The Letters of Paul (Interpreting Biblical Texts Series)

Rating:
Summary: Basic introduction to Pauline issues
Review: I actually gave this book three stars to begin with but upped it one after I began writing. That's because I was wanting something other than what this book offered when I bought it, but I realized that for what it is - for what it promises - it actually does fairly well.

I was looking for an in-depth treatment of Paul's theology and rhetoric in his lettes. This is not that treatment. It is, however, a good overview of all things Pauline. This book is like a stone skipping over a pond - hitting all the important points without ever staying long to go real deep.

In a sense that is a strength of this book since it allows for a relatively easy digestion of the issues at hand for beginners. The book starts with a section examing letters as a means of writing - their stories, rhetoric, analysis, readers etc. Just like the skipping stone it jumps along from issue to issue, giving a couple of pages of depth and then moving along so as to not drown.

The second part, the heart of the book, looks at the theological themes of the letters. Cousar avoids making his project more complicated by focusing on the letters themselves and not attempting to distill the ideas from the mind of the apostle. This section is his best work, written in a simple, inviting way that encourages questions, applications and interpretation (the key word for this series) of Paul's letters. Cousar is lively and engaging but not overwhelming, allowing easy stepping stones to understanding the letters. Two things really stand out here:

1) Nearly all the Pauline issues are covered: sin as power, event of Jesus Christ, dying and rising with Christ, law, flesh, death, community, gospel, Spirit, etc.

2) Cousar brings in modern scholarship to bear on Paul's letters (Dunn's new perspective, e.g.) that will introduce new readers to these debates without confusing them.

The third section covers the classic duetero-pauline epistles but only give the briefest of comments on any of them. It is by far the weakest section.

If you are looking for a deep survey of Paul's letters pass on this book, but if you need a basic introduction or review this will serve your needs fine.