The Letters of Paul: An Introduction - Softcover

Puskas, Charles B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0814680631 ISBN 13: 9780814680636

Publisher: Liturgical Press, 2013

Synopsis

Since Charles Puskas first published The Letters of Paul, it has proven to be a reliable text and reference tool. It is an exemplary guide to the basic issues surrounding the Pauline letters-who really wrote each letter; when it was written; the letter's social context, audience, and literary characteristics-and also includes discussion of the worlds of Paul, the letter genre, and the rhetorical arrangement of each letter.

Working with noted Pauline scholar Mark Reasoner on this new, second edition-with more than 40 percent new and revised material-the authors have taken account of a host of diverse cultural, historical, sociorhetorical, literary, and contextual studies of recent years and critically reexamined several issues of authorship, date, historical situation, literary form, and rhetorical structure. They have addressed new and pressing issues, filled certain lacunae, and generally updated the book for a new generation of readers.

About this title

About the Author

Charles B. Puskas has extensive experience in university and seminary teaching, academic publishing, and parish ministry. He is the author of The Conclusion of Luke–Acts (2009), An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts (with David Crump), and An Introduction to the New Testament (with C. Michael Robbins).

Review

“If you are tired of the ‘same old, same old,’ about the Apostle Paul, you should try this introduction by Puskas and Reasoner.  It is substantial, balanced, and bibliographically rich.”        Dr. Calvin J. Roetzel        The Sundet Chair in New Testament and Christian Studies        University of Minnesota
“Crisp, concise, and thorough, this volume stands out as an excellent introduction to Paul and his letters. . . . Packed with information, the book is a handy and efficient resource for readers looking for a reliable guide to the study of Paul’s letters.”        Arland J. Hultgren        Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor Emeritus of New Testament        Luther Seminary
“What a gift to college and seminary teachers introducing students to Pauline literature and the best of modern scholarship about it. The Puskas, Reasoner partnership makes for a fruitful ecumenical cooperation between Lutheran and Catholic scholarship in a style sensitive to theological concerns.”        Paul R. HinlickyTise Professor of Lutheran Studies, Roanoke College & Docent, Evanjelicka Bohoslovecka Fakulta, Univerzita Komenskeho Bratislava, Slovakia

“With scholarly expertise, Puskas and Reasoner meet an ambitious goal of answering the basic problems, questions and conflicts created by Paul’s letters —when they were written (and by whom), the audience, and the context.  Further issues such as the influence of Hellenistism and Gnosticism on Paul as well as the worlds in which he lived are raised in the extensive footnotes.   Everything your students need to know about one of the most passionate of Christ followers and the letters he wrote to his Gentile assembles is ably presented!”        Tatha Wiley        Author of Encountering Paul: Understanding the Man and His Message, and Paul and the Gentile Women: Reframing Galatians
“Puskas and Reasoner have written a truly fine companion text to any class or general presentation of the Pauline Corpus. . . . As is appropriate, their readers are allowed to draw their own conclusions.”        Robert F. O’Toole, SJ, SSD        Professor Emeritus        Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome
The authors' great strength is their ability to pack so many helpful details into so small a space, the lengthy footnotes that provide a gold mine of up-to-date bibliographic information, and their citations of ancient sources (both biblical, early Jewish, and Greco-Roman), which supplies beginning students with a wealth of resources for their study of Paul's letters.
Philip Richardson, Asbury Theological Seminary, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology

Edition details

• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0814680631
• ISBN 13: 9780814680636
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 304