Corpus-Paul

["J.E.Harding" <BSP97JEH AT sheffield.ac.uk>]

As yet I have only read part of 'Paul: A Critical Life', and whilst I 
agree with the comments made by Paul Miller, I think this is an 
important and essential book for 2 reasons:

(1) At the outset, the author acknowledges that his work is 
speculative, and proceeds from there.

(2) As such, the book is an example of how the life of an ancient 
might be reconstructed, rather than the final word on the life of 
Paul. This contrasts with many academic texts which seem to aim to 
give the final word on a subject. My criticism of a book such as E.P. 
Sanders' 'Paul and Palestinian Judaism' would be that it seems to be an 
attempt to show how Paul should be read, and thus falls into the same 
trap as many of the earlier scholars Sanders' criticises. The value 
of Jerome Murphy O'Connor's work is that the author makes the problem 
of method clear at the outset, and presents his research against that 
background. In terms of method, it is a landmark in Pauline studies.

James Harding
University of Sheffield
>bsp97jeh AT sheffield.ac.uk<