The Genius of Paul: a Study in History
Review of book by Samuel Sandmel
I do not normally read books about religious issues. But I found this one compelling and intriguing. It provides a convincing portrayal of Paul’s views in contrast to what became Christian dogma.
Some memorable passages:
p. xix
Paul’s view “is not so much that Jesus was himself this divine being, but rather that a divine entity came to earth and took on the form of Jesus.”
p. 11
In any religious tradition interpretation is the lubricant that transforms the rigidity of a scripture into a pliable mass.”
p. 69
Incarnation is the opposite of deification, for it supposes that a divine being has become human.
p.160
the Church in the Greek world dealt with the “problem” of Paul, not by repudiating him, but by neutralizing him.
p. 194
How did the Christ get to be in Jesus?
p. 159
When one canonizes a rebel, one enshrines rebellion
