BOOK REVIEW DECEMBER, 2015
ST. PAUL
The Apostle We Love to Hate
AUTHOR: KAREN ARMSTRONG
In this reflection, Paul (originally known as Saul of Tarus) is depicted as being a Pharisee, a Jew who although not stringently involved with Judean theological practices, hailed himself as being a defender of the tenets of the Torah. As a result, he found himself immersed in the persecution of the followers of Jesus and dispersed or annihilated them with impunity. He was appalled by the fact that a so-called criminal, who had been crucified and displayed for all to see, had been elevated to a position on the throne of God and hailed as Messiah. It was an abhorrent thought and he decided it was his duty to eradicate this sect. In so doing, his life was profoundly recast in a manner that he never could have contemplated. According to biblical history, the trip he took to Damascus, whereby the atmosphere surrounding him was suddenly saturated with a Divine Spirit, commanded a revolutionary reversal in his spiritual beliefs which, in turn, seemingly altered the history of Christianity forever!
It is apparent that Ms. Armstrong is a biblical academician as this book is brimming with facts that become overwhelming. As she pursues her quest to bring Paul and seven of his fourteen letters in the New Testament to the surface, one is confronted with revelations that, heretofore, may not have been known. For example, little is recorded of Paul as a child, of the actual persecutions he faced in his lifetime nor the time or cause of his death, but the spiritual giftedness he apparently demonstrated is underscored. It is believed that he spent most of his life spreading the word of the Lord, incorporating and practicing the tenets of the gospel wherever he went. Some may have despised him for his desire to treat all mankind alike, leaving no place for prejudice according to creed, color or standing in a community. Some women felt he was a misogynist with some of the supposed rants he made involving their rights. On the other hand, he was heralded as an apostle who flavored every aspect of his preaching with faith, hope and love.
This is a short book that takes a long time to digest. However, it is also one that is not easily put aside because regardless of your religious persuasion, goodness can never be ignored; dedication to purpose must be acknowledged; the beauty of the spirit and the strength of love cannot be denied. Paul reveals these to us in his profound writings. One cannot help but think that one of his reflections might have been: “I once was blind, but now I see.”