Jesus and Paul before Christianity

Their World and Work in Retrospect
V. George Shillington

Retail Price: $27.00
Web Price: $21.60

ISBN: 978-1-60899-694-0
Pages: 244
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 10/14/2011
Division: Cascade Books
Category: Biblical studies

About the Author

George Shillington is Professor Emeritus, Canadian Mennonite University and has spent many years teaching New Testament studies. He taught at M.B. Bible College/Concord College prior to the formation of CMU.

George and his wife Grace make their home in St. Andrews, near Winnipeg, MB.

Book Description

Who was the real founder of Christianity as it is known today—Jesus or Paul? What, if any, was the connection between them? These and other questions about the two historical figures have occupied biblical scholars and the Christian church for many years up to the present time. This book proposes new ways of framing the questions as well as new approaches to answering them.

Neither Jesus nor Paul spoke of a new world religion, separate from Judaism, that would envelop the planet and last for millennia. This study seeks to locate both figures in their respective places in the first century, in Jewish contexts and within the larger Greco-Roman society. The aim is to transcend the language and thought patterns of later generations of theologians in order to hear more clearly the prophetic voices of Jesus and Paul on their terms and in their social locations. By so doing, Shillington lays the groundwork for a more authentic translation of their vision and mission into modern alternatives, including better Jewish-Christian relations.

Comments about the Book

"Shillington has succeeded brilliantly in capturing both the uniqueness and commonality of Jesus and Paul. By respecting the integrity of the two figures, working with their terms in their time frames and historical contexts, he has enabled their respective witness and vision to emerge with vivid clarity and freshness of perspective. This is a book for the reasonable and responsible reader that addresses the best of recent scholarship. It will prove invaluable to students of Christian origins."
-William S. Campbell
University of Wales, Trinity Saint David

"George Shillington provides a map for those on the quest to understand Jesus and Paul, as well as the continuities and discontinuities between these two seminal figures, particularly in terms of Judaism. Perspectives old and new as well as his own suggestions are provided all along the way in this well-written, easy-to-follow guide."
-Mark D. Nanos
Rockhurst University