(+) Paul: His Story (2004 Murphy-O'Connor), book

<bibexternal title="Paul: His Story" author="Murphy-O'Connor"/>

Paul: His Story (2004) is a book by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor.

Abstract

"Paul, the apostle was one of the most controversial figures of the ancient world. In this reconstruction of his life Jerome Murphy-O'Connor combines evidence from classical studies, biblical studies, ancient history and archaeology to present a realistic biography of Christianity's flawed hero ... For someone who has exercised such a profound influence on Christian theology, Paul remains a shadowy figure behind the barrier of his complicated and difficult biblical letters. Debates about his meaning have deflected attention from his personality, yet his personality is an important key to understanding his theological ideas. This book redresses the balance. Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's disciplined imagination, nourished by a lifetime of research, shapes numerous textual, historical, and archaeological details into a colourful and enjoyable story of which Paul is the flawed but undefeated hero. This chronological narrative offers new insights into Paul's intellectual, emotional, and religious development and puts his travels, mission, and theological ideas into a plausible biographical context. As he changes from an assimilated Jewish teenager in Tarsus to a competitive Pharisee in Jerusalem and then to a driven missionary of Christ, the sometimes contradictory components of Paul's complex personality emerge from the way he interacts with people and problems. His theology was forged in dialogue and becomes more intelligible as our appreciation of his person deepens. In Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's engaging biography, the Apostle comes to life as a complex, intensely human individual."--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Table of contents

The early years -- Conversion and its consequences -- Apprenticeship in Antioch -- A journey into Europe -- South to Achaia -- Antioch and Jerusalem -- The first year in Ephesus -- The second year in Ephesus -- Conversations with Corinth -- Macedonia and Illyricum -- Farewell to the East -- The final years.

External links

• [ Google Books]