Remember the FutureThe Pastoral Theology of Paul the Apostle by Jacob W. Elias |
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Why should 21st-century readers bother with Paul? Some people find his letters abstract, complex, and unrelated to real life. Others cringe at the passages that address relationships within the household. In a culture that values stories, Paul's letters appear to be concerned mostly with doctrine.
Jacob W. Elias highlights the ways in which Paul draws on narratives as he ministers via letters to congregations throughout the first century Mediterranean world. Paul frequently alludes to his own personal story as a Jew who encountered the risen Christ. Repeatedly Paul reminds his readers about Jesus's life and faithfulness, although he nowhere shares that story in any detail. Paul draws on Old Testament stories and the narratives and images of the Greco-Roman world. And Paul demonstrates his awareness of each congregation's story.
"Jacob Elias helps readers look backward, forward and all around to see the story of God creating a people. Paul's epistles can seem like tough slogging. But Elias saves the day by connecting the old story with the on-going one and giving us interpretive tools to project the story into the future. By pairing Pauline themes with the narratives below the surface, Elias helps us see Paul's context, which spurs us on to jump into the story ourselves." -- Michele Hershberger, Chair of the Ministry Division, Hesston College
About the Author
Jacob W. Elias is author of 1 & 2 Thessalonians in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series. He was born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan, and graduated in 1968 from Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He began pastoral ministry at Mountainview Mennonite Church, Vancouver, and in 1978 earned a ThD in New Testament from the Toronto School of Theology. He has been teaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary since 1977.