In this book, Edwin van Driel analyzes contemporary Pauline exegesis and its implications for Protestant theology. Over the last several decades, scholars have offered fresh interpretations of the apostle, including the New Perspective on and the apocalyptic reading of Paul. Van Driel juxtaposes these proposals with traditional Protestant understandings of Paul and argues that the crucial difference between these two readings lies not in how one understands isolated Pauline notions but in different assumed narrative substructures of the apostle's writings. He explores how these new exegetical proposals deepen, broaden, enrich, and challenge traditional Protestant theological paradigms, as well as how they are situated alongside current contextual conversations on theological anthropology, social imagination, and the church's mission. Van Driel's volume opens up new avenues for interdisciplinary exploration and cooperation between biblical scholarship and theology.

‘… provocative and illuminating. … it clearly shows the transformations in theology that might occur if systematic theologians engaged biblical scholarship with greater care, rigor, and depth.’

Aaron Klink Source: Religious Studies Review

‘This book is useful for every theologian ... In addition to the rich content of the book, it is also pleasantly written. The structure is clear and easy to follow without too much expertise in New Testament, Reformation history or dogmatics.’

M. J. Luteijn Source: Theologia Reformata (from Dutch)

‘…van Driel’s work is a welcome example of …conversation between theology and biblical exegesis, which will operate best in this spirit of openness to learn from one another.’

John Barclay Source: International Journal of Systematic Theology