Greening Paul: Rereading the Apostle in a Time of Ecological Crisis

A remarkable, wide-ranging attempt to read the Pauline literature from an ecological perspective, Greening Paul, the first book of its kind, traverses carefully between extremes claiming to present Paul's narrative world and simply subjugating the Bible to a contemporary set of ethical values. Skillfully the authors craft their reading of Paul according to the cutting-edge insights of narrative criticism and tackle burning questions which assail Christians in the present ecological crisis: Does the biblical tradition inculcate an anthropocentric worldview that gives humanity license to exploit the earth for our benefit? Does biblical eschatology imply that the earth is of only passing significance for the elect? Greening Paul is a timely and adroit re-reading of the apostle Paul that provides a potentially very fruitful ecological vision, all the while staying true to the biblical text.

David G. Horrell is Professor of New Testament Studies and Director of the Centre for Biblical Studies at the University of Exeter, U.K.

Cherryl Hunt is an Associate Research Fellow of the University of Exeter, U.K.

Christopher Southgate is a Research Fellow of the University of Exeter, U.K., and Dean of Studies of the South West Ministry Training Course.