The Apostle: A Life of Paul

Loved this book. Paul travels and life reads in such a manner, even Luke travels with him. The character? God pushing Paul along the parade and pagan temples and he stands in the midst of all of them. Great read.

John Pollock has written what I believe to be an excellent biography on one of the most influential people (behind Jesus Christ, of course!) of the Bible - Paul formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Throughout the book Pollock includes biblical stories of Paul's experiences and writes the book in a biographical style. Included are the following events from Paul's life: 1. Presence at Stephan's stoning. 2. Conversion on the Damascus Road. 3. Various missionary journies. 4. Conflict with Barnabas over John Mark. 5. Relationship with Timothy. 6. Shipwreck and landing at Malta. 7. Final days in Rome. As you read the book, you will see that Pollock is true to the New Testament accounts of Paul's life. Read and enjoy. Recommended.

I have read the bible, especially the New Testamant, many times and over the years have gotten a good picture of what Paul's life and spiritual development was like. Or so I thought. The author does a wonderful job of making Paul and his times come alive. This is not scripture (although there are many quotes), but reading it will make the Pauline letters come alive in a way that only a great writer can. A definite recommendation for everyone from a long-time Christian.

Rather like scientists who argue tentatively from "inference to the best explanation," John Pollock mitigates his speculations with what seems a broad scholarship and familiarity with relevant topography, historical accounts, archeology, biblically cross-referenced clues and implications, and hermeneutics. The result is an outstanding biography of the first century evangelist who influenced the course of human history more than any political figure has. At one point, discussing "a certain political event in Ephesus" during an account of what is known as Paul's second missionary journey, Pollock describes his method in these words: "Paul's story enters a brief though vital period when the facts are obscure. Luke turns very discreet." After citing a highly plausible political explanation for Luke's discretion, he continues: "What happened must be pieced together from clues scattered aground the New Testament and in secular history. . . A biographer has to decide between slowing to a halt here in a bog of conflicting possibilities which can never be resolved, or striding boldly across a causeway of conjecture. I choose the second course and, without stepping aside to discuss all the alternatives, tell the story as I see it. Paul's next eighteen months unfold somewhat as follows, though the tone of assurance in my narrative must not disguise that some of its conclusions are tentative and disputable." (p 192) This excerpt furnishes a good picture of Pollock's approach when some speculation is necessary to flesh-out the story. The book is an extremely enjoyable reading experience. This from chapter 15: Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke, "probably in the last week of July 50 [AD]," under sail from Troas: "They did not think of themselves as passing from the continent of Asia to Europe. The terms were in use, but the Aegean was Greek on either side. They had, instead, the excitement of approaching a new province, bringing them nearer Rome. They knew that beyond Macedonia they could reach Achaia and Italy, and the vast lands of Gaul, Spain, Germania, even the mist-bound island of Britain lately added to the empire: all save Rome untouched by the Good News. They were not bringing force of arms or a political program: just four men -- and Another, invisible, who had known these seas and shores before Achilles or Agamemnon or Ulysses; who could demolish empires and cities by the breath of His mouth, but who had chosen to humble Himself and come to Macedonia as quietly, as weakly as, in the flesh, He had come to Bethlehem half a century before. " (p 124) Sea routes, roads, typical seasonal meteorology, local flora, the lay of cities, ports and provinces, physical features of the landscapes, political liaisons and intrigues, local deities, the art, architecture and practices of pagan worship centers, the identity and motivations of opposition, philosophical schools, regional industries, first century seamanship and vessels -- Pollock descriptively

We know some things about Saul of Tarsus (later named the Apostle Paul) but a complete biography is always lacking because of sketchy and incomplete information. Most everything we know from Paul is from the Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts or Paul's epistles themselves. II Peter Chapter 3 makes some very intriguing statements. Peter, in some of his last earthly words before martyrdom, validates Paul's apostleship and states that some of his writings and teachings are difficult but that we should follow them. Pollock's book is presented as documentary-style reading since Paul's complete biography is not entirely clear. There is much the author states is inference or speculation. If you can respect that and not build doctrine and facts on where the evidence is fuzzy, I think this is an excellent book. One example of "fuzzy" facts that Pollock considers is the age-old controversy over the authorship of the Book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews does not identify himself and scholars argue who wrote it. Pollock speculates that Paul, while imprisioned in Acts Ch. 24 for two years may have had time and motivation to write the book to the people he so desparately wanted to reach. With his imprisonment and his controversial style among the Jews, he may have left his identity anonymous so he himself would not be a stumbling block to reach his Jewish brothers. Eternity will reveal who wrote the Book of Hebrews but it is certainly a plausible theory. Overall, the greatest benefit in reading this book is to provide a better framework for understanding Paul as he travels among the early churches and wrote letters to them correcting the various false teachings and problems that developed.