Includes the NRSV Bible
Thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are letters attributed to the apostle Paul. This fact, coupled with the inestimable influence of many of these letters, has often caused Paul to be seen as the true “founder” of Christianity. Revealing® Paul is designed to equip students to engage appreciatively, knowledgeably, and critically with Paul, his letters, and his complex legacy. Students will acquire a sophisticated understanding of ancient pseudonymity, and understand why it is that Paul could not have written all the letters attributed to him and what is at stake in that realization. They will internalize “the new perspective on Paul,” and consequently understand that Paul had no concept of a Christianity separate from Judaism and continued to identify as a Jew even while proclaiming Jesus as Messiah. They will apprehend the theological content of all thirteen Pauline letters in relation to their circumstances of production. And they will grapple with such consequential issues in the letters as anti-Judaism, both real and apparent; the subordination of women; the condemnation of homosexuality; and the proper attitude toward empire.
Revealing® Paul aims to be the most accessible introduction to the Pauline letters available. No prior knowledge whatsoever of the gospels, or of the New Testament in general, is presupposed, nor is any familiarity with Christian church life and the biblical knowledge it generates through osmosis. But this introduction does not patronize the student either. Students are not required to accept on the authority of the author any position on any important textual matter independently of the evidence or reasoning that has led to it. The evidence and the arguments are clearly and meticulously laid out for students throughout, enabling them to draw different conclusions or construct alternative explanations. Ultimately, this introduction is designed to equip the student to become an informed participant in the vigorous, consequential, open-ended debate that is critical scholarship on the foundational texts of Christianity.
As courseware, in addition to the text content, which is as robust as that of traditional textbooks, Revealing® Paul contains integrated resources that no print textbook or etextbook can match. Each biblical chapter-and-verse reference is linked to the text of the New Revised Standard Version. Reading the primary source material thereby becomes an altogether more inviting experience for the student than having to trawl through a print biblical text separate from the textbook. Even extracanonical sources, such as the Acts of Paul or Irenaeus’s Against Heresies, are linked to the text when they are referenced. Each technical or potentially unfamiliar term in the text is linked to a glossary definition. Creatively designed activities distributed throughout each module facilitate understanding and retention by the student. Over a thousand images from ancient material culture and the history of biblical reception are available to the reader and the entire text is narrated
Revealing® Paul Modules:
- Lives of Paul: “I have become all things to all people”
- Paul & (Anti-)Judaism: Old and New Perspectives on Paul
- The Troubleshooting Apostle: 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians
- The Gospel According to Paul: Galatians and Romans
- Letters from Prison: Philippians and Philemon
- Paul, Women, & Homosexuality: “Maintain the traditions handed on to you”
- In the Name of the Apostle 1: 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, and Ephesians
- In the Name of the Apostle 2: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus
Price: $35.00
Lives of Paul
Problems with Paul
- Goals: Problems with Paul
- The Founder of Christianity?
- Making Sense of Paul
- Ethical Problems with Paul
- Summary: Problems with Paul
- Try It: Problems with Paul
Was Paul Upper Class?
- Goals: Was Paul Upper Class?
- The Historical Paul?
- A Jew & a Pharisee
- Paul of Tarsus?
- A Roman Citizen?
- A Cosmopolitan Figure
- Paul’s Trade
- Summary: Was Paul Upper Class?
- Try It: Was Paul Upper Class?
The Turning Point
- Goals: The Turning Point
- Paul the Persecutor
- Not a Conversion
- Paul’s Transformation
- Summary: The Turning Point
- Try It: The Turning Point
The Labors of an Apostle
- Goals: The Labors of an Apostle
- Apostle to the Gentiles
- Dating Paul’s Mission
- Traveler & Missionary
- Dating Paul’s Letters
- Paul’s Ambitions
- “Remember the poor”
- Paul’s Collection
- Paul’s Final Years
- Summary: The Labors of an Apostle
- Try It: The Labors of an Apostle
Paul & (Anti-)Judaism
Paul, Judaism & Genocide
- Goals: Paul, Judaism & Genocide
- Seismic Shift in Pauline Studies
- Theological Anti-Judaism
- Augustine & Paul
- Luther & Paul
- Untouched by the Revolution
- Paul & Anti-Semitism
- Was Paul Anti-Jewish?
