Understanding Paul and His Letters

This text introduces readers to the extraordinary insights of Paul, always considered in the context of each of his letters and in the soil of Paul’s Hellenistic Jewish background. The study begins with Paul’s way of writing letters and his methods of developing ideas. The book then critically examines the value of Acts as a source for knowing Paul’s life and then surveys the Greek and Jewish background of Paul. In the careful analysis of each letter, the text articulates six main themes that form the foundations of Paul’s theology. The book recovers the intense focus of Paul on God the Father, whose love underlies his divine anger at human sinfulness and at the same time hints at universal salvation. †

Vincent P. Branick holds a PhD from the University of Freiburg, Switzerland, and an SSD from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. He is currently professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton. His Understanding the New Testament and Its Message was published by Paulist Press in 1998.