This book provides helpful, clearly written and provocative background for understanding St. Paul's thinking on moral issues. It places the Pauline writings on matters like homosexuality in context and shows how they relate to pagan philosophical movements and Jewish thinking of Paul's time. It deciphers Paul's often complex writings so that these texts can be treated as a living witness, rooted both in cultural context and faith experience rather than simply a morass of convoluted strictures. In addition to this the author provides articulate commentary for people seeking to apply these ancient texts to modern realities. Readers who were intrigued by the approach to scripture taken in John Shelby Spong's RESCUING THE BIBLE FROM FUNDAMENTALISM, but perhaps found his treatment of Paul wanting, will welcome the information and refreshing insights this book provides.