- Summary: Paul, Judaism & Genocide
- Try It: Paul, Judaism & Genocide
A New Perspective on Paul
- Goals: New Perspective on Paul
- A Sect within Judaism
- Paul’s Pride in His Judaism
- Rediscovering Ancient Judaism
- In the Covenant Community
- Criticisms of the New Perspective
- Paul & Judaism Today
- Summary: New Perspective on Paul
- Try It: New Perspective on Paul
Paul & Empire
- Goals: Paul & Empire
- Shifting Perspective
- Ultimate Context
- Recontextualizing Romans
- De-idealizing Paul
- Decentering Paul
- Summary: Paul & Empire
- Try It: Paul & Empire
The Troubleshooting Apostle
Outline of 1 Thessalonians
- Outline: First Letter to the Thessalonians
Contextualizing 1 Thessalonians
- Goals: Contextualizing 1 Thessalonians
- One Letter, Three Authors
- A Decentered Paul
- Silvanus & TImothy
- Acts & 1 Thessalonians
- Paul’s Missionary Strategy
- Summary: Contextualizing 1 Thessalonians
- Try It: Contextualizing 1 Thessalonians
Eschatology & 1 Thessalonians
- Goals: Eschatology & 1 Thessalonians
- Jesus of 1 Thessalonians
- Expecting the End
- The Unforeseen Complication
- The Rapture
- The Rival Emperor Returns
- Summary: Eschatology & 1 Thessalonians
- Try It: Eschatology & 1 Thessalonians
Anti-Judaism & 1 Thessalonians
- Goals: Anti-Judaism & 1 Thessalonians
- A Patriotic City
- Persecution in Thessalonica
- Bitter Condemnation
- A Later Addition?
- Another Letter to the Thessalonians
- Summary: Anti-Judaism & 1 Thessalonians
- Try It: Anti-Judaism & 1 Thessalonians
Outline: Letters to the Corinthians
- Outline: First Letter to the Corinthians
- Outline: Second Letter to the Corinthians
Contextualizing 1 & 2 Corinthians
- Goals: Contextualizing 1 & 2 Corinthians
- Practical Letters
- The “Church” in Pauline Christianity
- An Adventurous Community
- Many Letters to Corinth
- 2 Corinthians as Two Letters
- Counting the Letters to Corinth
- Summary: Contextualizing 1 & 2 Corinthians
- Try It: Contextualizing 1 & 2 Corinthians
The Corinthian Community
- Goals: The Corinthian Community
- “We proclaim Christ crucified”
- Household Heads & Their Slaves
- “Not many of you were wise”
- Rich & Poor, Jew & Gentile
- A Social Experiment
- A Conflicted Community
- Summary: The Corinthian Community
- Try It: The Corinthian Community
Factions, Sex, & Food
- Goals: Factions, Sex, & Food
- Paul & Apollos
- Handed Over to Satan
- A Court of Believers
- Sex & Celibacy
- The Question of Divorce
- Paul’s Political Thought
- Food Sacrificed to Idols
- Summary: Factions, Sex, & Food
- Try It: Factions, Sex, & Food
Strange Languages, Resurrected Corpses
- Goals: Strange Languages, Resurrected Corpses
- Early Christian Worship
- Speaking in Tongues
- On Resurrection
- Summary: Strange Languages, Resurrected Corpses
- Try It: Strange Languages, Resurrected Corpses
The Trials of an Apostle
- Goals: The Trials of an Apostle
- A Memorable Muddle
- Crime & Punishment
- Authority from Afar
- Rival Apostles, Super Apostles
- The Hardship List
- Visions & Revelations
- Odd Honor
- No Pain, No Gain
- Summary: The Trials of an Apostle
- Try It: The Trials of an Apostle
The Gospel According to Paul
Outline: Letter to the Galatians
- Outline of the Letter to the Galatians
Situating Galatians
- Goals: Situating Galatians
- An Emotional Letter
- A Pivotal Letter
- Crisis in Galatia
- A Letter to Men
- Rival Missionaries
- Where Was Galatia?
