In Search of Paul - by John Dominic Crossan & Jonathan L Reed (Paperback)

About the Book

Two of America's top Bible experts present a fascinating "you are there" vision of Paul as the embodiment of Jesus and the champion of his mission. 16-page color insert. 120 b&w illustrations throughout.

From the Back Cover

John Dominic Crossan, the eminent historical Jesus scholar, and Jonathan L. Reed, an expert in biblical archaeology, reveal through archaeology and textual scholarship that Paul, like Jesus, focused on championing the Kingdom of God--a realm of justice and equality--against the dominant, worldly powers of the Roman empire.

Many theories exist about who Paul was, what he believed, and what role he played in the origins of Christianity. Using archaeological and textual evidence, and taking advantage of recent major discoveries in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Syria, Crossan and Reed show that Paul was a fallible but dedicated successor to Jesus, carrying on Jesus's mission of inaugurating the Kingdom of God on earth in opposition to the reign of Rome. Against the concrete backdrop of first-century Grego-Roman and Jewish life, In Search of Paul reveals the work of Paul as never before, showing how and why the liberating messages and practices of equality, caring for the poor, and a just society under God's rules, not Rome's, were so appealing.

Readers interested in Paul as a historical figure and his place in the development of Christianity

-Readers interested in archaeology and anthropology

Review Quotes

"An adventure in history, theology, and the politics of empire. Christianity needs this book, but so does America." - James Carroll, author of Constantine's Sword
"An inspiring synthesis of history and theology, politics and religion. Making intelligent and creative use of an unusually broad spectrum of historical evidence, Crossan and Reed...help the modern reader see the relevance of Paul's message for today." - Pamela M. Eisenbaum, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology.
"Contrasting Rome's imperial ideology with Paul's Jewish covenantal theology, Crossan and Reed do more than locate the apostle's letters within their own time and place, they reveal the urgency of his question for both the first century and the twenty-first: do we seek Rome's peace through victory or God's peace through justice?" - Amy-Jill Levine, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion