The Apostle Paul And His Letters

In this book, the author deals with Paul and the book of Acts, the circumstances that led Paul to write each letter, and his responses to those circumstances. A unique aspect of the work is Paul's emphasis on the morality of the believers to whom he was writing--his "ways in Christ" as he taught "them everywhere in every church." Brief discussions of Paul's language help to enlighten meanings of his thought often overlooked. His thought is presented in light of his own times, not those of the Reformation or our own. Material from the Old Testament, Qumran, and pagan sources makes readers more aware of that fact. Paul was not writing for Christians in the modern sense of the term. Rather, he was writing primarily to converts, especially Gentiles, who came into his churches only recently from either Judaism or paganism. Paul's emphases on faithfulness toward God, the faithfulness of Jesus, and his moral teachings are primary themes.

Edwin D. Freed is Emeritus Professor of Religion, Gettysburg College, having taught biblical studies for thirty-six years.