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New Testament Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction
New Testament Commentaries
New Testament Theology
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Order of Contents 40+
Life & Letters of Paul
. Best 7
. More 30
The Theology of Paul 12+
Speeches of Paul 1
Authenticity of Paul’s Letters 3
Archaeology & Geography Related to Paul 8
Quotes on Paul
The Companions of Paul 3
Bibliography
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The Best on the Life & Letters of Paul
See also ‘The Theology of Paul‘, which works usually have information on Paul’s life & letters, as well as Introductions to the New Testament, the Epistles, and the Epistles of Paul, on our New Testament Background page.
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Simple, Devotional & Practical
Stalker, James – Life of St. Paul 1884 in Hand-Books for Bible Classes, ed. Dods & Whyte
Stalker was a minister in the United Free Church of Scotland and is generally conservative.
“An ideal work for laymen.” – Cyril J. Barber
Whyte, Alexander
The Apostle Paul 1903 230 pp. These chapters were originally in his Bible Characters
“Eloquent, discerning studies by a great Scottish preacher of a generation past.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Intermediate
1800’s
Conybeare, W.J. & Howson, J.S. – People’s Edition: The Life and Epistles of St. Paul 1869 This edition, which was originally planned by the authors, is a less technical abridgment of the original work below.
See Spurgeon’s remarks below.
“Excellent background material on the life of the apostle Paul coupled with a valiant attempt to fit the events of the Book of Acts and the epistles into a chronological framework. First published more than a century ago (1852) but still worth consulting.” – Cyril J. Barber
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1900’s
Robertson, A.T. – Epochs in the Life of Paul: a Study of Development in St. Paul’s Career 1913 358 pp.
“A clear, well-outlined study of the development of Paul’s thought and ministry.” – Cyril J. Barber
Machen, John Gresham – The Origin of Paul’s Religion 1925 345 pp.
Chapter 4 specifically defends that Paul’s theology was an unfolding of that of Jesus, as opposed to the liberal assertion that Jesus and Paul’s theology are contrary to each other.
“Consists of the James Sprunt Lectures, Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. Surveys the early years of Paul’s life, his Jewish environment, religious training, and the development of his doctrine. A valuable treatment. Amillennial.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Advanced
Conybeare, W.J. & Howson, J.S. – The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, vol. 1, 2
*** “Far superior to any other work on the subject. It stands like some o’ertopping Alp, a marvel among Scriptural biographies. We have not space to mention Howson’s minor works [provided below] connected with Paul, but they are all good.”
Lewin, Thomas – The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, vol. 1, 2
*** “Dr. Gloag in his Commentary on the Acts says: ‘Two works are especially instructive, and deserve careful perusal. The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, by Lewin, and the classical work on the same subject by Conybeare and Howson. In the former the historical connections of the Acts are chiefly stated, and in the latter its geographical relations.” – Spurgeon
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More on the Life & Letters of Paul
See also ‘The Theology of Paul‘, which works usually have information on Paul’s life & letters, as well as Introductions to the New Testament, the Epistles, and the Epistles of Paul, on our New Testament Background page.
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Practical & Devotional
Taylor, William – Paul the Missionary 1882 605 pp.
“Popular messages which deserve serious study.” – Cyril J. Barber
Meyer, F.B. – Paul: A Servant of Jesus Christ 1897 210 pp.
Meyer (1847–1929) was an English, baptist pastor who wrote numerous, very good devotional works.
“A brief, devotional study of Paul’s life and labors.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Intermediate
1800’s
Binney, Thomas – St. Paul: his Life and Ministry, to the End of his Third Missionary Journey 1870
** “Mr. Binney says, ‘This work is strictly an outline of the life of St. Paul and it is nothing more.’ It is a capital preparation for reading Lewin and Conybeare and Howson.” – Spurgeon
Blunt, Henry – Lectures upon the History of St. Paul 1835 24 Lectures
** “Printed in such large and widely-leaded type that a very little matter goes a long way. Very good, but not striking.” – Spurgeon
Goodwin, Frank – A Harmony of the Life of St. Paul according to the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles 1895 230 pp.
