From Publishers Weekly
In this follow-up to Rabbi Jesus, Chilton turns his attention to the life and work of Christianity's most enigmatic figure, Paul of Tarsus. Raised as an observant Jew in the commercial center of Tarsus, Paul not only absorbed the traditions of his fathers but also witnessed the worship and celebration of the city's pagan gods. Since scant information about Paul's early life exists, Chilton re-imagines Paul's youthful religious enthusiasms and his training as a Pharisee. Once Paul became a follower of the Jesus movement, he combined his deep-seated legal learning with a spiritual fervor that emphasized an internal encounter with the Son of God rather than an experience of God confined to the external revelations in the Temple. Paul thus emerges as a shaman or spirit guide, a "master preacher [and] oral poet" whose teachings about the spiritual life in Christ spurred the growth of early Christianity. Although Chilton adds nothing especially new to our knowledge of Paul, his inviting prose, ability to recreate the cultural contexts of Paul's life and deep affection for the Apostle bring new life to a tale that has been told many times before. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Chilton, the author of Rabbi Jesus (2000), once again offers an insightful and highly readable biography of a biblical figure. Here, Chilton has the advantage of having Paul's own writings to call upon. In fact, it is Paul's letters to the various churches he helped found that form the basis for the book, and Chilton does readers a real service by explaining the evolution of these churches and the intricate religious politics that entangled them. The book not only does a credible job of deciphering the various positions of the nascent Christian movement vis-a-vis traditional Judaism but also offers revealing portrayals of Paul's rivals, Peter and James the Just. Getting a handle on the quixotic Paul is a monumental job, but Chilton hangs on quite well, speculating only occasionally and clearly identifying the contradictions in Paul's theology; for example, how could someone who proclaimed all are one in Christ be so dismissive of women, especially since women were so important in the early Christian movement? Like Paul himself, bold and fascinating. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
Praise for Rabbi Jesus:
“Bruce Chilton’s masterpiece of religious narrative marks a genuinely new and important step beyond the now-faltering historical Jesus movement.”
—Jacob Neusner, Jerusalem Post
“Open this book and see Jesus as you’ve never seen him . . . This is one heck of a good read. And it left me feeling better than ever about the Jesus we try to serve and follow.”
—National Catholic Reporter
“Engaging and lively . . . Chilton has done an admirable job of taking us into Jesus’ world and witnessing the life of one of history’s most important figures.”
—Charlotte Observer
“Rabbi Jesus is a scholarly pursuit that reads more like a novel. The biography flows with the fluidity of an adventure tale, rich in characters, texture, and detail.”
—The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina)
Review
Praise for Rabbi Jesus:
?Bruce Chilton?s masterpiece of religious narrative marks a genuinely new and important step beyond the now-faltering historical Jesus movement.? ?Jacob Neusner, The Jerusalem Post
?Open this book and see Jesus as you?ve never seen him. . . . This is one heck of a good read. And it left me feeling better than ever about the Jesus we try to serve and follow.? ?National Catholic Reporter
?Engaging and lively?Chilton has done an admirable job of taking us into Jesus? world and witnessing the life of one of history?s most important figures.? ?The Charlotte Observer
?Rabbi Jesus is a scholarly pursuit that reads more like a novel. The biography flows with the fluidity of an adventure tale, rich in characters, texture and detail.? ?The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina)
Book Description
Without Paul, there would be no Christianity. His letters to various churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire articulated, for the first time, the beliefs that make up the heart of Christian practice and faith. In this extraordinary biography, Bruce Chilton explains the changing images of Paul, from the early Church period when he was regarded as the premiere apostle who separated Christianity from Judaism to more recent liberal evaluations, which paint him as an antifeminist, homophobic figure more dedicated to doctrine than to spiritual freedom. By illuminating Paul’s thoughts and contributions within the context of his time, Chilton restores him to his place as the founding architect of the Church and one of the most important figures in Western history. RABBI PAUL is at once a compelling, highly readable biography and a window on how Jesus’ message was transformed into a religion embraced by millions around the world. Drawing on Paul’s own writings as well as historical and scholarly documents about his life and times, Chilton portrays an all-too-human saint who helped to create both the most beautiful and the most troublesome aspects of the Church. He shows that Paul sought to specify the correct approach to such central concerns as sexuality, obedience, faith, conscience, and spirit, to define religion as an institution, and to clarify the nature of the religious personality—issues that Christians still struggle with today.
From the Inside Flap
A brilliant new biography of Saint Paul, whose interpretations of the life and teachings of Jesus transformed a loosely organized, grassroots peasant movement into the structured religion we know today
Without Paul, there would be no Christianity. His letters to various churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire articulated, for the first time, the beliefs that make up the heart of Christian practice and faith. In this extraordinary biography, Bruce Chilton explains the changing images of Paul, from the early Church period when he was regarded as the premiere apostle who separated Christianity from Judaism to more recent liberal evaluations, which paint him as an antifeminist, homophobic figure more dedicated to doctrine than to spiritual freedom. By illuminating Paul’s thoughts and contributions within the context of his time, Chilton restores him to his place as the founding architect of the Church and one of the most important figures in Western history.
