Making Sense of Paul: A Basic Introduction to Pauline Theology

Rating:
Summary: Getting into Paul's Skin
Review: Dr. Virginia Wiles has composed a workbook aimed at readers with at least a Sunday school knowledge of the New Testament, but quickly deconstructs that knowledge by giving a series of redefinitions of the Apostle Paul's terminology, i.e. salvation, justification, righteousness, law, and the like. Written in the form resembling a self-teaching text, Wiles inserts 'sidebars' of review questions, reader response queries, and modern application scenarios. Her approach should not be offensive to the non-Christian, but does challenge many traditional views of evangelical Christianity as she approaches her subject with a "This is the real Paul-take him or leave him" attitude. Especially thought-provoking is her take on Paul's seemingly contradictory views of the Mosiac Law-that one is condemned by not following it, but is also condemned by following it. Dr. Wiles has fired an opening salvo at the traditionalists who try to fit the square peg of Paul's theology into the round hole of the standard repent-be forgiven-be restored cycle which she, and according to her book, Paul, says won't work. She makes a strong case that Paul's definition of the Christian experience requires a much more radical approach in order for the individual to attain the goal of 'shalom' for oneself, the Christian community, and the entire created order.