Paul the Apostle: The Triumph of God in Life and Thought

This book for the most part is not for layman and is very hard to follow, but there is one part I consider to be excellent. Page 182 to 192 in the chapter "The Scandal of the Cross". Only 10 pages but worth the price of the book. I believe most will have no trouble understand these pages. These pages establish the relation between Jesus' death and resurrection, and its impact on the Torah. He shows how the death and resurrection of Jesus pull the rug out from under the nature man Roman 8:3. I would read it over and over until it sinks in.

Those of you who want a Pauline theology book that goes straight to the meaning of Paul's writings without dogmatic interpretations of the text should read this book. Beker does an excellent job laying out Paul's theological convictions in an easy to read and scholarly manner. Beker's thesis is that Paul's theological center is the apocalyptic triumph of God through Christ. He develops his thesis with an interesting proposal on Pauline hermeneutics--the coherent center working alongside contingent particularities. Though Beker may not get much support from the more orthodox and traditionalist crowds regarding methodology, one cannot but respect Beker's attempt to stay true to Paul's writings. Though some of Beker's views may turn-off conservative Christians (he denies Pauline authorship to Ephesians), he generally presents a view that sticks to the mainline Christian tradition. Overall, a good book to read on Pauline theology. I would balance this book out with a more evangelical and conservative Pauline theology book like F. F. Bruce's "Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free" or Thomas Schreiner's "Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ".

I purchase this book only because it was required reading material for a course I am taking. The worst book by far I ever had to read. The author is so fanatical about using such big words, he looses you. Then he has the gall to repeat these big words over and over again. I cannot see this book being a book for the normal reader. His premise for the book is most likely just for himself and definitely not something a person longs to know. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to discover what he proposes to discover and prove in his book.Stay away from this book. You would learn more by doing a crossword puzzle.