Rabbi Paul is at once a compelling, highly readable biography and a window on how Jesus’ message was transformed into a religion embraced by millions around the world. Drawing on Paul’s own writings as well as historical and scholarly documents about his life and times, Chilton portrays an all-too-human saint who helped to create both the most beautiful and the most troublesome aspects of the Church. He shows that Paul sought to specify the correct approach to such central concerns as sexuality, obedience, faith, conscience, and spirit, to define religion as an institution, and to clarify the nature of the religious personality—issues that Christians still struggle with today.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Rabbi Jesus:“Bruce Chilton’s masterpiece of religious narrative marks a genuinely new and important step beyond the now-faltering historical Jesus movement.” —Jacob Neusner, The Jerusalem Post“Open this book and see Jesus as you’ve never seen him. . . . This is one heck of a good read. And it left me feeling better than ever about the Jesus we try to serve and follow.” —National Catholic Reporter“Engaging and lively…Chilton has done an admirable job of taking us into Jesus’ world and witnessing the life of one of history’s most important figures.” —The Charlotte Observer“Rabbi Jesus is a scholarly pursuit that reads more like a novel. The biography flows with the fluidity of an adventure tale, rich in characters, texture and detail.” —The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina)
About the Author
BRUCE CHILTON is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson and priest at the Free Church of Saint John in Barrytown, New York. He is the author of many scholarly articles and books, including the widely acclaimed Rabbi Jesus.
Rabbi Paul: An Intellectual Biography FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Without Paul, there would be no Christianity. His letters to various churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire articulated, for the first time, the beliefs that make up the heart of Christian practice and faith. In this biography, Bruce Chilton explains the changing images of Paul, from the early Church period when he was regarded as the premiere apostle who separated Christianity from Judaism to more recent liberal evaluations, which paint him as an antifeminist, homophobic figure more dedicated to doctrine than to spiritual freedom. By illuminating Paul's thoughts and contributions within the context of his time, Chilton restores him to his place as the founding architect of the Church and one of the most important figures in Western history." Drawing on Paul's own writings as well as historical and scholarly documents about his life and times, Chilton portrays an all-too-human saint who helped to create both the most beautiful and the most troublesome aspects of the Church. He shows that Paul sought to specify the correct approach to such central concerns as sexuality, obedience, faith, conscience, and spirit, to define religion as an institution, and to clarify the nature of the religious personality - issues that Christians still struggle with today.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
In this follow-up to Rabbi Jesus, Chilton turns his attention to the life and work of Christianity's most enigmatic figure, Paul of Tarsus. Raised as an observant Jew in the commercial center of Tarsus, Paul not only absorbed the traditions of his fathers but also witnessed the worship and celebration of the city's pagan gods. Since scant information about Paul's early life exists, Chilton re-imagines Paul's youthful religious enthusiasms and his training as a Pharisee. Once Paul became a follower of the Jesus movement, he combined his deep-seated legal learning with a spiritual fervor that emphasized an internal encounter with the Son of God rather than an experience of God confined to the external revelations in the Temple. Paul thus emerges as a shaman or spirit guide, a "master preacher [and] oral poet" whose teachings about the spiritual life in Christ spurred the growth of early Christianity. Although Chilton adds nothing especially new to our knowledge of Paul, his inviting prose, ability to recreate the cultural contexts of Paul's life and deep affection for the Apostle bring new life to a tale that has been told many times before. (Aug. 17) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
In this in-depth intellectual biography of the Apostle Paul, Chilton, a priest and a professor (religion, Bard Coll.), draws on Paul's own words, other scriptures, and historical manuscripts. Informative and impressive, particularly in its historical details concerning Paul's hometown of Tarsus, the places he visited, and the religions with which he was familiar, the book provides intellectual and historical context that helps to explain many of Paul's motivations. Chilton writes that Paul went to Damascus to "convince synagogues there to join in the denunciation of Jesus' movement." He saw Christianity as a threat to Judaism and everything he had been taught in his rabbinical training a fact not discussed in the New Testament and rarely found in New Testament commentaries, which usually focus on Paul's conversion on the way to Damascus. Chilton helps to dispel many modern, negative notions of Paul, like his alleged antifeminism and homophobia. He also writes much about Paul's humanity, a fact lost on many and overlooked in most Pauline biographies. Christian scholars and lay readers alike will enjoy this lively, engaging, and often moving book. Recommended for all libraries. Wesley A. Mills, Empire State Coll. of SUNY at Rochester Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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