Cover -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Abbreviations -- 1 The Chronological Framework -- The Evidence from the Pauline Letters -- The Evidence from the Acts of the Apostles -- Developing a Chronology for Paul's Life -- 2 Growing Up in Tarsus -- The City of Tarsus -- The Family of Paul -- Education -- 3 A Pharisee in Jerusalem -- A Student in Jerusalem? -- Pharisaic Studies -- A Married Man -- Persecutor of the Church -- 4 Conversion and its Consequences -- Conversion -- Arabia -- Damascus -- Jerusalem -- The Missing Years -- 5 Learning with the Thessalonians -- Contacts with Thessalonica -- Thessalonica and its Christians -- Maintenance differs from Mission -- 6 Meetings and Meals: Jerusalem and Antioch -- The Jerusalem Conference -- Why did James agree with Paul on Circumcision? -- The Agreement -- The Collection -- Antioch and its Jews -- The Problems of a Mixed Community -- The Law a Rival to Christ -- Pastoral Instruction -- 7 The Years in Ephesus -- Two Journeys through Asia Minor to the West -- Ephesus -- The Founding of the Church -- Missionary Expansion -- Imprisonment -- The Date of Galatians -- An Ephesian Chronology -- 8 Conflict in Galatia -- Galatia: Land and People -- Paul's Ministry in Galatia -- The Cause of the Crisis -- Paul's Response -- 9 Partnership at Philippi -- Philippi -- A Series of Letters -- The Letter from Prison -- The Letter of Warning -- 10 Contemplation at Colossae -- The Lycus Valley -- Missionary Strategy -- Paul's Apostolic Office -- The Cosmic Christ -- Eschatology and Ethics -- The Household Code -- Did Paul visit Colossae? -- 11 Confusion at Corinth -- Letters to Corinth -- The Road from Athens to the Isthmus -- The Narrative of Acts -- The Evangelization of Corinth -- A Turbulent Community -- Contacts with Corinth -- The Kaleidoscope Letter -- 12 Corinth in Crisis -- An Unplanned Visit.

The Painful Letter -- Departure for Troas -- The Report of Titus -- Winter in Macedonia -- Plans for the Collection -- Once Again a Missionary -- Bad News from Corinth -- 13 Looking Westward -- The Textual Problems of Romans -- Planning for the Future -- The Writing of the Letter to the Romans -- 14 The Last Years -- An Uncertain Future -- A Farewell Circuit of the Aegean Sea -- Paul's Reception in Jerusalem -- A Roman Prisoner -- The Pastoral Letters -- Rome and Spain -- Once More the Aegean -- The Problem of Timothy -- What did the Future Hold? -- Martyrdom -- Bibliography -- Index of Passages Cited -- I: Old Testament -- II: New Testament -- III: Jewish Writings -- IV: Christian Writings -- V: Classical Authors -- General Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W.

Here Jerome Murphy-O'Connor presents a completely new, and much more vivid and dramatic account of the life of Paul than has ever previously been attempted. From his childhood in Tarsus and his years as a student in Jerusalem to the successes and failures of his ministry, this biography has no peer in terms of its detailed reconstructions of Paul's movements and motives. Traditionally, the Acts of the Apostles has provided the framework for the lives of Paul. In recent years, however, the historical value of the Acts has been called into question. Despite the accuracy of many details, they have been linked in ways which reflect the interests of Luke rather than objective reality. Critical assessment is called for if they are to be incorporated into a life of Paul. The prime source for a reconstruction of the Apostle's life must be his own writings. Recent advances in the study of the letters have brought to light new depths which enables them to be used for biographical purposes. The originality of this book lies in the combination of these two approaches, which are reinforced by close attention to the social and cultural aspects of Paul's ministry as revealed by archaeology and contemporary texts--and it transforms a fountain of theological ideas into ahuman being.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.