This book is a great place to start if one wants to know what traditional Protestants believe about the Law and Justification. In the first chapter, Kruse does an excellent job outlining the major views on Paul's view of the Law and Justification over the last Century. He states the views of scholars in the beginning of the Century (Montefoire, Moore, Schweitzer, Davies, Scheops, and Stendahl). He then goes onto explain the views of the "Developmentalist" school (Drane and Hubner). He also states the views of the "New Perspective" school (Sanders, Raisanen, and Dunn). Finally, he states the views from scholars of recent years (Gaston, Westerholm, Thielman, Martin, Tomson, Wright, and Schreiner). After the survey of the various views on the Law and Justification, Kruse gives us an indepth explanation and exegesis of Paul's view of the Law and Justification from (in the following order) Galatians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Romans, and other Pauline epistles. His thesis is that Paul consistently approached the Law as not abiding on NT believers for justification AND sanctification. The OT Law was given to increase the transgressions of the people and make them know that they are sinners. It was also to be used as a moral restraint until Christ's first coming. After Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, the Law was no longer needed as a rule of life for believers because the new life in the Spirit has replaced the old life under the Law. Kruse does an excellent job throughout the book proving this thesis. Most Lutherans, New Covenant Theologians, and Dispensationalists will welcome this book with open arms. Many in the Reformed camp my cringe at some of the arguments presented by Kruse, but will generally be in agreement with the thesis of the book. However, those who hold to Romanism, Arminianism, synergism, and other man-made views on salvation (Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness soteriology, Adventism, and legalism) will find this book unwelcome. This is to be expected because Kruse's main purpose of the book is to show that the Gospel preached by Paul (and the rest of the Biblical writers) was against any form of legalism and synergism. In fact, the cancer clinging to the Church today is not antinomianism (like many professing Christians think) but legalism and nomism. Any form of works-salvation is to be seen as unBiblical and even heretical. This type of "Gospel" cannot bring redemption but will make people fall away from God's grace (Gal. 5:1-4). This should be a stern warning against any so-called church that requires people to cooperate with God's grace to achieve salvation. Kruse has done a great service for the Christian Church through this book.

For those who have been caught up and influenced by the New Perspective on Paul view should definitely read this book. Das' book is very scholarly and indepth. He challenges the growing idea in Biblical scholarly circles that Second Temple Judaism was primarily a gracious religion rather than a works-righteousness one. Though Das doesn't totally agree with the traditional Protestant understanding of the Law and Gospel (he agrees, to a certain extent, with the New Perspective that Paul's criticisms against the Law were also against ethnic boundary-markers), he still maintains his course on the straight and narrow by positing that the fundamental disagreement of Paul with Second Temple Judaism was final justification by law-keeping. In chapters 1 and 2, Das does an excellent job showing us that early Judaism did advocate final justification by strict law-keeping mixed with a supposed grace (he refers to statements in the Jubilees, Philo's writings, the Tannaim sect, 4 Ezra, 2 and 3 Baruch, 2 Enoch, and the Testament of Abraham). The rest of the eight chapters (3-10) is a discussion of certain key passages in the Pauline epistles on the relationship between the Law, the covenant, and justification. Das does a good job showing that Paul would have disapproved of the OT covenantal nomistic system by examining various passages (Gal 3:10, 15-17; 4:21-31; 2 Cor 3:1-8; Romans 1-4, 7, 9-11; Phil 3:2-9). One of the key highlights of the book is Das' discussion of Galatians 3:10 (chapter six). He effectively critiques James Dunn's view that "works of the Law" refer to "ethnic boundary markers" (pp. 155-160) and Daniel Fuller's view that it refers to "legalistic misuse of the law" (pp. 161-3), and convincingly argues that the verse is about the requirement of perfect obedience to the law (a view held by noted evangelical scholars like F. F. Bruce, Colin Kruse, George Ladd, Douglas Moo, and Stephen Westerholm). Thus, Paul opposes the Law because it couldn't/cannot bring salvation to those who obey it (or try to obey it). Overall, Das does a good job demonstrating that Paul's opposition to the Law was due to the fact that it was antithetical to justification by faith. It is apparent that there is a clear contradiction between justification by law-keeping (whether meritorious or Spirit-driven) and justification by faith alone. Unfortunately, some evangelical scholars and laymen cannot see that clear truth--the cause of so much confusion regarding on how one is justified before God these days. Das clears up the air on this issue. Historic Protestants have always been right: one cannot mix Law and Gospel together and one cannot claim to hold to sola fide and still maintain that the Law must be fulfilled in order to be justified at the eschaton. It is contradictory and illogical to hold to such a view to say the least.

