Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology, 2nd ed.
Overview
The theology of the apostle Paul is complex, set forth in numerous occasional letters, and subject to a seemingly endless variety of interpretations. How should students of Scripture engage the challenging task of discerning the shape of Paul’s thought? In Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ, Thomas R. Schreiner seeks to unearth Paul’s worldview by observing what Paul actually says in his writings and laying out the most important themes and how they are connected.
According to Schreiner, “The passion of Paul’s life, the foundation and capstone of his vision, and the animating motive of his mission was the supremacy of God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.” While continuing to return to this foundation, Schreiner explores themes such as the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s people, the power of sin, God’s liberating work of grace, and the unity of the church, as well as the often-neglected topics of Paul as a missionary and his apostolic sufferings.
This second edition is revised throughout and engages with more recent works on Paul. While thoroughly informed by the issues of contemporary Pauline studies, Schreiner offers an accessible account of Paul’s theology that focuses on the primary sources. Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ remains a sound, insightful, and trusted exposition of Paul’s theology that is well-geared to the needs of seminary students and working pastors.
- Provides comprehensive coverage of Paul’s theology
- Informed by contemporary scholarship but accessibly written for nonspecialists
- Discloses a central Pauline theme with practical and spiritual implications
- Features revisions and additional insights for the new edition
Top Highlights
“Perhaps we should think of the Old Testament as the framing of the house and think of the fulfillment of salvation history as the completion of the inside of the house. We could also say that the theme of salvation history is the gospel of God (Rom 1:1). Hence, the image of the house nicely captures various dimensions of Paul’s theology—the foundation is God and Christ, salvation history portrays the progress being made on the house, and the theme of the house is the gospel.” (Page 7)
“Suffice it to say that we have ample evidence that the building, whether it is conceived of as the people of God or the universe, would not remain without the sustaining and preserving work of the Father and the Son.” (Page 8)
“But it conveys the dynamic interaction of the various themes better than the term center, and it also provides a visual image by which the various Pauline themes are laid on the superstructure of the ultimate foundation, that is, God himself. He is the source, the means, and the goal of all things. Thus, to return to the image of the center, God is the center of Pauline theology. But to say that God is the center of Pauline theology is not to diminish the centrality of Christ, for, as we shall see, the exaltation of Jesus the Messiah brings glory and praise to God. Perhaps we can say that God in Christ is the foundation of Pauline theology.” (Page 9)
“The goal in the present work is to see what Paul says and to see it in the right proportions” (Page 2)
“The Father’s glory is not diminished but enhanced by the work of Christ on the cross.” (Page 14)
Thomas Schreiner is one of the preeminent Pauline scholars of our time and we now have a welcomed update to his magisterial account of Pauline thought. Schreiner has provided a lucid account of Paul as God’s chosen envoy for the gospel of God, heralding the work of Christ, and working unto the glory of God. An ideal resource for anyone seeking to better comprehend the teaching and legacy of the apostle Paul.
—Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in theology, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
Paul the apostle suffered greatly to bring the promised gospel message of God in Christ to the nations. A complex and nuanced thinker, he continues to challenge modern readers. Tom Schreiner has updated his sure-handed, landmark survey of the thought patterns throughout Paul’s thirteen letters for yet another generation of students—a labor of love.
—A. Andrew Das, professor of religious studies, assistant dean of the faculty, Elmhurst College
Tom Schreiner has influenced my understanding (and the understanding of many) of the Pauline letters and Pauline theology more than anyone on the planet! Readers of his second edition of this Pauline theology will learn much about Paul’s theology, his global mission, and his life-changing encounter with the glory of God in the crucified and resurrected Christ. Pastors and students should have Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ close at hand as they study Paul’s letters and theology. This is a clear, accessible, and informative Pauline theology—highly recommended!
—Jarvis J. Williams, associate professor of New Testament interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
The field of Pauline Studies is a moving target. Over the past fifteen years there have been groundbreaking and substantial contributions to the study of Paul’s theology. This second edition of Tom Schreiner’s Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ continues to be a faithful entrée into Paul’s thought and theology with helpful updates to his clear and well-ordered study. Ever an irenic and careful exegete, Schreiner works with the full complement of Paul’s letters (accepting all thirteen as authentic), demonstrating central themes arising from the text while allowing for tension in the material to stand for the reader to consider. The second edition of Schreiner’s work will continue to be a trusted guide for reading Paul’s theology well.
—Darian R. Lockett, associate professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
- Title: Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology
- Author: Thomas R. Schreiner
- Edition: 2nd
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 560
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Pauline Studies
Thomas R. Schreiner (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also taught at both Bethel Theological Seminary and Azusa Pacific University.
Dr. Schreiner is a Pauline scholar and the author or editor of numerous books, including New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ; Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology; and the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament volume on Romans.