The Harmony consists solely of quotes from relevant scriptures from the KJV, sometimes put side-by-side in columns, as in a typical Harmony of the Life of Christ, but here in the chronological order of Paul’s life. The necessity of the harmony stems from details given of Paul’s life, otherwise scattered across his letters. Here they are helpfully put together and harmonized.
“This book is designed as a handbook for students. It is called a Harmony, as I have endeavored to blend the history of Paul’s life as given in The Acts of the Apostles with selections form the Pauline Epistles… The Harmony covers primarily the life of St. Paul, and therefore the dogmatic and ethical portions of his writings are generally omitted, that, in so short a handbook, the story of his life may not be lost in his theology.” – The Introduction
Howson, John S.
“Four studies based upon the NT Scriptures and centering in the metaphors used of or about Roman soldiers, classical architecture, ancient agriculture, and the Grecian games.” – Cyril J. Barber
“…We have not space to mention Howson’s minor works connected with Paul, but they are all good.” – Spurgeon
The Character of St. Paul, 5 Lectures
Evidential Conclusions from the Four Greater Epistles of St. Paul 48 pp.
Scenes from the Life of St. Paul and their Religious Lessons 244 pp.
Iverach, James – St. Paul: his Life and Times 1890 230 pp.
Iverach was a professor in the Free Church of Scotland.
“A brief historical treatment.” – Cyril J. Barber
MacDuff, J.R. – The Footsteps of St. Paul, being the Life and Times of the Apostle 1855
“A verbose, but very picturesque account of the life of the celebrated Apostle to the Gentiles.” – Cyril J. Barber
Rivington, Francis – The Life and Writings of St. Paul 1874
** “Nobody possessing Conybeare and Howson will need this work, though in the absence of better this would have been serviceable.” – Spurgeon
Smith, Thornley – Saul of Tarsus: The Pharisee, the Convert, the Apostle and the Martyr 1861
** “Thornley Smith always deserves attentive reading.” – Spurgeon
Tate, James – The Horae Paulinae of William Paley Carried out and Illustrated in a Continuous History of the Apostolic Labors and Writings of St. Paul, on the Basis of the Acts 1840
Paley’s ‘Horae Paulinae’, which this work expands, is below under ‘The Authenticity of Paul’s Latters’.
** “Though not commentaries, the three works just mentioned are sources of information not to be neglected by the student of Acts.” – Spurgeon
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1900’s
Moffatt, James – Paul and Paulinism 1910 90 pp.
Moffatt was a liberal.
“A short, but important study.” – Cyril J. Barber
Ramsay, William M. – The Teaching of Paul in Terms of the Present Day 1913 475 pp.
Ramsay was a conservative.
“Deals with the thought of the apostle, his Areopagus address, his relationship to the mystery religions, his conversion and imprisonment, and the date of the Galatian error.” – Cyril J. Barber
Hayes, Doremus Almy – Paul and his Epistles 1915
“Contains a helpful analysis of Paul’s life and thought as found in his epistles, and a mine of homiletic information for pastors.” – Cyril J. Barber
Goodspeed, Edgar Johnson – Paul: an Outline Bible Study Course 1922 90 pp.
“Makes use of all the critical data current at the time, and provides an intensely interesting, highly readable, and captivating account of Paul’s voyages and journeys, letters and followers.” – Cyril J. Barber
Foakes-Jackson, F.J. – The Life of St. Paul Buy 1927
Foakes was a professor of Church history at Cambridge and Union Theological Seminary, New York.
