How does the Christianity represented by Paul, relate to the Christianity represented by the early Christian Gospels? In other words, what are the similarities and dissimilarities between the Apostle and the Evangelists on a myriad of topics including christological beliefs, convictions vis-a-vis the Law, attitudes towards Jews and Gentiles, socio-religious praxis, leadership structure, and use of Scripture, etc. The formation of the canonical Gospels post-date Paul by 10-50 years. So in theory it would be very likely that they would offer some kind of response to Paul and his legacy even if implicitly. In many cases there could be convergences or thought or alternatively polemical opposition. Scholarship has often regarded Matthew as containing an anti-Pauline bent. Luke and Mark are believed to be sympathetically Pauline to some degree. While the Gospel of John is said to represent a form of Christianity completely independent of Paul altogether. Yet these are assumptions that need to be tested rather than affirmed in the usual recycling of footnotes. What is more, if we venture into the second century it might be worth exploring new areas such as how Paul, as figure and influence, shaped traditions embedded in the Gospel of Thomas. That would give us a more complete picture of how the Jesus tradition was shaped by Paul or was enlisted as a response to Paul. In sum, the purpose of this volume is to identify the relationship between Paul and the Gospels within the context of early Christianity.
To that end several essays are included:
Introduction Michael F. Bird
Mark,Paul and the Question of Influences James G. Crossley
Mark: Interpreter of Peter and Disciple of Paul Michael F. Bird
Paul and Matthew: A descriptive approach From A Post-New Perspective Interpretive Framework Joel Willitts
Paul and the Gospel of Matthew Paul Foster
Luke and Paul on Repentance David Morlan Luke: Companion or Disciple of Paul? Stanley E. Porter
Kyrios Christos: Johannine and Pauline Perspectives on the Christ Event Mark Harding
Paul and John: Two Witnesses, One Gospel Colin Kruse
The Gospel of Thomas’s Rejection of Paul’s Theological Ideas Christopher W. Skinner
Death and the Human Predicament, Salvation as Transformation, and Bodily Practices in 1 Corinthians and the Gospel of Thomas Joshua W. Jipp
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