Paul: A Novel Book

Saul of Tarsus, the impassioned rabbi and persecutor of Christians, had an experience on the road to Damascus which changed his life and helped shape the future of the world. As Paul, writer of some of the meatiest chunks of the New Testament and zealous missionary to the Gentiles, he became one of the most controversial figures in history. Yet what do we know about the man, other than the letters which have fashioned the Christian church for 2,000 years? Unless you are a theologian or historian, the answer is probably very little--until now. Walter Wangerin, the highly acclaimed scholar and writer, has breathed new life into this fiery, enigmatic and passionate creature in what should be celebrated as a seriously good work of literature. The novel--which combines expert knowledge and prophetic imagination-charts the first exhilarating and dangerous years of the church after the death of Christ. It is seen through the eyes of the witnesses--Priscilla, who meets Paul in Corinth; Barnabus, Timothy and Titus, his companions; James and Simon Peter, the "pillar" of the first Christians; and Seneca, the great Roman writer, statesman and adviser to Nero.Wangerin serves up a feast of colour and detail that brings the first century--and, even more impressively, the Bible--alive. Whatever your religious persuasion, this book is an unmissable companion to one of the greatest yet most puzzling stories ever told. --Brian DraperRead More