Paul

Walter Wangerin, Jr. did an amazing job of weaving Biblical history, secular history, and his imagination into a fascinating and believable tale. It helped me better understand the context of Biblical events in history, taking stories with which I am familiar and helping me understand what was going on politically at the time. Now when I read the Bible, the stories and people have come to life for me! It was a hard book to put down! (And I am online right now buying a copy for my Dad.)

This is an excellent book, but one should read it with the following caveats:(a) IT'S A NOVEL. It's creative. And although it is well-informed and well-studied by its author, if you want something authoritative, pick up the Bible itself and a good historical commentary.(b) I won't give away the story line here, but in a book group of which I am a part, there were some who were taken aback by some "sexual" overtones. In our over-sexed culture, it is virtually impossible to imagine any sort of intimate relationship without sexualizing it. One needs to struggle hard against this cultural bias and suspend one's own suspicions about intimate human relationships. It is a Christian assumption that human relationship found in God through Jesus Christ is a new creation...one in which it is thoroughly possible to imagine and achieve a depth of intimacy without sexual behavior. Call me old fashioned...I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Wangerin is a favorite author of mine, especially in his non-fiction essays. I have found some of his previous fiction too dense and unwieldy to enjoy, so was a little apprehensive about reading this book, but found it to be completely engrossing and enlightening. Mr. Wangerin has done extensive research in compiling this story, told from the perspectives of Paul's contemporaries and companions. The result is amazing. On almost every page, I found myself saying, "Oh, that's why Paul wrote that!" or "Yes, that would make sense." The scene of Paul's reconciliation with Barnabas brought me to tears. My only disagreement with the author would be in the ending. I give James more credit than the author does, and see no inherent contradiction between his letter and Paul's writings. Wangerin seems to picture James as the prototype of leadership in what would become the Catholic church and Paul as the seed of the Protestant Reformation, and he imagines the division already implicit in the first century church. Aside from that complaint, which only emerges in the last few chapters, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially the subset of that number who also enjoy the Bible.

I finished this book several days ago and have been pondering how to describe it. It is surprising that another reviewer was so critical of Wangerin's portrayal of Paul. Paul wrote much about suffering and weakness, and about glorying in Christ alone. This book gives some plausible reasons why he did so. It completely changed my view of Paul.As a girl who grew up knowing Christ, Paul sometimes baffled me. In fact, he sometimes offended me. I thought he had a view of women that painted us inferior...I remember as a teenager wrestling with his words and thinking of God's negative view of me! So Paul has not always been beloved in my life.That is why I am genuinely thankful for this novel. It opened my eyes to the passion of Paul. It made me see the apostles and their writings in a living, breathing context. I know that this book is fiction, and I am sure that there are parts of it that are complete fiction. But now I can read the New Testament as a part of an amazing story. Instead of reading a passage and immediately looking for things that apply to me, I am more able to read it as the powerful history that it is. I don't see Paul as preaching at me, but as living for the same Spirit who is in me. I see him as a brother heeding an amazing calling - the same calling that I have. And the way that he lived for that calling is so inspiring. The way he impacted the church, even though he suffered greatly, is an example for us.Wangerin used Bible verses and references throughout this novel. Through the events that unfold, he shows all of the drama and passion that were behind the words. We see the great conflicts of the day that inspired Paul's words.Buy this book! You will want to read it more than once. The writing style is fascinating, but not too complex for the average reader. I just can't recommend it enough, especially for those who have read a lot of Scripture and could use a refreshing read. It will make you want to pull out your Bible and read more! I have even purchased two more of Wangerin's books because of this one's impact. Oh, and God used this book to help me in a time of despair. It would be great for a depressed Christian who is easily discouraged when reading Scripture. It is encouraging and inspiring, and it made me remember why I love the Lord and Scripture so much.

This is a great novel that enables the reader to better imagine the people in Paul's life and ministry. It also opens the readers eyes as to the cultures and events of Paul's time. It is hard to put down. A must buy! Get it for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member.