Pauline Politics

“The scope of the work is breathtaking—embracing eschatology and ethics, honor and shame, patronage and mutualism, lawlessness and loyalty. Oudshoorn is thoroughly conversant with contemporary scholarship on Paul and Paulinism, fairly representing and adjudicating the perspectives of conservative and liberal scholars, as well as radical interpreters. But Oudshoorn’s work is also informed by conversations with homeless youth, drug dealers, and sex workers—the contemporary ‘nothings and nobodies’ who have been chosen by God, according to Paul. Oudshoorn argues that interpreters of Paul must be rooted in communities of the oppressed, among those who are committed to the ‘uprising of life,’ precisely in order to understand Paul.”


—Larry L. Welborn, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, Fordham University





“This work is a tour deforce. . . . Repeatedly, the reader has the impression of someone who has read widely and deeply, thought and evaluated carefully, always with an eye fixed on current socio-economic realities and the experience of the most marginalized and oppressed today. . . . It’s splendid work and deserves highest marks.”


—Neil Elliott, Episcopal priest, author of Liberating Paul and The Rhetoric of Romans





“A magnificent book it is. . . . this is a truly amazing achievement. Preach it, D.”


—W. Ward Blanton, Reader in Biblical Cultures and European Thought, University of Kent, author of Paul and the Philosophers