The legacy of Paul looms large in all Christian theology. While the study of Paul is not a simple task, proper interpretation should be sustainable on the basis of a thorough examination of Paul's letters within their historical matrix. The work, Theology of Paul the Apostle, is presented in two parts. Part One, Paul's Eschatological Gospel, addresses matters relevant for Paul's appreciation of the gospel of God in the establishment of the eschatological community in Christ. Paul's Judaism informs his apocalyptic description, as he expresses his thought with consistent convictions within the varied contingent contexts of his communities within a Greco-Roman world. Part Two, Cross and Atonement, examines a perennial "storm center" within Paul's theology from both an exegetical and developmentally historical perspective. Paul was embraced by the gospel of God "in Christ," the resurrection being the turning point of the ages. While Paul's theology and the understandings of Paul must be established point by point, Paul's theology has continuing relevance within the very different matrix of a postmodern world.
G. Roger Greene is professor of Christian studies at Mississippi College. He has traveled widely in the biblical world. He is the author of The Ministry of Paul the Apostle: History and Redaction (2019).
“You are holding the first volume of a masterful examination of Paul’s theological legacy. G. Roger Greene traces Pauline influence on Christian theology first by prioritizing Paul’s first-century understanding of the gospel of God and then by engaging Paul’s interpreters, ancient and modern, who have shaped the matrix through which we experience Paul. Offering critical evaluation and insight, Greene’s clear, comprehensive treatment enriches our understanding of Paul’s message for the people of God.”
—Kathy Maxwell, associate professor of biblical and theological studies, Palm Beach Atlantic University
“G. Roger Greene has produced a thorough and enlightening study of the theology of Paul. One does not have to agree with his conclusions on which letters may be by Paul and which may be deutero-Pauline writings in order to benefit from the insights of this work. Particularly helpful is Greene’s attention to the difference between the actual ideas of Paul and how those ideas were misconstrued or misunderstood by later interpreters.”
—Mitchell G. Reddish, professor of Christian studies, Stetson University
“Meticulously researched and thoughtfully reasoned, G. Roger Greene’s work seeks to excavate through the accretion of ‘theological barnacles’ which adhere to the theology of the apostle Paul in an effort to recapture the essential theological tenets of the Christian church’s earliest theologian. Mission accomplished! A Theology of the Apostle Paul is a compelling conversation with the corpus of Pauline literature and the chorus of Pauline scholarship past and present.”
—Edward L. Mahaffey, professor of Christian studies, Mississippi College
“G. Roger Greene’s analysis of the foundational elements of Paul’s theology will allow readers to appreciate the diversity of scholarly perspectives on Paul’s thought while at the same time stimulating them to explore new avenues in the interpretation of his epistles. Rather than attempting to present a comprehensive theology of Paul, Greene invites readers to engage in a dialogue with Paul and his interpreters that is both critical and constructive.”
—David A. Brondos, professor of theology and biblical studies, Theological Community of Mexico
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