My Sabbath School class “Believers and Doubters” is currently reading Paul: A Biography by N.T. Wright. Many of you will recognize N.T. Wright as the former Bishop of Durham within the Church of England. He has written prolifically, including Simply Jesus and Simply Christian. More importantly, he’s among the world’s leading Bible scholars.
Paul: A Biography takes you on a journey with Paul and brings to light things you never thought of before. For example, we know that Paul was a “Pharisee of the Pharisees,” having been raised in a strict Jewish home where the study of the Scriptures was the norm. He lived in Tarsus and worked as a tentmaker in what was likely a family business. (Think about it: back then everybody would need a tent!) Wright points out that Tarsus was a strategically placed seaport, which meant Paul would be widely exposed to a variety of cultures and ideas. Wright goes on to explain how all these influences worked together to give Paul the skills and background he would one day need to establish what would become the backbone of Christianity.
Let me confess something right now: Paul was not always a favorite of mine! In my teens and young adult life, I saw him as someone who told women to be quiet in church and dispensed advice, much of which had little to do with me—at least, so I thought. Yet, this book has inspired me to dig deeper into Paul’s letters and has led me on a journey of my own.
All of us know that, before embarking on any new project, be it changing the oil in your car, making a new dish for supper, or looking for a new career, we more often than not turn to YouTube. That’s where I discovered Dr. Reggie Kidd’s lessons on Galatians. I hung on every word. I had never taken the time to consider how the churches in Galatia were established or what their problems might be. Listening to these talks on Galatia left me needing still more.
Then I discovered the “Third Millennium Online Courses” which offers free online Bible courses. As it turns out, Dr. Kidd teaches an entire lecture series entitled “The Heart of Paul’s Theology.” It may sound trite, but Paul: A Biography coupled with these lectures have been life-changing for me. I find myself eager to begin the next letter, anticipating what I’ll learn.
What have I learned so far? For starters, Paul was a real character who didn’t take no for an answer. Where his companions saw danger, he saw only opportunity. His was a faith born of conviction, the kind of faith that comes from study, prayer, and the rare ability to constantly reassess one’s thinking in light of new ideas or information. I am also struck by the sheer amount of traveling Paul did. This isn’t some week-long business trip. Paul walked miles upon miles, probably in pain and likely praying and thinking about what his ministry would mean to the church. This itinerant preacher was in the process of changing our theology and our world—forever!
My own journey will continue for many more months. I’m determined to get through all of Paul’s writings, although the task will very likely take me into next year. I encourage each of you to read Paul: A Biography and to check out the “Third Millennium Online Courses.”