H. B. has provided a fine read with graceful and interesting phrasing. Her descriptions are easy and vivid, and having a minimap at the start of each chapter is just plain clever..and useful. She invites us to come with her and follow Paul on his journeys; she points out events with enough space to allow the reader into the situations; she offers up without lecturing. What more could you want? No verbosity-no bombastics-but an emotionally rich telling of a fabulously interesting and crucial time and transition in human existence. The book is a brilliant rendering to match the subject she set out to cover. I liked it most of all for its loving manner corresponding to the loving communication of Paul. Highly recommended, and a book you can easily finish in a short time but may want to reread/refer back to. Not a text on the subject, however.

Paul is one of the great apostles of early Christainty. Born a Hebrew and trained in the legalism of the Pharisee, Paul possessed rabbi knowledge and at the same time born in Tarus - he received the protection of the Roman empire. Known as Saul, he established 27 providences, mingled with individuals of influence, and actively persuecuted the soldiers of Christ or Christians until he received a divine witness of Christ in an intervention which changed his life. Pauls conversion transcended in magnitude all other documented conversions. The mysteries of heavans opened and he was taught directly by Christ.

Paul gained first hand witness of Christ's authenicity and witness. Luke a counsin of Barnabas would serve with Paul, but contracting Malaria returned home with destain from Paul. However, later Luke would be consider a close friend and suffer with Paul in Roman prisons until Pauls death. Luke would write Act and include many of the letters of Paul in the Bible. Barnabas would become the traveling companion of Paul.

As an apostle Paulus or Paul began an epic journey to bringing the gospel to the Greeks starting at Antioch. After miricleously healing a lame man the people thought he was Hemes and Barnabas was Zeus. In his second journey, Paul revisited the churches of Lystrar, Solis, Galatia. He would travel to Europe and win converts in Philippi and Athens. In his third year, Paul spend time in Ephesus and return home to Jerusalem.

Paul was concerned about the strength of the early churches he helped establish. The rebuttal letters to Corithians would display his ideas on marriage, raising children, the second coming of Christ, resurrection, morality, and strengthening the Church.

Paul preached uprighteousness and was considered a thinker and answered tough questions within the church and without, felt he suffered as Christ, taught principles of Christ like virtues, preached resurrection and Christ lives again.

Some of the letters he wrote to members in Thesalonnia and Corinth reveal his deeper spiritual nature and council to strength of body of new members. Paul would meet write to titus and timothy and share spiritual insights and wisdom.

On one occassion he was neverly killed by stoning, on another occasion a earthquake rare to the area brought recognization of his divine mission, and on another occassion after many years of captivity behind the city walls of demascus he managed to escape. Paul's knowledge of roman laws, philosophy, and customs combined with his understanding of judaic legalism gave him an unusually perceptiveness.

Paul's ministery was truely remarkable considering the time. A time when Alexander the Great of Macedona hand conquered the Asia minor, Thrace, Europe, Persia, Greece, Israel, and Roman to spread Helenism.

