Muhammad; the prophet-founder of Islam; is one of the most influential and misunderstood figures of history. The religion he founded in mid-seventh century Arabia now has over 1.5 billion followers and his impact on world affairs is immense. In this small volume; a Muslim and non-Muslim come together to tell the story of Muhammad's life and teachings in straightforward language that will appeal to all who seek an easy to read primer on the Prophet and his teachings.
#365536 in Books E P Sanders 2001-06-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 4.20 x .40 x 6.80l; 1.98 #File Name: 0192854518176 pagesPaul
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. FruitfulBy HHThis is without a doubt the clearest short introduction to Paul currently available. Sanders is of course well known for; inter alia; his major works "Paul and Palestinian Judaism"; and "Paul; the Law and the Jewish People". Here he presents his view of Paul in a work which; though astonishingly short (after the manner of the 'Very Short Introduction' series in which it takes a distinguished place); manages to say a great deal. The book not only summarizes the conclusions of Sanders's fuller works; but also fills them out in creative ways. This reviewer; having read several of the 'Very Short Introduction' series concerning figures about whom he was previously ignorant; tried to imagine someone coming similarly to this book as their first introduction to Paul. The result is excellent. Anyone; at any level; who wants to make Paul's acquaintance will find this book first-class value.16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Superbly scholarly for size and format. Buy It!By B. Marold`Paul; A Very Short Introduction' by the leading American Pauline scholar; E. P. Sanders is a revelation to me it will also probably be a surprise to anyone not familiar with this Oxford University Press series. My first surprise is that an author of such great academic distinction should be doing this kind of treatment which looks; on the surface; to be a popular gloss; evoking images of `Cliff Notes' and `Paul for Dummies'.My reading of Pauline theology and exegesis is still a bit shallow; but I know enough already to see that while Sanders may just be covering the peaks; he is giving us a good enough look deep into some of the valleys to appreciate his stating that Paul is a difficult writer for modern readers. Not only was Paul not as polished a writer as his contemporary Philo in Alexandria; he used some Greek terms which simply do not easily translate into English. And; many important modern such as the RSV (Revised Standard Version) Bible translations don't help much when they mangle some of Paul's more important statements.Since practically nothing is known about Paul's life with any certainty; Sanders takes little space for biography and no space on speculation on what Paul may have done; for example; during his early years in the Nabatean desert. Oddly; he does add to the question of where Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans. Some writers say he wrote in Miletus and others say he wrote it in Corinth. Sanders opts for Corinth.Sanders is probably one of the very best writers from which to get the `non-Lutheran' interpretation of Paul; as he concentrates much more on seeing Paul concentrate on the membership of Christians in the body of Christ instead of Righteousness by faith. At the very least; he gives the two points of view equal importance.While the book is organized primarily by theological topics; Sanders seems to get most of his quotes and references from Romans and Galatians (which happen to be the two letters most interesting to Luther in his early career).There are two new aspects of Paul I get from this book. First; Paul is NOT an anguished soul; as we have come to view Luther or Kierkegaard or modern existentialists. The second is that for Paul; evil was a real; palpable force in the world. The evil of sin was not an outgrowth of simple guilt; depression; or other psychological phenomenon. Evil was REAL. This gives me a whole new perspective on interpreting the Gnostics; who made a big thing of the doctrine that the physical world was created by an evil demiurge.I also get a reassurance on Paul's doctrine on free will. Unlike Luther in `Bondage of the Will'; Paul firmly believed that humans have free will and can choose right or wrong and disbelief or faith.As excellent as this book is; it may be a bit too technical for a younger teen that is new to problems of reading and interpreting ancient translated texts. If the student is; however; a student of Biblical Greek; then this is a book they should know!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. THIS MAY BE SHORT BUT IT IS EXCELLENT!By R. LarkinI have studied good biblical scholarship for the past 40 years. I rate E. P. Sanders among the best. His detail work on the letters of Paul is a must reading for anyone wanting to know the development of Paul's thought on righteousness; salvation; his personal issues and conflicts ; Paul's relation to Jesus work; the guiding themes in Paul's letters especially in (contrasting )Galatians and Romans; and Paul's Christology. This is well done; illuminating; fresh up-to-date-scholarship.
