Recently, A. N. Wilson has claimed to show that it was Paul, not Jesus, who founded Christianity. But how does this thesis, which in various forms has been debated for over a century, stand up? In "What Saint Paul Really Said", N. T. Wright - a world authority on the life and letters of Paul - leads readers through the current scholarly discussion of Paul and gives a devastating critique of views like Wilson's, showing that they fail to take account of all the evidence. Paul was not the "founder of Christianity" but, rather, the faithful witness ad herald of Jesus Christ.

In this book N. T. Wright provides a concise, authoritative account of the apostle Paul's contribution to the birth of Christianity. In exploring Paul's background and his teaching, Wright refutes the argument made by some scholars that it was Paul and not Jesus who founded Christianity. Rather, as Wright shows, Paul's gospel revolved around Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's Messiah and king, and Paul consistently pointed to the crucified and risen Jesus as the foundation of the church and Lord of all.

Refutes A.N. Wilson revisionist view.
Advances neo-orthodox view of justification.

本書從歷史、神學、註釋、應用四方面來討論保羅神學，讓人可以對保羅及其神學有正確的認識。

An excellent if short analysis of Pauline theology and doctrine-- an attempt to navigate the shoals of modern controversy while remaining true to what Paul said.

The title is a bit sensationalistic; Wright does eventually get around to examining the question of Paul as founder of Christianity (and does well at showing how Jesus is the focus, and Paul the pointer to Jesus). Most of the book is an attempt to make sense of Paul as a first-century former Pharisaic Jew promoting the message of Jesus of Nazareth as the Crucified Lord.

Wright makes strong arguments regarding the nature of the Gospel, justification, and God as Paul believed and elaborated. He shows how Paul is no Hellenist but a Jew maintaining a strong criticism of paganism while also critiquing the Jews themselves.

I have a strong suspicion that this book sets out in short form what was most recently more expanded in "Justification" and, ultimately, will be more thoroughly demonstrated in the 4th volume of Christian Origins and the Question of God. In the meantime, an excellent book, one necessary for consideration when one attempts to make good sense of true, first century Pauline theology and doctrine. ( )