Ten Theology Books to Watch For – July 2023

Pauline Theology as a Way of Life: A Vision of Human Flourishing in Christ

Joshua Jipp

( Baker Academic )

Paul is known as a theologian, and indeed his writings yield rich theological insights. But Paul was foremost a missionary and a pastor who wrote to real people and churches.

In this fresh approach to Pauline theology, respected scholar Joshua Jipp brings Paul’s pastoral concerns to the fore, specifically his concern for human flourishing in his congregations. Jipp argues that Paul’s writings are best understood as invitations to a particular way of life, one that is oriented toward the supreme good of experiencing life in God through participation in Christ. For Paul, Christ epitomizes the good life and enables others to live it. While analyzing Paul’s thought through this lens of well-being and flourishing, Jipp introduces conversation partners as points of comparison and contrast. He interacts with ancient philosophy and modern positive psychology, both of which also address “the good life.”

This important and substantial contribution to Pauline studies covers issues such as transcendence, suffering and death, relationships, pursuit of Christian virtue, and moral agency. It will be a valuable resource for all students of Paul.

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The Beginning of Paul’s Gospel: Theological Explorations in Romans 1–4

Nijay Gupta and John Goodrich, Eds.

( Cascade Books )

The Epistle to the Romans remains the centerpiece of all serious Pauline theological research. Each of the major sections of Romans has received significant attention in recent scholarship, yet no consensus has emerged about how to read the opening chapters of Paul’s most important letter, Romans 1-4. This collection of essays returns to the beginning of Paul’s theological masterpiece to probe longstanding puzzles and to offer new readings and fresh insights on some of the most cherished chapters in the entire Pauline corpus.

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