Understanding Paul

[Richard_Feynman]

Hello all!

I really want to understand St. Paul’s perspective from history and theology. He is hard to understand for me, I would love book recommendations. Earlier today I was looking at N T Wright. His books look interesting. But I was more looking for a purely Catholic perspective. Length doesn’t matter, I’ll read anything, even if it is dry!

Thank you! Have a blessed day (or night!)

 

[Estevao]

Pope Benedict did a series of catechetical talks on St. Paul during the year of St. Paul, which you can find here (they were also published into a book by Ignatius Press called “Saint Paul”):

averagejoecatholic.blogspot.ca/2008/12/year-of-st-paul-pope-benedict-xvis.html

 

[jeannetherese]

Thanks for posting the link. Our priest gave a wonderful homily on Saints Peter and Paul this evening and this will be an excellent follow up.
May God bless you and all seeking to grow in faith.
Amen.

 

[Starrsmother]

One thing about Paul that I was told by a person far wiser than I and that made profound sense to me is this: remember that Paul started out as Saul–a Roman citizen and high ranking Jew before Jesus blinded him, knocked him off his horse and spoke to him and he was converted. A convert is most always more flowery and full of deep commitment than someone basically born into the faith. What I’m saying is that the other apostles lived with, followed and heard Jesus preach and saw His miracles during Jesus’ ministry on earth. Saul killed Christians–to him, the only good Christian was a dead one—until Jesus confronted him on the road–on his way to dispatch another group of Christians. I find St. Paul gives me hope. He was basically guilty of mass murder of Jesus’ beloved new church members and denying Jesus in every sense of the word–yet Jesus found a way to forgive and convert him and make him a great saint of the church. Paul was a highly educated man in his day–and had all the rights and benefits that came with being a Roman citizen in that day–which were substantial. I always see St. Paul in a funny way. I am sure he understood that Jesus forgave him his sins–but that doesn’t mean that he ever forgot what he had done. He fell in love with Jesus whom he had never met during Jesus’ life. His preaching is rich in that love.

 

[seagal]

Scott Hahn gave a very interesting 1 1/2 hour lecture on St. Paul and the Scriptures which is available on YouTube in 18 parts. Here’s the link to the first video.

 

[Richard_Feynman]

Pope Benedict did a series of catechetical talks on St. Paul during the year of St. Paul, which you can find here (they were also published into a book by Ignatius Press called “Saint Paul”):

averagejoecatholic.blogspot.ca/2008/12/year-of-st-paul-pope-benedict-xvis.html

This will be extremely helpful! I saw this at a bookstore but I didn’t have the money to spend at the time… I’m glad it’s free

 

[Richard_Feynman]

Scott Hahn gave a very interesting 1 1/2 hour lecture on St. Paul and the Scriptures which is available on YouTube in 18 parts. Here’s the link to the first video.

This video series is what got me interested in Paul! Now I just want to learn more and more about him. There’s so many books out there… Scott Hahn 25 book shelves full of books on St. Paul? I want to get started understanding Paul because he is my favorite (and often misunderstood) writers in the bible.

 

[ProVobis]

PBS also did an interesting documentary on Peter and Paul, if you’re into that stuff.

Peter & Paul and the Christian Rev. Pt. 1

 

[dconklin]

For me, the book that really helped me the most with understanding Paul was The Man in White by Johnny Cash - yeah, that Johnny Cash. amzn.com/B007SP0Y1K