“An important, popular treatment explicating the development of Paul’s theology.” – Cyril J. Barber
Shepard, John Watson – The Life and Letters of St. Paul Buy 1950
“An exegetical study which makes use of both grammatical and historical data and provides a lucid, adequate explanation of each of the Pauline Epistles.” – Cyril J. Barber
Miller, Donald G. – Conqueror in Chains: A Story of the Apostle Paul Buy 1951 Westminster Press (liberal)
“A dramatic and deeply moving account of Paul’s life. Survey’s his journeys, discourses, trials, shipwreck and imprisonments.” – Cyril J. Barber
White, Reginald Ernest Oscar – Apostle Extraordinary: A Modern Portrait of St. Paul Buy 1962
“A clear, concise interpretation of Paul’s life and ministry which ably combines historical and exegetical, theological and devotional emphases.” – Cyril J. Barber
Wiles, Maurice F. – The Divine Apostle Buy 1967
“An able and persuasive defense of the value of the early Patristic teaching on the life of Paul.” – Cyril J. Barber
Ogg, George – The Odyssey of Paul Buy 1968
“An invaluable study of the chronology of the life of Paul. Corrects the chronological deficiencies found in Conybeare and Howson and other earlier treatments of Paul’s itinerant ministry.” – Cyril J. Barber
Longenecker, Richard Norman – Ministry and Message of Paul Buy 1971
“A clear and concise introduction to the ministry and message of St. Paul.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Advanced
1800’s
Farrar, F.W. – The Early Days of Christianity 1882 690 pp.
Farrar (1831–1903) was a liberal, but the work was a precedent in its field.
Ramsay, William
Pauline and Other Studies in Early Christian History 1906 485 pp.
Ramsay (1851–1939) was a Scottish archeologist, New Testament scholar and the foremost authority in his day on Asia Minor. After a lifetime of research, from initially being skeptical of the early Church history recorded in Acts, he came to the conclusion that:
“it was written with such judgment, skill, art and perception of truth as to be a model of historical statement…”
“You may press the words of Luke [who wrote Acts] in a degree beyond any other historian’s and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment…”
“…these essays deal with a wide variety of NT themes. Of particular interest are his chapters on “The Statesmanship of Paul,” “The Worship of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus,” “The Authorship of the Acts,” and “Pauline Chronology.” – Cyril J. Barber
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1900’s
Smith, David – The Life and Letters of St. Paul 1919 740 pp.
Smith was a liberal.
“A monumental work which combines readability and scholarship with accuracy and a vivid portrayal of the historical events surrounding the ministry of the apostle. Thorough, and still of value today.” – Cyril J. Barber
Moe, Olaf Edvard – The Apostle Paul: his Life and Work Buy 1950/1968 reprinted in the Twin Brooks Series
“First appeared in German in 1923… Comprehensive in scope and fully abreast of the major criticisms leveled against the apostle.” – Cyril J. Barber
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The Theology of Paul
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The Speeches of Paul
Eadie, John – Paul, the Preacher, or a Popular and Practical Exposition of his Discourses and Speeches as Recorded in the Acts
*** “Designed to give ordinary readers a juster and fuller conception of the doctrine and life-work of the apostle. An able work.” – Spurgeon
“A series of popular expositions of Paul’s discourses and speeches contained in The Acts.” – Cyril J. Barber
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On the Genuineness of Paul’s Letters
Lathrop, Joseph – Introductory Sermon on the Evidences of the Gospel, and the Genuineness of Paul’s Epistles 19 pp. The memoir of the author was written by William Sprague
Lyttelton, George, Lord – Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul, in a Letter to Gilbert West 1747 120 pp.
