Wilson is clearly a writer, as well as a persistent historian. Both make this a more interesting read than might be expected from a religious scholar. He understands Paul to be proclaiming the end of the age and the return of the Risen Lord in triumph. He sees Paul as the "creator" of both Christ and Christianity. Having read a number of stories of Paul, including Hyam Maccaby's classic, The Mythmaker, the book adds few surprises from the view of biblical scholarship. What Wilson does add is a good picture of what was going on in the Roman Empire during the first and second centuries, including the varieties of religious life in practice. The context is most helpful in getting the picture of what Paul was doing. He speculates what may have happened to Paul either on the way to Rome, in Rome or after Rome.

       Several thoughts came to mind during the reading. One thought was that it would be helpful to have a study of both the authentic words of Paul and the authentic acts of Paul in the manner of the Jesus Seminar. This has been done, of course, but not in the red, pink, gray and black version of the Jesus Seminar books.

       A second thought was that it would be interesting to have an overlay showing the importing of Paul's thinking into the gospels.

       Wilson clearly respects the genius of Paul as thinker, writer and poet as well as founder of a new religion. Contrary to common thought, Paul is seen as something of a liberal in many ways. (Note his liberality regarding the Jewish piety rules). He also sees him mistaken about the return of the Messiah.

       If anyone takes a hit in the book it is Luke. Because Luke writes to placate the Romans and shift blame for unrest away from Christians toward the Jews, much of what he says must be dismissed for the fiction it is. The problem is that we are left doubting a good deal of what Luke "reports" about Paul's words and deeds. Again, not new, but a reminder that we don't know a much about what Paul really did and said as we thought. Nevertheless, because of his letters he is clearly the primary figure in the New Testament. If not for him we most likely would never have learned of Jesus.

       I think preaching clergy could read this book to great benefit and find basis for preaching from Paul's mind. If nothing else, the basic theological question of how to believe in God when confronted with the evil in the world and humankind, as Paul does in Romans, is worth another look via Wilson. If you can get one or two sermons—and even one new idea—for $13.95, it's worth it.