Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity?
Oxford New Testament lecturer Wenham revisits an often debated question (his nonexhaustive bibliography exceeds 16 pages): Was Paul thoroughly aware of Jesus' life and teaching, or did he largely create Christianity himself? Most of the discussion utilizes close comparison of brief passages from the Epistles to the final written Gospels, which they predate. Wenham points out both parallels and divergences, considering how Paul's writings and teachings may have influenced the oral traditions and early written texts that coalesced into the Gospels, and vice versa. He makes a strong case that most, but not all, of Paul's beliefs conform to the received Jesus tradition. This work is accessible to persistent, knowledgeable lay readers.?Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., Cal.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.