--Paul's life and ministry
--Paul as a person
--his communities and companions
--his letters, his theology
--his ethics
--his legacy

This book:
--includes an annotated bibliography of resources for further study.
--can function as a good basic introduction to Paul or a supplement to other textbooks.
--focuses on answers to frequently asked, but often unanswered, questions.

"It is very encouraging to see that the most recent research...has been so carefully gathered together and presented in such a readable form. Jefferson White is to be commended for rendering such a service and his book deserves a wide audience."

- Dr. Bruce Winter Warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge University

"When I received Evidence and Paul's Journeys in the mail, I planned on skimming it for a minute or two and putting it on the shelf. That was a big mistake. Once I began, I could not put it down. The book encouraged my soul, not only about the historical facticity of the book of Acts, but also in making the events vivid and real. An open minded skeptic would benefit from this book and a convinced believer will enjoy the reality it breathes into the Acts narrative."

- J. P. Moreland, Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

The historical evidence that the book investigates includes:

- the city, regional, and provincial political boundaries and titles mentioned in the book of Acts, some of which existed only in the middle of the first century.

- the social and political characteristics unique to the cities and provinces that Paul visited.

- the archeological findings that bear on the biblical narrative.

- the distances that Paul traveled on land and on sea, and how long it took to cover those distances, according to the scriptures and to ancient and modern testimony.

- the meteorological and nautical evidence relevant to Paul's travels by sea, including the spectacular confirmation of the details surrounding his shipwreck at Malta.

- Paul's arrests and trials, and the legal maneuverings that took place in quite different jurisdictions, studied in the light of evidence about ancient law.

- Paul's dealings with noted individuals who are also written about in pagan and Jewish historical accounts.

- a comprehensive examination of the complex evidential relation between Paul's letters and the book of Acts.

For the first time, all the historical details of Paul's journeys are found in a single book written for the general reader.

John Dominic Crossan, the eminent historical Jesus scholar, and Jonathan L. Reed, an expert in biblical archaeology, reveal through archaeology and textual scholarship that Paul, like Jesus, focused on championing the Kingdom of God––a realm of justice and equality––against the dominant, worldly powers of the Roman empire.

Many theories exist about who Paul was, what he believed, and what role he played in the origins of Christianity. Using archaeological and textual evidence, and taking advantage of recent major discoveries in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Syria, Crossan and Reed show that Paul was a fallible but dedicated successor to Jesus, carrying on Jesus's mission of inaugurating the Kingdom of God on earth in opposition to the reign of Rome. Against the concrete backdrop of first–century Grego–Roman and Jewish life, In Search of Paul reveals the work of Paul as never before, showing how and why the liberating messages and practices of equality, caring for the poor, and a just society under God's rules, not Rome's, were so appealing.

Readers interested in Paul as a historical figure and his place in the development of Christianity

•Readers interested in archaeology and anthropology

This study introduces its readers to the differing positions and methods developed by contemporary scholars in Pauline studies. By setting out these views, and the evidence on which they are based, it equips the reader to approach the study of Paul with an awareness of the range of current debate and a knowledge of the evidence and arguments they will encounter. After considering Paul's importance and influence, and the important sources for the study of Paul, the book examines: the earliest period of Christianity - from Jesus to Paul; Paul's life before and after his 'conversion'; his individual letters; the major elements of his theology; his attitude to Israel and the Jewish law; new approaches to the study of Paul, including social-scientific and feminist approaches; and Paul's legacy in the New Testament and beyond. This volume now includes study questions at the end of each chapter as well as updated reading lists.

• Jeremy Begbie
• Markus Bockmuehl
• Richard B. Hays
• Edith M. Humphrey
• Sylvia Keesmaat and Brian Walsh
• Nicholas Perrin
• Marianne Meye Thompson
• Kevin J. Vanhoozer

"Making Sense of Paul is a refreshingly insightful and splendid attempt to allow the complexity of the Apostle's theology to become intelligible both for the beginner as well as for the mature learner. Even those who might wish to place the emphases at different points in Paul's thought will profit from the lucidity of expression and the use of consistently thought-provoking and helpful illustrations. This magnificent little gem fills a huge void in Pauline literature and rightly will find very wide usage."
-Karl Paul Donfried, Professor and Chair, Department of Religion and Biblical Literature, Smith College