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retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
3.0
Really dense and difficult but OH SO interesting and different from what I've thought/heard all my life. I read it for a church book group so the discussion was lead by one of our priests who is a woman and her insights were SO helpful. Probably need to read it again, but chapter by chapter so I can really explore/absorb. Paul's message is NOT what I grew up thinking it was. Really nice to be able to feel better about half of the New Testament.
kmatthe2's review against another edition
5.0
Changed the way I see and read Paul for the better. Sets up the political, social, and aesthetic context in which Paul wrote and in which others co-opt Paul and perform "Paul" in order to change the face of early Christianity.
eaclapp41's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
the_weirdling's review against another edition
4.0
Every time I read a book by Crossan or Borg I always feel the same way- I am torn between how much I love and adore the way that they interpret the New Testament with it's sociological-political implications on the one hand, and their startling historical reductionism (with which I do not agree). In a way this book was really no exception. What ever my opinions regarding their historical reductionism, the book is superbly researched by two of the greatest living New Testament scholars and any disagreement I have with them is trumped by their very gravitas. They do not disappoint, as usual, in their very effective interpretation of Paul the apostle and the radical social and political implications of the gospel that he preached to the Gentiles in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. This book like all of their books is very much worth the time of anybody who's interested in the New Testament. Crossan and Borg in particular are always worth reading because they are two of the best and most effective exponents of modern liberal theology's reading of the New Testament. Conservatives should read their books in order to better understand what it is that they oppose, rather than fabricate fake liberal ideas to knock down. Folks who sit on the edge of a community of faith, or on the boundary of belief and unbelief, will also get a lot out of their readings of the New Testament.
bookshelf_from_mars's review against another edition
5.0
I truly enjoyed this book. It was an engrossing look into the early Christian community and a contextually-based analysis of what one of the early fathers of Christianity, Paul, really thought about his Lord's teachings. If you are a Christian (and even if you are not one!) and you want to learn more about the early church you should totally give it a shot.