THE APOSTLE PAUL

Johnson's course is not intended to be the book on Paul, but rather an introduction--to open doors, not give final answers. He tries to pull Paul out of the halo of "holy writ" that has kept us from understanding him by presenting him within the context of his concerns and interests--building up the nascent Christian communities using the Greek rhetorical tools he possessed as a well-educated Jew of the Diaspora. Each of Paul's letters is viewed as its own response to a community crisis, not as a part of a theological system. Paul is, after all, an apostle, not a theologian. Like the best lecturers, Johnson piques interest by combining good organization with passion. He is easy to listen to; each half-hour lecture leaves the listener wanting more. P.E.F.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]