Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Apostle Paul

By: Luke Timothy Johnson, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.95

Buy for $14.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Coming to grips with Christianity means coming to grips with Paul. There is no figure aside from Jesus himself who is more important to the history of this world religion, and no figure from the age of the early church about whom we know more or of whom we have a more rounded view.

Historian Luke Timothy Johnson, the best-selling author of The Real Jesus, offers a fresh and historically grounded assessment of the life and letters of Christianity's "apostle to the Gentiles" in this 12-lecture series.

"One of the most fascinating, important, and controversial figures in the religious history of the West, Paul the Apostle continues to find champions and detractors, sometimes in surprising places," says Professor Johnson.

This course addresses many questions concerning Paul's embattled life and work:

  • Is Paul the inventor of Christianity or part of a larger movement?
  • Is he best understood from the Acts of the Apostles or from his letters?
  • Why does he focus on the moral character of the community?
  • How do his supporters and detractors depict him?

You consider his letters to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and Galatians. You explore his religious commitments as a member of the Pharisaic movement, his persecution of the Christian sect, the dramatic experience that changed him into an apostle, and his work as a missionary and church founder.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Apostle Paul

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    383
  • 4 Stars
    121
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    31
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    362
  • 4 Stars
    91
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    340
  • 4 Stars
    104
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    27

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Doesn't present scholarly mainstream

One of many non-mainstream views is that the Pastoral epistles were authored by Paul.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Introduction to Paul

This Introduction to Paul places Paul's writings in their historical context. Using historical, rhetorical, and literary tools, Johnson sheds light on these important writings.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A little convoluted explanation

A little convoluted theories to justify Paul's authorship of disputed letters and other common theories of most scholars.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening

I finished this book believing I understand the Bible & Christianity far less than I previously thought I did.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely worth a listen!

Everyone should have a fuller understanding of the teachings and characters within the Bible. This series of lectures is laid out in an easy to follow way that helps deepen your understanding of context in the first churches, and proves how God is “Not a respecter of persons”; meaning God can use any type of person in radical ways, and our focus should be on the truth that is in Jesus and our receiving of the Holy Spirit to do His will.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Profound, instructive and elevating

This is an excellent treatment of Paul - illustrating so much about his times, methods and world view. It really gives some excellent additional material, ideas and interpretations. I was unaware of the various rhetorical structures used by Paul - or maybe had never had them explained so thoroughly and well.
I believe this series was recorded in the early 2000’s - so some of the use of the terms such as “gender” which are now so problematic, laden and potentially divisive might jar a little (only because of our current cultural battles). I was delighted to have my mind enlightened by this series - so I seriously recommended it. I loved the final lecture about the impact of Paul - and the ways he has been interpreted - on the development of the various sects and streams of Christianity. The lecturer is first class.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great lecture

This professor knows his stuff so well it was just pure interest and an amazing look at a person vastly misunderstood.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great class taught by a good professor!

I finished this class in one day and we'll be listening to it again for sure? I absolutely love the fact that Professor L.T. Johnson is a believer in what he teaches. That makes or breaks a class for me. It's nice to get a perspective from someone who does not believe what they teach but it makes the class "more" when you believe, especially with Christianity.

So many study to disprove the faith, but this teacher goes against the grain, in more than one way as you will see if you purchase this, and that's one reason why I will listen again and again.

Great perspective on Paul and looking forward to any other classes that ProfessorJohnson teaches!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing and deep anaylsis

This book is an enlightening analysis of Paul's writings and effect on later Christian thinkers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent course

I have found his courses to be excellent. This one in particular was perfectly suited to the subject and I learn a ton about Paul.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!