Paul the Apostle
His Life and Legacy in their Roman Context

A controversial new biography of the apostle Paul that argues for his inclusion in the pantheon of key figures of classical antiquity.

J. Albert Harrill (Author)

9780521767644, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 September 2012

220 pages, 1 b/w illus. 3 maps
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.5 cm, 0.48 kg

'In this accessible and engaging introduction, Harrill brings his expertise in social history to bear on Paul's life and legacy … the book contains numerous insights that will be of interest to university students and scholars alike.' John K. Goodrich, Religious Studies Review

This book is a controversial new biography of the apostle Paul that argues for his inclusion in the pantheon of key figures of classical antiquity, along with the likes of Socrates, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra and Augustus. It first provides a critical reassessment of the apostle's life in its historical context that focuses on Paul's discourse of authority, which was both representative of its Roman context and provocative to his rivals within Roman society. It then considers the legend that developed around Paul as the history of his life was elaborated and embellished by later interpreters, creating legends that characterized the apostle variously as a model citizen, an imperial hero, a sexual role model, an object of derision and someone to quote from. It is precisely this rewriting of Paul's history into legend that makes the apostle a key transformative figure of classical antiquity.

Introduction
Part I. The Life: 1. From Pharisee to Apostle
2. Communities in the making
3. Paul's life in its Roman context
Part II. The Legend: 4. Competing stories about Paul in Late Antiquity
5. Paul the scriptural authority: contradictory discourses
6. How the West got Paul wrong
Conclusion: going beyond the epitaph.

Subject Areas: Religion: general [HRA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]