Paul

Annotation

Since its first publication in German in 1959, Paul has beenhailed as a major study of the apostle to the Gentiles, combining exceptionalscholarship with an unusual approach. Schoeps interprets Paul's theology in thelight of his Jewish background, which coloured and conditioned hisChristological teaching. Paul's conception of Jesus differs from that of theSynoptics: what and how extensive the difference is and whence it is derivedare among the questions Schoeps examines.After surveying major problems in Pauline research, the Author relatesthe apostle to primitive Christianity, discussing his eschatology and histeachings on salvation, the law, and saving history. The final chapter showsthat Paul's distinctive doctrines result from two converging factors: that Paulnever saw Jesus in the flesh, and the influence of Jewish teaching. Theconsequence was his concern with the resurrected Saviour of the world, thepre-existent and eternal Son of God. Schoeps shows that Paul betrayed afundamental misconception of the law and the covenantal agreement between Godand his chosen people. The result is a thought-provoking, and somewhatstartling, study of the first, the greatest, and the most difficult of allChristian theologians.