The Origin of Paul's Religion is intended to deal, from one particular point of view, with the problem of the origin of Christianity. It is an important historical problem not only because of the large place which Christianity has occupied in the medieval and modern world, but also because of certain unique features which even the most unsympathetic and superficial examination must detect in the beginnings of the Christian movement. The problem of the origin of Christianity is also an important practical problem. Rightly or wrongly, Christian experience has ordinarily been connected with one particular view of the origin of the Christian movement; where that view has been abandoned, the experience has ceased.

His first book, 'The Origin of Paul's Religion' (1921) was a masterful and forthright defense of the historical truthfulness and supernaturalism of the New Testament. This volume is taken from the James Sprunt Lectures delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. Machen is absolutely masterful in dealing with the anti-supernaturalism that was beginning to dominate the church in the early decades of the twentieth century. Although written 85 years ago it remains a model of biblical scholarship and warm piety. "In an age when the nature and content of Paul's message are once again under scrutiny, evangelical and Reformed readers will benefit immensely from a close reading of Machen's masterwork. This book is an outstanding example of careful, patient scholarship that received high praise when it was first published and continues today to demand attention." - R. Scott Clark "J. Gresham Machen not only believed, practised, and proclaimed Paul's gospel, he was also able to defend its authenticity at the highest scholarly level. Because 'The Origin of Paul's Religion' penetrates to the heart of the matter it continues to speak to contemporary controversies over the nature of the gospel and the Christian faith." - Sinclair Ferguson

J. Gresham Machen's fascinating account of the Apostle Paul explains and sheds light on the religious beliefs of the titular subject, which remain an important component of Biblical theology. Paul was one of the first proponents of Christianity, establishing some of the first recorded Christian churches in the 1st century AD. As an early preachers of the religion Paul's attitudes are, in Machen's eyes, a vital component of the faith which must not be ignored or discounted. Some scholars have disavowed aspects of Paul's writings, deeming them confined to the culture of his time and therefore of little value to Christians in the modern day. Machen considered things differently and wrote this book in response. He establishes that Paul's words and spiritual mores are a crucial part of the Christian doctrine, that he is the primary interpreter of Jesus Christ himself, and that therefore his religion is - for the most part - authentic Christianity. For Machen, the very association of Paul with Jesus, and the fact that Paul was among the first to spread the word, is enough to confirm a close alignment with Christian beliefs. Beginning life as a persecutor of Jesus' followers, Paul saw the error of his ways and converted to Christ's teachings at a young age. The account in the Book of Acts, wherein Paul is struck blind but has his sight restored affirms his commitment to Jesus. As one of the first proponents of Christ's teachings, Paul had a total of fourteen books of the New Testament ascribed to him out of the total of twenty-seven. While creating his own thesis, Machen goes to great lengths to debunk and refute arguments by other Christian scholars concerning the religion of Paul. He establishes to what degree Jesus and Paul were in agreement in terms of beliefs, and the few instances where Paul diverged from the exact teachings of Christ. Although much of this text is quite dry given Machen's intense scholarly knowledge, the reader will find his persistence rewarded with clarity on this sensitive and spiritually significant matter.

The question of where Paul found his religious ideals has been a seminal question in modern scholarship. Whether he is characterized as corrupting the religion of Jesus, or some other religious innovator, teh biblical account of Paul's teachings paints quite a different story.In the The Origin of Paul's Religion J. Gresham Machen shows that Paul had his own biblical theology that was derived from divine revelation and not locked to his particular culture. It was, therefore, a theology of the unchanging God as he was in his eternal personhood.One of Machen's most penetrating works, the great New Testament scholar shows that Paul's theology was not a product of personal creation but divine origin.When you purchase books from ANTHEM PUBLISHING you are purchasing a premium digital product. Each book is prepared by an individual person to ensure proper care, handling, and formatting of the text, and to ensure the product you purchase meets the highest standards. The Table of Contents is fully linked to ensure easy navigation to each chapter and each chapter is reverse linked back to the Table of Contents. We also provide dynamic linking for footnotes/endnotes to ensure a seamless digital experience.

J. Gresham Machen's fascinating account of the Apostle Paul explains and sheds light on the religious beliefs of the titular subject, which remain an important component of Biblical theology. Paul was one of the first proponents of Christianity, establishing some of the first recorded Christian churches in the 1st century AD. As an early preachers of the religion Paul's attitudes are, in Machen's eyes, a vital component of the faith which must not be ignored or discounted. Some scholars have disavowed aspects of Paul's writings, deeming them confined to the culture of his time and therefore of little value to Christians in the modern day. Machen considered things differently and wrote this book in response. He establishes that Paul's words and spiritual mores are a crucial part of the Christian doctrine, that he is the primary interpreter of Jesus Christ himself, and that therefore his religion is - for the most part - authentic Christianity.