The Paul Quest: The Renewed Search for the Jew of Tarsus

Rating:
Summary: A great study of the complex person of Paul
Review: Dr. Witherington has prepared a well crafted, engaging study on the complex qualities that comprise the New Testament figure Paul. He discusses Paul as prophet, as an apostle, as a Jewish man, and as an ethicist, but where Ben really succeeds is in showing just how profound an impact Paul's conversion experience on the Road to Damascus had on how he saw himself and his role in life. Dr. Witherington also demonstrates how Pauls' conversion affected his entire understanding of salvation and the Christian life.

This is a great read, and is recommended as a good place to start learning about the apostle Paul.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Read With Some Unique Conclusions
Review: It might be said that in writing The Paul Quest, Dr. Witherington embarked upon a quest impossible to complete in a satisfactory fashion: to identify and characterize Saul of Tarsus in such a way as to make him accessible to the average person. This is a lofty aim, to say the least, but one that I think Dr. Witherington nearly arrives at. His aim is not solely to present a theology of Paul, but rather to introduce the reader to the person of Paul the apostle. He does so by analyzing various aspects of the man, from his identity as an apostle and theologian, to his training in rhetoric and his ability as a letter-writer. The end result is a balanced work that achieves Dr. Witherington's primary goal almost flawlessly.

If there is a weakness to Dr. Witherington's approach, it is simply that the book begins with some very poignant arguments regarding Paul's use of rhetoric in his speaking and writing, but seems to taper off toward the end when the discussion has turned to Paul's theology. Dr. Witherington also does not really include the Pastorals in his discussion of Paul's theology, due to the controversy surrounding the authorship of those letters. This is understandable; however, whether one subscribes to the Pauline authorship side of that debate or not, the Pastorals could provide another perspective on Pauline theology that should earn them a place in any discussion relating to that topic. Other than this, Dr. Witherington has crafted a very balanced treatise of Paul the man. It is a fine introduction and tribute to the second most influential person in Christian history.

Rating:
Summary: Good Survey
Review: This author does what he set out to do with this book. He gives you a very in-depth look at most of the available research on the life of Paul. He focuses on Paul's heritage as a Jew, Christian and Roman Citizen. Then he turns to the theology of Paul, and is, for the most part, on point.

This book reads a bit like a lecture, but it still moves along at a decent pace. Witherington helped me look at Paul's letters as a whole, and how they fit in the overarching metanarrative of God's redemptive plan. So, for that he deserves high praise. If you want to know more about Paul, probably more than you will ever need to know unless you are going to be a PhD in the New Testament, this is the book for you.

Joseph Dworak