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Paul For Everyone

Enlightening

PAUL FOR EVERYONE:
The Prison Letters
By Tom Wright
SPCK. 227 pages
ISBN 0 281 05303 0

This is an amazing little book which has all the marks of a master at work.

Tom Wright is one of those rare theologians who, while having the brain of a small planet, has the wonderful ability to communicate to a wide audience in a way which is sharp, clear, engaging and profound.

Providing his own translation of the Greek text, Dr. Wright opens up Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon in such a way as to enable us to hear the very heartbeat of Paul and to have unhindered access to the situations he was addressing with the passion of a pastor-evangelist.

Each section of a passage is made to come alive by a combination of insightful theology, instructive pastoral application and a thorough understanding of the modern world in which Christians find themselves. The moves from the 'then' to the 'now' are skilfully made and the style of writing is simply exquisite, making it an absolute delight to read.

These are not commentaries or meditations on the text, they are more like homilies or mini-sermons, but in a conversational tone with smatterings of anecdotes which are illuminating and pertinent. What is particularly striking and helpful is the way Dr. Wright makes connections with the Old Testament where relevant. The application is practical and always spot on, neither does he pull any punches or make allowances for what might be considered 'un-PC' , for example, in his presentation of Paul's treatment of male-female relations in Ephesians and Colossians.

This is a book which enlightens the mind, warms the heart and engages the will. It is to be commended.

The 'New Perspective' on Paul does surface once in Dr. Wright's treatment of Ephesians 2.8-10. Here justification is construed as that which marks off people as belonging to God's family. This, while being, of course, true, is insufficient. It is primarily about how we are rightly related to God and as a consequence, rightly related to one another as members of God's family.

Melvin Tinker,
St. John's Newland, Hull