- Dating Galatians
- Summary: Situating Galatians
- Try It: Situating Galatians
Paul & the Pillars
- Goals: Paul & the Pillars
- Paul on the Attack
- Mystique of the Jerusalem Church
- Apostolic Credentials
- Paul Denounces Peter
- Summary: Paul & the Pillars
- Try It: Paul & the Pillars
The Works of the Law
- Goals: The Works of the Law
- Legacy of Galatians
- The New Perspective on Galatians
- Galatians & Judaism
- What Abraham Taught Paul
- Paul on Covenant
- Paul on the Spirit
- Summary: The Works of the Law
- Try It: The Works of the Law
Outline: Letter to the Romans
- Outline of the Letter to the Romans
Situating Romans
- Goals: Situating Romans
- Romans in Context
- Jesus of Romans
- Romans & Rome
- Gentiles & Jews
- The Central Question of Romans
- Romans & Galatians
- Summary: Situating Romans
- Try It: Situating Romans
The Politics of Salvation
- Goals: The Politics of Salvation
- Sin & Atonement
- The Day of Wrath
- Crucifixion & Liberation
- Romans & Empire
- Subversion & Resistance
- Romans & Ecology
- Summary: The Politics of Salvation
- Try It: The Politics of Salvation
Letters from Prison
Outline: Letter to the Philippians
- Outline of the Letter to the Philippians
Paul & the Philippians
- Goals: Paul & the Philippians
- A Quotable, Joyful Letter
- The Philippian Church
- One Letter or Several?
- Where Was It Written?
- Opponents & Boasts
- Summary: Paul & the Philippians
- Try It: Paul & the Philippians
The Philippians Christ Hymn
- Goals: The Philippians Christ Hymn
- Appeals for Unity
- Did Paul Write the Hymn?
- Jesus as Slave
- Adam & Jesus
- “Becoming a human being”
- Resistant Paul
- Complicit Paul
- Summary: The Philippians Christ Hymn
- Try It: The Philippians Christ Hymn
Outline: Letter to Philemon
- Outline of the Letter to Philemon
A Letter on Behalf of a Slave
- Goals: A Letter on Behalf of a Slave
- Private Letter, Small Matter?
- Ancient & Modern Slavery
- Was Onesimus a Slave?
- Where Paul Was Writing
- Who Was Onesimus?
- Paul’s Bold Request
- Metaphorical & Literal Slavery
- Summary: A Letter on Behalf of a Slave
- Try It: A Letter on Behalf of a Slave
Paul, Women, Homosexuality
Proto-Feminist Paul
- Goals: Proto-Feminist Paul
- Paul the Misogynist?
- Paul & Feminism
- A Female Apostle
- A Female Deacon
- Wife Before Husband
- Hardworking Women
- Paul & Strong Women
- “No longer male and female”
- Summary: Proto-Feminist Paul
- Try It: Proto-Feminist Paul
Patriarchal Paul
- Goals: Patriarchal Paul
- Husband as “Head”
- Veiling & Unveiling
- The Reflection of Man
- “Women should be silent”
- Later Insertion?
- Reconciling the Two Pauls
- Pseudo-Paul on Gender
- Summary: Patriarchal Paul
- Try It: Patriarchal Paul
Homosexuality Then & Now
- Goals: Homosexuality Then & Now
- Homosexuality: New Testament
- Homosexuality: Pauline Letters
- Idolatry & Homosexuality
- Homosexuality & Heterosexuality
- Ancient Sex
- “Unnatural” Women
- “Unnatural” Men
- Summary: Homosexuality Then & Now
- Try It: Homosexuality Then & Now
Decoding Pauline Homosexuality
- Goals: Decoding Pauline Homosexuality
- The Hard & the Soft
- “Men who lie with males”
- “Natural” & “Unnatural” Sex
- Pauline Sex
- From Paul’s World to Ours
- Summary: Decoding Pauline Homosexuality
- Try It: Decoding Pauline Homosexuality
In the Name of the Apostle 1
What Is Pseudonymity?
- Goals: What Is Pseudonymity?
- Authorship & Apostleship
- Ancient Pseudonymity
- Second-Century Paul
- Pseudonymity as Reverence
- Pseudonymity as Forgery
- False Authorship, False Teaching
- Pseudonymity Today
- Summary: What Is Pseudonymity?
- Try It: What Is Pseudonymity?
Outline: 2 Thessalonians
- Outline of 2 Thessalonians
Antichrist & 2 Thessalonians
- Goals: Antichrist & 2 Thessalonians
- End-Time Speculation
- Coming of the Lawless One
- Identity of the Lawless One
- “In the time of Antichrist”
- Summary: Antichrist & 2 Thessalonians
- Try It: Antichrist & 2 Thessalonians
Did Paul Write 2 Thessalonians?
- Goals: Did Paul Write 2 Thessalonians?
- 1 & 2 Thessalonians
- Eschatological Differences
- A Pseudonymous Letter
- When Was It Written?
