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Summary: A powerful biography of the founder of Christianity.
Review: A. N. Wilson, an accomplished novelist and biographer, here applies the tools of modern biography and history to one of the central figures in Western religion. Paul, unlike Jesus, has left us some of his own writings. Thoughtful and dense, these give us a window into the mind that to a large extent "created" Christian theology. Reading these letters with a novelist's sensitivity and a historian's knowledge, Wilson draws conclusions about Paul that more traditional scholars would be afraid to make. Wilson fills out his portrait with information drawn from other historians' works and from other early sources, including the Gospels and Acts, helping the reader see how different agendas may have motivated the very human writers of these works.
This is a splendid, thought-provoking book that the "intelligent layperson" will devour. Like Wilson's biography of Jesus, it will be challenging -- perhaps upsetting -- to those with very rigid beliefs, but others should find in it a much-needed examination of a tremendously important individual.
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Summary: The Truth (Like God) Is In The Details
Review: Having read this book a number of times, I'm always fascinated not so much by who or what the Apostle Paul was or even did, but by what was going on around him that made the spread of Christianity possible (e.g., the expansive Roman road system, the increasing number of Gentile God-fearers, the increased interest Empire-wide for Eastern religions stressing the personalized interior life, the simmering conflict between Rome and Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Church v. the Antioch Church and their possible disputes over proper interpretation of "the Way", etc.). We perhaps pin too much on Paul's personal ambition and vision such that we tend to forget the strange and even wonderful geo-political calculus and religious synchronicity that made conditions inviting for this one-time Jewish heresy ever to have made it's way out of ancient Palestine.
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Summary: Stranded in Malta
Review: I read this book years ago, but recently dusted it off and gave it another go. I'm going to Malta for my summer vacation this year and one of the main reasons I want to go there is to see what is on the island to commemorate Paul's visit there on his way to Rome. Wilson has a chapter on Paul's voyage from Caesarea in Jerusalem to Rome on his way to certain death. The whole voyage was marked with one disaster after another along the way. The ship went down near Malta and Paul instructed everyone to jump ship and they ended up making it to Malta. A dramatic tale to say the least. Paul was on Malta for three months before going to Syracusa in Sicily then sailing to Puteoli (modern day Pozzuoli) then making the final journey by foot to Rome. That is a long walk. Pozzuoli to Rome today is a three hour drive on one of the fastest stretches of the Italian Autostrada. Wilson doesn't explain how long it took for him and the other prisoners to walk, but it was probably a couple weeks. Anyway, during Paul's stay on Malta a couple miracles took place and to this day the people of Malta still make it a point to commemorate his stay and that is why I am going there. This is a great book on Paul. Paul is one of the most important figures in Christianity. Without the word of Paul, Jesus would have diminished in history as a fervent Jew. Strong words I know, but until you grasp that idea you can't appreciate Christianity for everything it is. Paul was the key to the development of early Christian thought by traveling everywhere as a missionary and preaching the good word of Jesus and claiming divinity for him. Wilson is not a historian, but this book is written in that style complete with footnotes and source material to back his claims. An excellent book. I was lucky enough to get the hardcover before it went out of print. Paperback is still widely available.
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Summary: Creative writing
Review: There is a lot of information in this audio book. The Author spends the first half of the book setting up the history of the times and it isn't until the second half of the book when we really get to know Paul. I am not a theologian, so I can't say how accuratly the book ties in with the bible. On the other hand, the author takes pains to express that his writing is based on history and the biblical portrait of Paul is relevant only to the extent that it supports the history. It is very English so from a "yank's" perspective the author often uses four or five words when, in my opinion, two words would do just as well. I can't imagine reading this book but as an audio book it is palpable. In the end it is a very well documented perspective on the Life of Paul.
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Summary: Thought-provoking hypothesis on Paul's role in Christianity
Review: This book is an excellent study of the historical context in which Paul developed his epistles. The writer makes the geo-political situation of the Roman Empire during the last half of the first century seem as timely and compelling as if he were writing about current events. His hypothesis that Paul was the true founder of the Christian Church and his discussion of the forces that he believes shaped Paul's thought are compelling and thought-provoking. Mr. Wilson has inspired me to read his book on Jesus and to explore the sources of Christianity in more depth.
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Summary: Don't Waste your Time or Money on this one!
Review: This book is very anti-Christian, written by an obvious unbeliever. What a waste! If anyone feels this author has made valid claims, I suggest they keep looking.....start with "More Than A Carpenter" by Josh McDowell.
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Summary: I wish I could give this book 0 stars...
Review: This book was disappointing. I found the topic of an analysis of Paul's character to be intriguing. Unfortunately, there is nothing in this book that would lead me to a better understanding of Paul than before I spent time reading it. What I do now know however, is that A.N. Wilson does not like Jews or Christians, and Christians, and did I mention Christians. Again, disappointing - I would not recommend this book.
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Summary: A Fascinating Study of the Early Christian World
Review: This is a fascinating study of the early Christian world, a period of time in which "Christianity" emerged from the struggles within the early Jewish Jesus-movement. Wilson's writing is effortless and his depiction of Roman and Jewish culture is insightful. Those who believe that Christianity is the religion Jesus founded will not agree with much of what Wilson has to say (or modern scholarship for that matter!), but for those seeking an understanding of how various strands of religious thinking took form following the death of Jesus, this is a book well worth reading. I would say that the subtitle is a little out of place because the book is not really about "the mind of the apostle." This is something that we can never hope to grasp, and Wilson acknowledges as much in his book. But a coherent picture of who Paul was and what he was all about does emerge from its pages. The book clearly sets him in opposition to James and Peter and the Jerusalem Jesus-movement and clearly details Paul's unique (although unintended) contribution to the birth of Christianity. It is hard to put the book down.
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Summary: Wilson's Apostle - Not worth the price
Review: This is a really bad book. Why ? The title gives the appearance of relating to a critical and thorough analysis of the Apostle Paul. It is probably one of the worst books I have ever read. Rather than contribute at length with a point by point dissention of its elusive title - I will just say that you need only go to your local library and read the first chapter to get a feel for the entire book. If you haven't the time for such frivolity -then just read the end of page 16 and beginning of page 17 where the paragraph concludes with another tongue-in-cheek dangler asking "And surely it is obvious what Christianity is ?" Need I say more. Yes ! This is a fictional book masquerading as non-fiction.
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Summary: The Truth (Like God) Is In The Details
Review: Wilson approaches his biographies of Paul and Jesus from a somewhat conflicted perspective. He wants to be very skeptical of the conclusions of modern Christianity, yet he isn't sure whether Acts and the Synoptics are complete fiction or literal truth. He seems to careen from one extreme to another throughout the book. He'll cite a passage from Acts as if it were literal history to cast doubts on one of Paul's Epistles. Two pages later, he'll do the opposite. At the end of the book, you're left scratching your head. Does Wilson think the entire New Testament is literal truth or sophisticated mythmaking? Or does he favor some parts over others? Also, it is interesting to read an author who is both skeptical of the New Testament and of other skeptics. For instance, most modern critics of the New Testament accept the existence of Q. Wilson practically dismisses it out of hand. Also, Wilson seems nearly completely ignorant of the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi library. All that said, I enjoyed reading this book. I was entertained by trying to figure out what Wilson's intended message was.
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