Paul the Convert

An account of Paul's work in which the author argues that Paul's life can be better understood by taking his Jewishness seriously and that Jewish history can be illuminated greatly be examining Paul's writings.

Segal's Saul of Tarsus is a man consumed with uniting Jews and gentiles in a community focused on the resurrected Messiah. Although his efforts largely failed, Paul left behind several thriving gentile congregations and a wealth of primary source material for the study of first-century Judaism. Segal combines New Testament scholarship, modern psychological studies of conversion, and a thorough knowledge of the rabbinic literature to provide the reader with some remarkable insights into Paul's life and writings. Segal's dispassionate treatment of Paul is much preferred to the polemical speculation of Hyam Maccoby's The Mythmaker ( LJ 6/15/86). Highly recommended for academic and seminary libraries.
- Mark Stover, Calvin Coll. & Seminary Lib., Grand Rapids, Mich.
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