This book breaks a significant impasse in much Pauline interpretation, pushing beyond both "Lutheran" and "New" perspectives on Paul to a non-contractual, "apocalyptic" reading of many of the apostle's most famous, and most troublesome, texts. His strongly antithetical vision identifies "participation in Christ" as the sole core of Pauline theology and produces the most radical rereading of Romans 1-4 for more than a generation. Even those who disagree will be forced to clarify their views as never before.