Paul, a New Covenant Jew: Rethinking Pauline Theology

I've read a lot of books about Paul, and I think this is the best one I've ever read. Even though it was in conversation with scholarship, it was easy to follow/understand and the book was riddled with great summary sentences/paragraphs that I highlighted in my kindle for future reference.My favorite thing about the book was how clear it was. Many of the books I've read about Paul, I didn't feel like I got clear answers on certain questions. This book doesn't waste any time and gives you straight answers.

If you want to understand the core of Paul’s New Covenant theology and are in any way bewildered by the last fifty years of scholarly debates about Paul (Old Perspective vs. New Perspective, etc…), buy this book immediately! I personally struggled for years to understand Paul’s writings. Paul’s words would go in one ear and out the other. But when I discovered the role of the new covenant in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, it was like the key that unlocked a treasure hidden in his letters. I’ve been longing for a book like this for some time. The book brings together and engages some of the best scholarship on Paul’s undisputed letters, his first-century Jewish context, and the role of the covenant in his theology. I found the clear summaries at the end of each chapter invaluable.Pitre, Barber, and Kincaid make the case that Paul is best viewed as a “New Covenant Jew” and “minister of the New Covenant” (2 Cor 3:6), who was influenced by Jewish apocalypticism in developing his views on the end of the world and the coming of the new creation, the role of angels and demons in salvation history, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the hidden and revealed Messiah. The heart of Paul’s “good news” is his teaching about Christ who, through the Cross, brings fulfillment to God’s covenant promises. The cross is identified as the apocalyptic revelation of divine love and the redemptive sacrifice that establishes the new covenant. New Covenant justification is brought about through divine sonship and involves three key realities: cardiac righteousness, baptismal initiation, and conformity to Christ. The last chapter argues that, for Paul, the Lord’s Supper is the new covenant sacrifice that ushers in the church’s participation in the new creation. “Through participating in the Lord’s Supper, then, the community becomes what is consumed – the body of Christ” (p. 250).

This book is something I've been waiting for for a long time now. As another reviewer put it, the scholars this book brings together is amazing and the way they synthesize them into a coherent theology is mind-boggling. Their constant interaction with the doctrine of deification was particularly valuable.Fundamentally, the authors argue that Paul was extremely Jewish in his thought and influence but still saw himself and the revelation of Christ as something new and discontinuous with Judaism as well. They approach many either/or debates with a both/and mindset. They synthesize positions that see Paul as utterly non jewish and utterly jewish and show where he affirmed Jewish thought and where he still contended with it.This synthesis allows for different ideas that seem contradictory to be tackled head on and allow for communication between the two sides.This is a must read for anyone interested in Pauline theology and they provide a perspective that's important and needed. This will be a great place for Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox to seek common ground while challenging each other. The style also makes it a very easy read and never once feels dry or difficult, making it accessible to scholars and laymen.As an extra note, those who've read any work by Heiser and the divine council will find those ideas also affirmed in some way and see parallels present here as well which was a surprising but welcome addition.Despite the price, it is extremely worth it and will be a resource I come back to repeatedly in the future. I cannot recommend this more

The depth and perspective of the three authors is beyond anything I have ever experienced. This is more like a college textbook and study of St. Paul. It is extensive and very revealing of understanding St. Paul. If the reader wants to have a deep understanding or study of St. Paul, this is a candidate. Expect to walk away with a renewed understanding of St. Paul and his complexity. Strongly recommended if you want to explore the depths of St. Paul and his theology. We used this as a faith-based book study over several months and were not disappointed.

Like all Christians - you want your Christian walk to be the "right stuff" and not a waste --So you read and study - (as 25 years protestant I took pride in bible reading big time) -- but was always confused about many things in the bible especially Paul --Then about 5 years ago started listening to Brant Pitre bible lessons at Catholic Productions and was super blown away how much the Catholic Catechism had in it that was right there and obvious -- and Brant has this gift of approaching the New Testament from a Jewish perspective -- I still think he's a Rabbi in disguise.Now many super mysterious and important things that Paul taught make total sense -- and once you see the "Jewish" types and shadows that confirm the teaching I'm amazed I never understood much of Paul's writings before.Super Super Essential reading -- LIFE CHANGING if your walk is lacking a little spiritual pizazz!Thanks to the Author's of this book and the Holy Spirit for revealing these things to us through them - wish I had this book 30 years ago -- but better late than never.Beautiful work!Peace and Grace to all.

"in-depth but accessible" is quite apt. The material is book which is thoroughly researched and incorporates the best of both Catholic as well as Protestant scholars in a succinct and relevant manner for both. There is a huge amount of writing on Paul out there in the past century and it can all be quite bewildering, given the unavoidable consequence of diverse theological pre-suppositions of the authors themselves. However the present volume presents a thoroughly orthodox and trinitarian view that you can bank on and I have no hesitation in stating that it would greatly benefit both Catholics and Protestants. Particularly useful for me was the presentation of Paul's high Christology and a summary of Tilling's work on it, after the authors had conversations with Tilling himself to confirm the accuracy of their presentation of views, as they mention in the book. This and many other issues dealt with make it a great buy, have no hesitation. I bought the Kindle version because it was cheap, but am seriously considering buying the paperback too. I only do that if I really like a book, believe me!

Bought this book after having read N T Wright's "Paul" and learning about the New Perspective on Paul's theology. The first four chapters are significantly smoother and easier to read, and follow, than the final two. For some reason the easy style of earlier chapters becomes wordy and prolix in Chapter 5 and 6. The subject matter -- Justification and the Lord's Supper-- was not elucidated clearly, and the author (or authors) seemed to struggle with the concepts here. I myself struggled to finish the book, to be honest, and by the end was exasperated with the repetitiveness shown in Chapters 5 and 6 . An editor's red pen would have helped.

Jolly good. Had many coffees rummaging through these pages. As a Protestant I am very chipper after reading a well researched catholic presentation. Off to bed now.

This book has most brilliant insights

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