Paul: Apostle of the Living God »

"In Paul, Apostle of the Living God, Mark Goodwin examines the tradition of living God language in biblical, Jewish, and early Christian sources and then demonstrates the ways in which Paul adopted this tradition in his own letters. As he explores Paul's writings, Goodwin concludes that the epithet makes Paul's wider argument in 2 Corinthians 2:7-14 clearer and more coherent. In the end, Goodwin says, Paul's use of the living God tradition helps us to appreciate Paul's understanding of himself as an apostle of the living God, commissioned and sent out to bring new life to the Gentiles."--BOOK JACKET.

William Baird

On the basis of solid research, Goodwin presents a lucid exposition of a neglected topic. He argues that the epithet "the living God" expresses a crucial element in Paul's kerygma and in his understanding of the Gentile mission. After an analysis of the historical backgrounds—especially in Hellenistic Judaism—Goodwin supports his argument by careful exegesis of the Pauline texts. The result is a significant contribution to the study of the Paul.