This book is Prof. Minear's clarion for a return to authentic biblical theology. After more than fifty years of teaching and research, his message is still simple: biblical theology must pay attention to the emphases of the biblical writers. Contemporary biblical scholars, often best trained as historians, tend to dismiss those elements of the Bible most relevant to the faith of ancient and contemporary Christians. This book introduces contemporary students again to a study of the Bible with God at its heart.

"Paul S. Minear provokes readers of the New Testament to attend to the utter confidence with which its pages speak of God and God's doings. In a book that ranges from Matthew to Revelation and from J. S. Bach to Jacques Ellul, Minear's insights are both classic and astonishing. A volume to be both welcomed and read." --Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Paul Minear's work, too little known to recent students, was a major influence that drew me into the field of New Testament studies. These subtly crafted essays press us to reckon with the New Testament writers' claim to speak about a God who transcends modernist ways of knowing. Minear's far-seeing readings beckon us to peer into the mystery to which the texts point. In short, Minear raises the art of New Testament criticism into the practice of prophecy. The publication of this book is an event to be celebrated by all who cherish theological interpretation of the New Testament." --Richard B. Hays, The Divinity School, Duke University

"Minear goes directly to the biblical texts, and by deftly exploring their ways of talking about things like peace, death or "the heavens," lets their language invite the reader to be grasped by the extraordinary reality of which they speak. These jargon-free essays do more than express an aesthetic appreciation of the New Testament's distinct language; they exemplify a way of reading scripture that can stimulate the imagination, challenge the moral will and deepen understanding. For thirsting spirits, an oasis." --Leander E. Keck, Yale Divinity School

The apostle Paul was a vital force in the development of Christianity. Paul's historical and religious context affects the theological interpretation of Paul's writings, no small issue in the whole of Christian theology.

Recent years have seen much controversy about the apostle Paul, his context, and its effect on his theology. In Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, four leading scholars present their views on the best framework for describing Paul's theological perspective, including his view of salvation, the significance of Christ, and his vision for the churches.

Views include:

Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, alongside the Counterpoints volume Four Views on the Apostle Paul, gives students the tools they need to draw informed conclusions on debates about Paul. New Testament scholar Michael F. Bird also covers foundational issues and provides helpful summaries in his introduction and conclusion.

New Testament scholars, pastors, and students of Christian history and biblical theology will find Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, an indispensable introduction to ongoing debates on the apostle Paul's life and teaching.

Session Titles and Runtimes:

0 - Introduction (9 min)

1 - Paul: A Reformed Reading (18 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Douglas A Campbell (3 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (5 min)

2 - The Paul of the Letters: A Catholic Perspective (20 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (3 min)

- Response from Douglas A. Campbell (5 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (5 min)

3 - Christ and the Church in Paul: A "Post-New Perspective" Account (26 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (4 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (6 min)

4 - A Jewish View (39 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (4 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Douglas A. Campbell (4 min)

5 - Conclusion (4 min)