The Apostle: A Life of Paul

I kind of knew this would be a good book, but was really pleased with it! It is written very well, and I especially like the way the author has cross referenced parts of the Bible and historical documents along the lineage of the book, which makes it a very informative and concise read. It is not cluttered, and reads very easily. It would have been easy to make this unfactual, and more like a fairy-tale, but the author has been very disciplined in his approach, and has produced something that is just so modern, fresh and in-your-face! For any Christian who is well versed on Paul, the content is not surprising - but I can definitely say that regardless of that, or how much you think you know - this book is such a fantastic read. I literally could not put this down, and was really disappointed that I had finished it so soon (it's not short on content either). It's just a lovely book to read, and something which has I feel, re-illustrated Pauls testament, and made brought his story to the fore. I really felt like I was there, walking with Paul on his journeys. I would highly recommend it. It really brings to life, the whole aspects of Pauls life, his experiences and his teachings, in a way that reads well chronolgically. In one word, Brilliant!

John Pollock writes with skill to bring Paul and the 1st century setting to life. Interesting from the dramatic opening onwards, and in the pages of this book Paul becomes real. All the excitments of spreading the word in the Roman world, together with the difficulties,challenges and disagreements, are covered in a highly readable presentation. I first read this in a library copy some years ago, and was delighted to rediscover it again. It was just as enjoyable and instructive as I remembered it. Well worth reading.

John Pollock brings to life the story of the Apostle Paul. In a very readable way, he traces Paul's life story and the missionary work that he did, using corresponding sources from contemporary writers, as well as the New Testament. I recommend it to any who wan t to know more about this amazing Christian worker.

This excellent book was first published when I was an undergraduate and recently re-issued. It is a genuine attempt to write a biography of Paul based on the considerable documentation available in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul's letters and other sources. It gives a fascinating picture of the early church and is is generally but not always clear when it is being speculative.

A extremely well written biography of the Apostle Paul giving interesting background to the life of this great servant of God. John Pollock brings Paul alive. He reminds us that great as Paul was he was a man with his own weaknesses, yet a man who struggled on in his mission of bringing the gospel to his own greatly loved nation and to the vast gentle world. A very moving biography.

From careful analysis of Paul's epistles John Pollock has distilled the most probable course of Paul's life and beliefs. Not only is this an eminently readable book, it throws a useful light on the development of very early Christianity before it became polluted by Greek and Roman theology. Thoroughly recommended for all Christians whether they be preachers or people in the pews.

This is the most moving and perceptive account of the life and passion of Paul i have yet read. It has transformed my understanding of his writings, his ministry, his attitudes and his towering importance to the history of Christianity and hence the world. No other biography has ever opened so many windows in my obscured mind. I cannot recommend it enough.

Great piecing together of the story of Paul's life, and tying in the geography and history of the places and period. Brings an already incredible story into more vivid colour. Use of imagination carefully confined by the facts as we know them, yet judiciously used to take you right into various scenes in Paul's preaching and travel. The account of him preaching at Pisidian Antioch is wonderful. Perhaps a little dated in some places - ie where more recent studies have brought more details to light.

Paul's life is a truly an awesome one.The author through the blending of his research of the scriptures and ancient writings melds the story of this life into a clear realization of Paul's motivation and sense of mission. The book gives impetus to the readers' own commitment to make known the love of Jesus to all those whose lives are touched by them.

Whatever is known about Paul, written about him or by him, is brought to life in this wonderful book. The author has used general information from the era and exceptional knowledge of geography to paint a picture of this indefatigable apostle. All is brought seamlessly together in a very readable form. All Christians would be able to enjoy it because even though it is scholarly in content, it is highly readable and adds a great deal of understanding to the words we read in the New Testament.

Excellent book, wonderfully written

Für alle die mal tiefer in das Leben Paulus blicken möchten ist dieses Buch ein muss. Das Buch deckt ganz neue Facetten von Paulus, bekannt als der Missionar und Nachfolger Christi, der sich wie kein anderer hingab, auf!

I'm having a hard time thinking of words to describe the impact on me of reading this well written historical narrative of the Apostle Paul's life. There are familiar stories, and familiar towns . . . about a man I thought was familiar before I read this. But as I read about the events in order of sequence (the New Testament doesn't organize Paul's letters by date) in a narrative style I gained a sense of time (i.e. I didn't know that after Paul's conversion over a decade goes by before he goes out on a missionary trip) and space (great descriptions of landscapes, travel distances and conditions by foot or ship) and local culture (so . . . they didn't tell me about public nudity in Sunday School). I also ended up getting out a world Atlas and googled the towns to help me follow along and visualize the story. I don't know why in my mind I lumped all of these Mediterranean "Bible Towns" in a similar location because they are spread out, encompassing what is now at least 8 different countries. Anyway another thing that shattered my "happy Sunday School story images" was the fairly tame but necessarily awful descriptions of the brutal punishments, grotesque prison conditions and also the astonishingly perverted social norms and realities of the various towns and cities. I'll never view an ancient Greek temple quite the same . . . um . . . ever. Still it's all tactfully described by Pollock in a PG-13 style that would be suitable and maybe helpful for teenagers . . . given what they already see every day. My only criticism of this book is that the author (as he admits in the notes) sometimes trades historical certainty (or uncertainty) for good drama in certain instances. Paul's life clearly doesn't need hyperbole. But Paul's message is without a doubt completely clear by this story. To the Jews who mostly didn't get it he basically said "you were waiting for the Messiah - It's Jesus." To the non Jews of whom an unknown multitude did get it he basically said "you were waiting for someone - It's Jesus." Anyway if you are wondering if you should read this book I would subtly say . . . read this book.