* “Gilbert West and his friend Lord Lyttleton, both men of acknowledged talents, had imbibed the principles of infidelity from a superficial view of the Scriptures. Fully persuaded that the Bible was an imposture, they were determined to expose the cheat. Mr. West chose the Resurrection of Christ, and Lord Lyttleton the Conversion of St. Paul, for the subject of hostile criticism. Both sat down to their respective tasks, full of prejudice, and a contempt for Christianity. The result of their separate attempts was that they were both converted by their endeavors to overthrow the truth of Christianity! The came together, not as they expected, to exult over an imposture exposed to ridicule, but to lament their folly, and to congratulate each other on their joint conviction, that the Bible was the Word of God. Their able inquiries have furnished two most valuable treatises in favor of revelation; one, entitled ‘Observations on the Conversion of St. Paul,’ and the other ‘Observations on the Resurrection of Christ.'” – Spurgeon
Paley, William – Horae Paulinae, or the Truth of the Scripture History of St. Paul Evinced, by a Comparison of the Epistles which Bear his Name with the Acts of the Apostles and with One Another 1790
** “Though not commentaries, the three works just mentioned are sources of information not to be neglected by the student of Acts.” – Spurgeon
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Archaeology & Geography Related to Paul
Popular & Practical
MacDuff, J.R. – St. Paul in Rome, or, the Teachings, Fellowships and Dying Testimony of the great Apostle 1871
** “Sermons preached in Rome, into which are ably introduced eloquent mention of the existing traditions and remains which associate the Apostle with that great city.” – Spurgeon
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Intermediate
Morton, Henry Canova Vollam – In the Steps of St. Paul Buy 1963
“An eye-witness description of the writer’s travels as he followed the steps of the apostle Paul from his birthplace in Tarsus to the scene of his martyrdom in Rome.” – Cyril J. Barber
Kelso, James Leon – An Archaeologist Follows the Apostle Paul Buy 1970
“A picturesque account of Paul’s life and ministry ably supplemented by archaeological information.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Advanced
Ramsay, William M.
St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen 1894 390 pp.
Ramsay (1851–1939) was a Scottish archeologist, New Testament scholar and the foremost authority in his day on Asia Minor. After a lifetime of research, from initially being skeptical of the early Church history recorded in Acts, he came to the conclusion that:
“it was written with such judgment, skill, art and perception of truth as to be a model of historical statement…”
“You may press the words of Luke [who wrote Acts] in a degree beyond any other historian’s and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment…”
“Deals with the cities made famous by Paul. Includes a chronology of early church history from A.D. 30-40, and a chapter on the composition of the Book of Acts.” – Cyril J. Barber
The Cities of St. Paul, their Influence on his Life and Thought 1907 500 pp.
The Historical Geography of Asia Minor 1890 550 pp.
“An old standard work.” – Cyril J. Barber
Studies in Asia Minor 72 pp.
Unnik, Willem Cornelis van – Tarsus or Jerusalem: the City of Paul’s Youth Buy 1962
“A scholarly study of the place where Paul is supposed to have spent his youth.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Quotes on Paul
John ‘Rabbi’ Duncan
‘Just a Talker’, p. 18
“I look on the apostle Paul as the greatest genius that ever lived.”
“Paul, whose principle aim as a writer seems to be to unfold the whole unity of the divine plan.”
“I bless God for Paul.”
“Look at the zeal of the apostle Paul – the edge which he received has never a day blunted.”
“It is characteristic of the apostle Paul that, whatever be the subject of which he treats, he always finds his way easily to the cross, to Christ crucified.”
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The Companions of Paul
1800’s
Howson, John – The Companions of St. Paul 1883 305 pp.
“Twelve messages on lesser known NT characters.” – Cyril J. Barber
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1900’s
Lees, Harrington – St. Paul’s Friends Buy 1917 being 12 expositions
Harrington was an Anglican Archbishop in Melbourne, Australia.
Redlich, E. Basil – St. Paul and his Companions 1913
“A study of Paul and his friends and helpers in the light of the history of Acts and the epistles. Contains some good ‘seed thoughts’ for sermons.” – Cyril J. Barber
Seekings, Herbert S. – The Men of the Pauline Circle 1914
“Deals first with the distinguished members of Paul’s company, then those who were obscure, thirdly with the officials whom he contacted during his ministry, and lastly with the unrecorded. A suggestive work.” – Cyril J. Barber
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2000’s
Barber, Cyril J. – Come Before Winter: Profiles of Some of Paul’s Friends… and Some who were not Preview Buy 2008
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Bibliography on Paul
Metzger, Bruce – Index to Periodical Literature on the Apostle Paul Buy Brill 1960
Metzger was a liberal.
“A valuable reference tool. Of primary importance to students of the epistles. Contains entries leading to articles in approximately 135 journals, and covering material from the earliest time to 1957. There are 2,987 numbered entries in 6 separate sections. Includes an author index.” – Cyril Barber
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Related Pages
New Testament Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction