The Quest for Paul's Gospel

Description

Campbell offers a clear outline of Paul's gospel, with theological integrity, and real social and ecclesial dynamism. Douglas Campbell gives a clear account of why much current description of Paul's theology, and of his gospel and of his theory of salvation, is so confused. After outlining the difficulties underlying much of the current debate he lays out some basic options that will greatly clarify the debate. He then engages with these options and shows how one offers far more promise than the others, sketching out some of its initial applications. Campbell then shows in more detail how another option -- the main alternative, and the main culprit in terms of many of our difficulties -- can be circumvented textually, in a responsible fashion. That is, we see how we could remove this option from Paul's text exegetically, and so reach greater clarity. Finally, he concludes with a 'road-map' of where future, more detailed, research into Paul needs to go if the foregoing strategy is to be carried out thoroughly. Campbell believes that by utilising this strategy Paul's gospel will be shown to be both cogent and constructive.

Douglas A. Campbell is currently Assistant Professor of New Testament in the Divinity School, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles on aspects of the Apostle Paul's life and thought.

"This boldly argued book is not an easy read...It is largely about methodology and is a contribution to an increasingly complex scholarly debate, but it offers a serious challenge to the Pauline scholar about how we should orient ourselves towards Paul." Geoffrey Turner, Heythrop Journal "One would expect that its provocative assaults on traditional (especially Lutheran) constructions of Paul will be of great interest to Christian theologians and those who consider themselves disciples of the apostle in particular." -Matt Jackson-McCabe, RBL, January 2008 -- Matt Jackson-McCabe 'Like Bishop Butler who complained, "You stirred up a lot of dust and then complained that you cannot see," Campbell argues that Pauline scholars could not see the coherence of Paul's thought because their reliance on either justification by faith or the history of salvation models obscured it. In pointing to a way out of the current plight of Pauline study, Campbell's emphasis on the Spirit signals a real advance. No serious student of Paul's theology can afford to neglect this bold book.' Leander E. Keck Winkley Professor of Biblical Theology, Emeritus, Yale Divinity School, USA * Blurb from reviewer * 'This audacious book on Paul's theology is controversial in the best sense of the word. Douglas Campbell's impassioned and clearly stated argument will provoke many responses and will reinvigorate international discussion. This is a "must read" book in the field of biblical theology.' Professor Robert Jewett, Heidelberg University, Germany * Blurb from reviewer * 'In this set of bold and provocative essays, Douglas Campbell engages in the quest to establish which model best grasps the heart of Paul's gospel and can express this heart in a way that is theoretically cogent, exegetically convincing and, above all, theologically valuable. Campbell operates - using explicitly military analogies - at the grand, strategic level, and his aims are nothing less than comprehensive victory for his nuanced version of a participatory eschatological model, the elimination of the justification by faith model, and the subjugation of the salvation-history model. In announcing this ambitious programme, Campbell throws down the gauntlet: allies will be cheered and encouraged to rally round; foes will be provoked, and goaded into counter-attack. Above all, Campbell's book will focus attention on this central battle for the interpretation of Paul, and will leave no doubt that the outcome matters, and matters theologically. No one with an interest in the interpretation of Paul's theology should ignore it.' Dr David G. Horrell, Senior Lecturer in New Testament Studies, University of Exeter. * Blurb from reviewer * 'In this lucid and provocative book, Douglas Campbell argues for an interpretation of Paul's gospel that emphasizes participation in Christ at the expense of "justification by faith". The result is a theological and exegetical tour de force. Campbell's trenchant and sometimes brilliant analyses will compel his readers to rethink their assumptions about Paul - even if they remain finally unpersuaded.' Francis Watson, Professor of New Testament Exegesis, University of Aberdeen. * Blurb from reviewer * Title mention in Theology, 2007 -- Anthony Bash * Theology *