How did Paul use his secretaries? Did he rely on co-authors? Did his rhetorical education affect the way he organised his material? This book confronts these questions on the basis of extensive quotations from classical Greek and Latin authors. A synoptic survey of the beginnings and ends of the letters brings out the extent to which Paul both used and adapted current epistolary conventions. The intention of the book is to humanize the Pauline letters and make their complex theology less daunting. (Adapted from back cover).

'The Apostle Paul and His Letters' presents a detailed examination of the apostle's seminal writings in the Book of Acts. Paul was writing primarily to converts who had joined church communities only recently, mostly forsaking either Judaism or paganism. Paul's emphases on faithfulness toward God, the faithfulness of Jesus, and his moral teachings are always primary themes. The book discusses a range of topics: the circumstances that led Paul to write each letter; Paul's emphasis on the morality of the believers to whom he was writing; the influence of Old Testament, Qumran, and pagan writings on Paul's own; the intellectual and cultural context of the time; and how careful attention to Paul's language can shed light on his meaning. This book is written for a wide range of interested readers, including students, pastors, church workers and others interested in learning about Paul as a person and his work.

This study argues for new perspectives on the letters of Paul, especially the Second Letter to Timothy. It examines striking aspects of Paul's letters, especially the fact that many of them are co-authored, that six of them acknowledge that a secretary has penned the letter, and that 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are the only ones addressed to individuals. It investigates the implications of these facts for the concept of Pauline authorship. Prior maintains that the received arguments, statistical as well as literary, which exclude 2 Timothy from the influence of Paul, are less than convincing. The author suggests an original reading of 2 Timothy arguing it was composed by Paul towards the end of his first Roman imprisonment. Contrary to all interpretations of the letter which argue that Paul was about to be martyred, Prior claims that Paul was confident that he would be released, and was assembling a mission team to bring his proclamation of the Gospel to a completion. Timothy's courage and missionary zeal needed rekindling, for he and Mark were to be key figures in this new team.

As a biblical motif, 'new creation' resonates throughout the pages of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, and occupies a central place in the apostle Paul's vision of the Christian life. Yet the biblical and extra-biblical occurrences of this theme vary widely in meaning, referring to either a new cosmos, a new community, or a new individual. Beginning with the Old Testament and working through the important texts of Second Temple Judaism, Moyer V. Hubbard focuses on how the motif functions in the argument, strategy, and literary structure of these documents, highlighting its role as the solution to the perceived plight. He then explores in detail which senses of the term Paul intends in Galatians 6.15 and 2 Corinthians 5.17, concluding that 'new creation' in Paul's letters describes the Spirit-wrought newness of the person in Christ, and is fundamentally anthropological in orientation.

This volume discusses the development of disunity in the Philippian church as the occasion for Paul's response in his letter. The first part of the book examines references and allusions to strife among the Philippians and tension between them and Paul. It demonstrates the pervasiveness of the theme of disunity in most sections of the letter. The second part correlates these findings with sections of the letter dealing with the Philippians' financial support for Paul. It treats such topics as Paul's attitude to money and the sociological composition of the church. The book's aim is to draw attention to social and non-theological aspects of the Philippian situation, and make a contribution to a more theological study of Philippians.

When Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi, they burst into singing. Paul looked at life with a joyful song. He found delight when believers lived in harmony. The theme of this Bible study is Pauls Life-Song. Hear his song in the letter he wrote to Philippi, even while in another prison. Some strains explode with joy, while other stanzas carry a minor melody to encourage or warn the people he loved. Study his messages and learn how to apply Pauls attitudes regardless of his circumstances. This Bible study is rich with insights into the Hebrew and Greek and covers themes Paul brings from the Old Testament or other New Testament teachings. Dive deeper into those themes by taking important excursions into the background of the topics. This in-depth verse-by-verse investigation is valuable for individuals or groups. Enjoy the commentary while completing the workbook and applying the messages to everyday situations. Determine your timeframe for the study as you discover what the Lord Jesus wants to do in your life through Paul. Ive had the privilege of knowing Sharon Gresham as a teacher/speaker for many years and now as a writer. Her commitment to in-depth study and application of the Bible is refreshing. The Philippians study equips the pastor/teacher with a resource much needed in the church today. I am excited to teach this study both in our church and as we minister internationally. Darrel Auvenshine, pastor of Southside City Church, Fort Worth, Texas With a gift for accurately communicating Gods Word in a relevant and personal way, Sharon Greshams in-depth study of Philippians will delight and thrill any serious student of the Scriptures. I highly recommend it! Scott Whitson, director of missions, Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association and former missionary to Tanzania

Making use of letters--both formal and personal--that have been preserved through the ages, Stanley Stowers analyzes the cultural setting within which Christianity arose. The Library of Early Christianity is a series of eight outstanding books exploring the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts in which the New Testament developed.

On February 10th, 1906, Alice Ruth Moore, estranged wife of renowned poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, opened her newspaper to learn of her husband's death the day before. This work traces the tempestuous romance of America's most noted African American literary couple, drawing on a variety of resources.