The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's Conservative Icon

Why We Recommend It:
The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon offers a fresh and thought-provoking look at the Apostle Paul. Drawing on historical context and modern scholarship, the authors challenge common assumptions about Paul’s writings and uncover a vision rooted in radical conception of peace. We recommend it because it invites readers to see Paul not only as a figure of rigid doctrine, but as a passionate advocate for justice and peace in the early church. This perspective can inspire a deeper, more engaged faith that seeks to live out those same values today.

As Mentioned in Our Sunday Message:
This book was featured in our Blessed are the Peacemakers series, where we explored how following Jesus’ call to peacemaking often requires challenging norms and embracing a view of peace that can seem radical. In that series, The First Paul helped us reconsider Paul’s message as one of unity and peace — a reminder that living as peacemakers often means reclaiming the heart of the gospel from layers of tradition and alternate interpretation.