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Phoebe  By  cover art

Phoebe

By: Paula Gooder
Narrated by: Paula Gooder,Joan Walker
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Publisher's Summary

Sometime around AD 56, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. His letter was arguably his theological masterpiece, and has continued to shape Christian faith ever since. 

He entrusted this letter to Phoebe, the deacon of the church at Cenchreae; in writing to the church that almost surely met in her home, Paul refers to her both as a deacon and as a helper or patron of many. 

But who was this remarkable woman?   

In this, her first work of fiction, Biblical scholar and popular author and speaker Paula Gooder tells Phoebe's story - who she was, the life she lived and her first-century faith - and in doing so opens up Paul's theology, giving a sense of the cultural and historical pressures that shaped Paul's thinking, and the faith of the early church.   

Written in the gripping style of Gerd Theissen's The Shadow of the Galilean, and similarly rigorously researched, this is an audiobook for everyone and anyone who wants to engage more deeply and imaginatively with Paul's theology - from one of the UK's foremost New Testament scholars.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Paula Gooder (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What listeners say about Phoebe

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  • hbutler
  • 05-13-20

A great scholar, but a poor narrator

I found the narrator's intonation when narrating dialogue very annoying, and therefore the book was a struggle to finish. It was useful in putting the New Testament stories into their context. The author admits she is not a fiction writer, and that was not her intent, but I think the book sadly falls between two stalls and therefore missed the mark of both. A very scholarly work though, and the notes were of as much interest as the story.

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  • John Buckley
  • 01-16-23

History & theology wrapped in an interesting story

The audible edition is in 2 parts, the second is the author with her academic hat on explaining the historical background, interesting stuff. The main story has lots of characters to keep track of. The end is a bit of a cliff hanger.

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  • L. West
  • 09-24-20

Absolutely brilliant

I really loved this story and the notes at the end were amazing. I'll have to pick up a hard copy now.

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  • Jonathan Chambers
  • 01-24-20

Scholarly and a great story

I thoroughly enjoyed the way Paula
has skilfully portrayed and developed the characters using what we know from the biblical texts. Using her experience of life and faith she then develops characters whose lives are challenged and impacted by this counter-intuitive Way. The characters grew and changed in a way, with which I resonated.....gradually, and often with a struggle and through the care of the faith community, who also are less than perfect.
It made the life of the early church live for me in a way I hadn’t encountered before.