Pauls teachings challenged the conventional pagan philophies and on five occassions receive 39 lashes to his back and one occassion of stoning as they thought him dead and dragged to the outside of the city, he managed to survive. Having witnesses Stephens stoning and witness of Christ, Paul's experience was no less tramatic. Paul and Barabas ministry demonstrates power, faith, and Miricles resulting from their dedication. Imprisonment and rejection was overcome with strong faith, persistence, and emmense amounts of travel to a diverse body of people and idealogies. Paul loved the Thessalonians and word of his ministry spread throughout Macedona.

After returning to Jerusalem, he came under attack by the Saducees by supposing to attempt to smuggle a Greek into the temple. These temple violations would cause Paul to appeal to the Emperior. Christ would appear to Paul and tell him to have "courage" and that he would bear witness of him in Rome. The journey would be perlious involving a ship wreck. Paul feats were impressive for time when world travel was difficult because good roads and bridges did not facilitate easy travel. Paul would eventually be executed by Nero.

Letters: Romans,Corinthians,Corinthians II,Galatians ,Ephesians,Philippians,Colossians I,Thessalonians I,Thessalonians II,Timothy,Timothy II,Titus,Philemon

* Ephesians : 1. Paul would define the organization structure of the church: apostles, prophets, teachers, priests, and deacons 2. He would declare the gentiles were no longer foreigners and strangers but fellow citizens with Christ. He would embody the philosophy of unity and declare the church would be a world wide church.

*Corithians : 1. Paul would preach love and encourage the members to have faith declaring great mysteries existed for those who loved God. 2. Paul theology of the after life revealed different spheres of glory to which man would be assigned based on their righteousness. 3. Paul would testify of the power of the resurrection.

*Timothy : 1. Paul would prophesize of the future moral conditions and spirtual depravity.

I have found this book to be very helpful for group study and discussion. It covers the life and ministry of St. Paul. Each chapter ends with discussion questions which helped us to look at our own lives in the light of Paul's writings.

It keept me reading from the first page on. Nothing but ecitment!

PB could be easily be about a Victorian entrepreneur as a football coach...the moralising can be off putting. But war, that is to say football, has number of contradictions. Perhaps Paul Brown was dry, but his introversion yielded some amazing insights. Specifically, he learned, by critical self-examination, how to put himself in a position to build the best possible organization.

His success in High School, college, and then finally professional football in cleveland is without equal.

Any reader with some interest in football will be amazed by the genius of paul brown. His innovations, such as grading intelligence of players and the creation of the playbook playbook attracted legends like bill walsh, chuck knoll, and don shula to his staff.

PB is for any fan of the greatest sport, and anyone who wants to know how to win consistently.

Ron recently gave a motivational speech to my women's professional group which was based upon this book. He blended a variety of proven leadership ideas with relational guidance. I can't believe the difference in my interactions with one particularly difficult client!

This is, quite simply, the finest book on film theory and analysis that I have ever read. I am a great admirer of Peckinpah's work, especially his westerns, so I am very happy to see a serious consideration of his work. Mr. Seydor writes with great insight, intellegence, and with a thorough understanding of this neglected and under-appreciated director. Too many people identify Sam Peckinpah as a director of blood and guts movies containing violence for the sake of violence. Mr. Seydor shows the themes and emotions that saturate Peckinpah's work and tells us that this is a director of immense talent and passion. He also lets you know that he directed other westerns besides "The Wild Bunch". I hope that someday Mr Seydor will write a book about Peckinpah's non-western films as well. But in the mean time, this book is perfect for movie addicts like myself, but is also very accessable to the casual film fan as well.

Paul Carlson writes history like most novelist would like to write fiction. He is informative about his subject without being a bore. Shafter was the man who cleaned up after Wounded Knee, put down the Pullman Strike and led our Armed Forces in Cuba during the Spanish American War. Why wasn't he publicized as an American hero? Because, he was too fat, was involved in a scandle or two and wasn't popular with the press. Carlson tells it like it happened. And that makes this book the absolute best of its kind.

Jim Wynne