for "Epistles of Paul"