Tracing the life and influence of one of Christianity's most important figures throughout the major periods of its history, this book explores the changing interpretations of Paul and his work, and in doing so throws new light on his writings and on religious history.

The impact of the apostle Paul on Christianity is enormous. His missionary journeys, canonized epistles, and theological insights were cornerstones of the early church and pivotal in the formation of Christian doctrine. Over the past two thousand years, Paul's work and life have been widely dissected and discussed. Robert Seesengood charts the history of these shifting views of Paul, arguing that whether they were created during the Gnostic controversy, by Luther during the Reformation, or in the contemporary debates over religion and science, each new version is the result of a fresh set of cultural, social, and ideological circumstances. Given this, he questions whether it is ever possible to discover the real Paul.

This insightful brief history offers a unique approach to the subject, distilling the many interpretations of Paul and his impact on Christianity. It will be a vital resource for anyone studying the life and letters of Paul and the New Testament.

Robert Paul Seesengood is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Albright College. He is the author of Competing Identities: The Athlete and the Gladiator in Early Christianity (2006), and has written numerous articles on Paul and Pauline studies.