"Why another book on Paul?" may be the justifiable reaction of those finding this book on a bookstore or library shelf. Even a cursory survey shows there is already a spate of volumes on Paul available to those interested in learning more about the Apostle to the Gentiles. To paraphrase Qoheleth (loosely), " Of the writing of books on Paul there is no end" (Eccl 12:12)
So, why this book on Paul? Perusal of the platoon of Paul books shows that the works fall into three categories: scholarly monographs, collected essays, and books for a mythical general audience. Whatever the character of these contributions, they usually seek to serve one of three aims: to produce a life of Paul, to examine a letter or the letters of Paul, or to summarize Paul's theology in general or on some particular point. Rarely, a book pursues two goals, as does Gunther Bornkamm's Paul, which treats both Paul's life and his theology. Perhaps Bornkamm's ambitious format as much as the quality of his scholarship has made his book the standard text for Paul courses for more than a decade. The book continues to be the standard introductory text to Paul despite being the product of an interpretative approach that the majority of contemporary critical scholars considers to be less-than-adequate. And so, teachers and students of Paul cry out for a new text.