T&T Clark Studies on Pauline Missiology (2 vols.)

This study explores the conversion theologies of Luke and Paul. For Luke and Paul, conversion played an important role in the early Christian experience. Morlan offers a fresh look into how they interpreted this phenomenon. Morlan traverses key texts in the Lukan and Pauline corpus equipped with three theological questions. What is the change involved in this conversion? Why is conversion necessary? Who is responsible for conversion?

Morlan presents theological and exegetical analysis of Luke 15, Acts 2 and 17:16–34, Romans 2 and Romans 9–11 to answer these questions, and, in turn, builds theological profiles for both Luke and Paul. These profiles provide fresh insight into the theological relationship between Luke and Paul, showing significant similarities as well as sharp contrasts between them. Similarities surface between Luke and Paul concerning the centrality of Christology in their conversion theologies. While showing a complex relationship between human and divine agency in conversion, both Luke and Paul understand successful conversion to be impossible without the intervention of an agency outside of the pre-convert.

Brian Rosner and Trevor Burke argue that, before anything else, Paul must first and foremost be identified as a missionary. Using the entire Pauline corpus, the contributors to this volume assess what Paul’s correspondence can tell us about how he perceived his role and identity. The work comprises four parts: in section one, Paul’s identity as priest, eschatological herald, and missionary-pastor are explored while in part two topics such as the apostle’s activity among pagans, his suffering, and Paul’s missionary message to the church at Rome are considered. Section three provides essays on the Spirit as the governing dynamic, the glory of God as the apostles missionary goal, and the importance of Paul’s Christology in shaping his mission to the Gentiles. Finally, part four addresses Paul’s missionary praxis, including his support of his missionary enterprise.