- Summary: Did Paul Write 2 Thessalonians?
- Try It: Did Paul Write 2 Thessalonians?
Outline: Letter to the Colossians
- Outline of the Letter to the Colossians
The Paradox of Colossians
- Goals: The Paradox of Colossians
- Revolutionary Conservatism
- The Colossian Church
- Worship & Angels
- Stratospheric Christology
- Ecclesiology of Colossians
- Pagan & Christian Household Codes
- The Colossians Household Code
- Summary: The Paradox of Colossians
- Try It: The Paradox of Colossians
Did Paul Write Colossians?
- Goals: Did Paul Write Colossians?
- Authorial Options
- Vocabulary & Style
- Theology & Authorship
- Dating Colossians
- Did Timothy Write It?
- Summary: Did Paul Write Colossians?
- Try It: Did Paul Write Colossians?
Outline: Letter to the Ephesians
- Outline of the Letter to the Ephesians
Did Paul Write Ephesians?
- Goals: Did Paul Write Ephesians?
- Profundity & Paradox
- Colossians as the Model
- Creative Recycling
- By Whom?
- To Whom?
- Summary: Did Paul Write Ephesians?
- Try It: Did Paul Write Ephesians?
High Ecclesiology of Ephesians
- Goals: High Ecclesiology of Ephesians
- Local Churches
- Cosmic Church
- Cosmic Christ
- Ephesians & Judaism
- Summary: High Ecclesiology of Ephesians
- Try It: High Ecclesiology of Ephesians
The Household Code in Ephesians
- Goals: Household Code in Ephesians
- Call to Action
- From Slavery to Marriage
- Marriage in the Household Code
- The Household Code Today
- Summary: Household Code in Ephesians
- Try It: Household Code in Ephesians
In the Name of the Apostle 2
Outline: The Pastoral Epistles
- Outline: First Letter to Timothy
- Outline: Second Letter to Timothy
- Outline: The Letter to Titus
Did Paul Write the Pastoral Epistles?
- Goals: Did Paul Write the Pastoral Epistles?
- To an Individual
- About the Author
- Style & Vocabulary
- Theology of the Pastorals
- Travels in the Pastorals
- Authorship & Date
- Summary: Did Paul Write the Pastoral Epistles?
- Try It: Did Paul Write the Pastoral Epistles?
Doubly Pseudonymous Letters
- Goals: Doubly Pseudonymous Letters
- Fictional Communication
- Author, Narrator, Reader
- Timothy & Titus
- Invented Details?
- Uniqueness of 2 Timothy
- Summary: Doubly Pseudonymous Letters
- Try It: Doubly Pseudonymous Letters
Church Leadership in the Pastorals
- Goals: Church Leadership in the Pastorals
- The Real Audience
- The Opponents’ Doctrine
- On Church Hierarchy
- On Teaching
- Bishops, Deacons, Elders
- Summary: Church Leadership in the Pastorals
- Try It: Church Leadership in the Pastorals
The Pastor & the Women
- Goals: The Pastor & the Women
- On Widows
- Women & Silence
- The Example of Eve
- Women & Teaching
- Women & Submission
- Summary: The Pastor & the Women
- Try It: The Pastor & the Women
About the Author: Stephen D. Moore, Ph.D. (Drew University)
Stephen D. Moore is Edmund S. Janes Professor of New Testament Studies in the Theological School and Graduate Division of Religion at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. A native of Ireland, he received the Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) long ago. He is the author or co-author, editor or co-editor of around two dozen books, including Literary Criticism and the Gospels: The Theoretical Challenge (Yale University Press, 1989); The Postmodern Bible (Yale University Press, 1995); God’s Gym: Divine Male Bodies of the Bible (Routledge, 1996); God’s Beauty Parlor: And Other Queer Spaces in and around the Bible (Stanford University Press, 2001); Empire and Apocalypse: Postcolonialism and the New Testament (Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2006); Mark and Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies (with Janice Capel Anderson; Fortress Press, 2008, 2nd ed.); The Invention of the Biblical Scholar: A Critical Manifesto (with Yvonne Sherwood; Fortress Press, 2011); and Untold Tales from the Book of Revelation: Sex and Gender, Empire and Ecology (SBL Press, 2014). He has served on the editorial boards of many journals, including the Journal of Biblical Literature. He has been learning from teaching the New Testament for more than thirty years, and his most treasured professional achievements are the teaching awards he has won.