The Lost Message of Paul
Has the Church misunderstood the Apostle Paul?
Published on 20. June 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-281-07940-7 (ISBN)
Description
We have misunderstood Paul, badly.
We have read his words through our own set of assumptions. We need to begin with Paul's world view, to see things the way he saw them.
- What if 'original sin' was never part of Paul's thinking?
- What if the idea that we are saved by faith in Christ, as Luther argued, was based on a mistranslation of Paul's words and a misunderstanding of Paul's thinking?
'Over the centuries,' writes Steve Chalke, 'the Church has repeatedly failed to communicate, or even understand, the core of Paul's message. Although Paul has often been presented as the champion of exclusion, he was the very opposite. He was the great includer.'
Steve Chalke MBE is a Baptist minister, founder and leader of the Oasis Charitable Trust, and author of more than 50 books.
We have read his words through our own set of assumptions. We need to begin with Paul's world view, to see things the way he saw them.
- What if 'original sin' was never part of Paul's thinking?
- What if the idea that we are saved by faith in Christ, as Luther argued, was based on a mistranslation of Paul's words and a misunderstanding of Paul's thinking?
'Over the centuries,' writes Steve Chalke, 'the Church has repeatedly failed to communicate, or even understand, the core of Paul's message. Although Paul has often been presented as the champion of exclusion, he was the very opposite. He was the great includer.'
Steve Chalke MBE is a Baptist minister, founder and leader of the Oasis Charitable Trust, and author of more than 50 books.
Reviews / Votes
The Lost Message of Paul is not only well-written and fascinating; it is also profoundly bold and revolutionary. Highly recommended! -- Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration Pulsing and brimming and overflowing with life. The research, the stories, the synthesis of then and now - this book is going to set so many people free... -- Rob Bell, author of Love Wins A bold and compelling book that speaks from beginning to end of the profound good news of God's kingdom. There is joy, liberation, and challenge here in equal measure. I thoroughly recommend it. * Fr. Richard Rohr, author of The Universal Christ * Steve Chalke in his inimitable style opens up dense theological debate in an accessible and readable manner ... fascinating. * Dr Pauline Muir, lecturer at Goldsmiths University and member of Oasis Church Waterloo * Prepare to have your mind expanded and your spirit stretched. -- Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly, London This is an exciting and timely book. Accessible and authoritative. A great lay introduction to historical criticism, contextual analysis and the writing of St Paul. -- Dr Robert Beckford, Professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora, Theology and Religious Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury Its impact could be of historic importance, if enough of us have the courage to read it and put its message into practice. -- Brian McLaren This fascinating book will challenge you to reconsider familiar theological 'truths' and may even revolutionize your Christian journey. -- Dr Pauline Muir, Lecturer in Arts Management, Goldsmiths, University of London Just as when you read St Paul himself, you will not finish this book unchanged. -- Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly, London Brilliant and well researched ... in every case he states what he has to say with clarity, documentation and persuasiveness. * Tony Campolo, PhD, Eastern University * Chalke's voice is an important one. He brings with him decades of hard experience . . . [that makes] him worth listening to. * Premier Christianity * This is a book that every preacher should read. Why? Once you have had the opportunity to engage with St Paul's message as articulated here, it is "literally world-changing". -- John Inge * Church Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
332 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-281-07940-7 (9780281079407)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2019
1st Edition
SPCK Publishing
€9.49
Available for download
Person
The Revd Steve Chalke, MBE is the founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust. He is also a former United Nations' Special Adviser on Human Trafficking, a British Baptist minister, a regular contributor and commentator on television, radio and other media, and the author of several bestselling books.
Content
Contents
Acknowledgements xiii
1 The conversation 1
2 The revolutionary 7
3 Longing 14
4 Air 20
5 A new world 30
6 Perspective 40
7 A legal error 51
8 Faithful 61
9 Think like a Hebrew 70
10 What if? 83
11 Aha! 95
12 Oxymoron 105
13 The double whammy 118
14 True 126
15 The crux 134
16 Shades 144
17 Layers 153
18 Different 162
19 The elephant 174
20 Credo 185
21 A twist in the tale 196
22 Judgement 205
23 The pruning 217
24 Wired 229
25 Refined 245
26 In heaven's name 252
27 Metaphor 263
28 Rescued 272
29 The revolution 279
Appendix: What did the Ancient Greeks think about the afterlife? 290
About Oasis 293
Further reading 295
Acknowledgements xiii
1 The conversation 1
2 The revolutionary 7
3 Longing 14
4 Air 20
5 A new world 30
6 Perspective 40
7 A legal error 51
8 Faithful 61
9 Think like a Hebrew 70
10 What if? 83
11 Aha! 95
12 Oxymoron 105
13 The double whammy 118
14 True 126
15 The crux 134
16 Shades 144
17 Layers 153
18 Different 162
19 The elephant 174
20 Credo 185
21 A twist in the tale 196
22 Judgement 205
23 The pruning 217
24 Wired 229
25 Refined 245
26 In heaven's name 252
27 Metaphor 263
28 Rescued 272
29 The revolution 279
Appendix: What did the Ancient Greeks think about the afterlife? 290
About Oasis 293
Further reading 295