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Rating: 
Summary: Very helpful guide to Paul's theology
Review: If you are looking for a book to tell you what scholars are saying about Paul's theology ... keep looking! While Schreiner interacts with other writers, and often gives information about helpful books which treat topics covered in this volume in more depth, he has written a book to help us understand what Paul says himself, and he has done it superbly.When you read the book, it is obvious that Schreiner has painstakingly researched Paul's writings with a view to understanding what he thought and taught. He is careful to not go beyond what Paul says, and occasionally tentatively suggests things that are not explicitly stated or implied by Paul. This is a book to read in its entirety, but also to read and re-read, as are many of Schreiner's other works, such as his terrific commentary on Romans and his book on perseverance and assurance, co-written by Ardel Caneday, The Race Set Before Us. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Schreiner has given us an outstanding study on the theology and mission of the Apostle Paul in this easy-to-read yet thorough volume. While not exhaustive, Schreiner does wrestle with the most important issues. He simply avoids the wearisome type of New Testament scholarship that spends more time on extrabiblical sources than on the inspired text itself. Schreiner's stance is decidedly conservative and Reformed, yet not to the point of Scripture twisting or skewing exegesis. There is a real freshness to this book, in that it avoids flattening Paul's theology into an emphasis on only one theme (such as justification, union with Christ, or reconciliation), but rather emphasizes all of these themes in relation to the central motif of God's glory as revealed in Christ. The glory of God in Christ is the sun in Paul's theological solar system and the planets of justification, union with Christ, reconciliation, et cetera all orbit around this one glorious center. While Schreiner's exegesis is fresh, it is not a departure from historic Protestantism. Schreiner does NOT teach justification by works. But he does understand the already/not yet nature of God's salvific work. There are dimensions of salvation that are yet to be realized by God's people and the Scriptures represent perseverance in faith and obedience as a necessary corollary to final deliverance. But even our perseverance in faith and obedience are the direct result of God's effectual work within us, so all is of grace. Another unique feature in Schreiner's work is his emphasis on Paul's suffering as a crucial means of fulfilling his mission. In fact, Schreiner does a wonderful job of weaving Paul's theology into the missionary context in which it was originally framed. This adds a personal dimension to the book and will help students avoid the danger of abstracting Paul's theology from real life. This is an excellent book that I heartily recommend. The Christian church should thank the Lord for such gifted scholars as Thomas Schreiner and both scholars and pastors should take advantage of this labor of love.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good Book on Paul's Theology
Review: Schreiner has given us another excellent work-- this time a full Pauline theology. Though not as exhaustive as some theologies (e.g., J. Dunn's), Schreiner's is still highly recommended for the following reasons. First, Schreiner avoids centering Pauline theology on just one reductionistic theme-- like justification, or life "in Christ", etc. Rather, Schreiner argues convincingly that the broad, multifacted nature of Paul's theology is best expressed as the glory of God in Christ. The pursuit of God's glory in Christ undergirds Paul's missionary zeal, the nature of human salvation, and everything else in the Pauline corpus. But this is not a simple theme-- it is broad and varied, and leaves room for considerable variation of focus in the Pauline epistles. Schreiner expresses dependence on John Piper for his focus. Second, Schreiner offers a unique and informative chapter on the role of suffering in Paul's missionary work. This is an important theme that is often overlooked, but is necessary for a proper understanding of Paul's thought. Third, this book is very clearly written. In fact, it is one of the clearest theology books I have read. Overall, this book is highy recommended to anyone who is interested in Paul's theology.
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Summary: An Excellent Pauline Theology
Review: Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, has given us a carefully-reasoned, exegetically-precise, theologically-accurate portrait of Paul's thought. Paul preached the gospel of God in Christ, and he was the apostle of God's glory in Christ (the subtitle of the book). It is around this theme that Schreiner examines and explains the apostle Paul. Schreiner admits that his treatment is not exhaustive (though it is still a 500-page book). For college students, seminarians, pastors, and informed laymen, this should be the first book Pauline theology to purchase and consult. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Book on Paul's Theology
Review: Those of you who want a good Pauline theology textbook from a generally Reformed and Baptistic perspective should look here. However, even though Schreiner is Reformed and Baptistic in his general understanding of major Pauline themes, his soteriological understanding of Paul is Anabaptistic. Many people in the traditional Reformed and Baptist circles would disagree with some of Schreiner's conclusions regarding justification, sanctification, and the Final Judgment. Schreiner's main thesis, however, is that Paul's "center" was not justification by faith alone (traditional Protestantism) or the mystical union in Christ (some modern theologians), but God's glory revealed through the redemptive work of Christ. He described Paul's theology as a house with many parts instead of concentric circles (of course, God being the foundation of "the house"). The chapters and themes are neatly set out and there is a logical flow throughout the book. One will not find confusion and irraticism in Schreiner's book. Some of the discussions in Schreiner's book are excellent (especially on Romans 9 and the future salvation of Israel). However, there needs to be a word of caution to those who are thinking of purchasing this book. Schreiner departs from the traditional Protestant view of salvation. In many places throughout the book he states that good works are necessary for obtaining salvation (not merely as evidential proof of salvation). On p. 286, he states that women will be saved eternally if they live according to their gender; on p. 328, he states that children who obey their parents will receive the eschatological reward of eternal life; on p. 437, he states that slaves will receive eternal life if they obey their masters; and on p. 438, he states that those who live generously will "reap" eternal life. There are many more similar sayings throughout the book and this should raise alarm bells for traditional evangelical Protestants. Also, another criticism is that Schreiner's view of the Jew-Gentile dichotomy is influenced by the New Perspective. Instead of the Jew-Gentile dichotomy being about works-grace dichotomy it is primarily about the exclusivism-inclusivism dichotomy according to Schreiner. Many traditionalists will probably not accept Schreiner's interpretations quite easily. Schreiner's view of Paul's soteriology should not be considered traditional Protestant, but Anabaptistic. Regardless of the criticisms, this book is very scholarly and is a good overview of Paul's theology
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