St. Paul

The Apostle We Love to Hate (Icons)

By: Karen Armstrong

Narrated by: Karen Armstrong

Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

St. Paul is known throughout the world as the first Christian writer, authoring fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. But as Karen Armstrong demonstrates in St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate, he also exerted a more significant influence on the spread of Christianity throughout the world than any other figure in history. It was Paul who established the first Christian churches in Europe and Asia in the first century, Paul who transformed a minor sect into the largest religion produced by Western civilization, and Paul who advanced the revolutionary idea that Christ could serve as a model for the possibility of transcendence. While we know little about some aspects of the life of St. Paul - his upbringing, the details of his death - his dramatic vision of God on the road to Damascus is one of the most powerful stories in the history of Christianity, and the life that followed forever changed the course of history.

©2015 Karen Armstrong. (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Admirably researched and told

Any book by Karen Armstrong opens up new perspectives for me. This is no exception. One cannot view Paul in the same way or, I think, not be filled eith compassion after hearing this history and narrative .

Well balanced

Well done biography with a balance between a pure historical account and a spiritual awareness. It shouldn't distress the agnostic reader or the reverant one. If there is a bent it is one of an academic view of Paul. this is not a prayer book but a reflection on one man's journey and the profound impact he had.

Another voice of a believer

I am a fan of Karen Armstrong's work. Once again Karen Armstrong has given me another way to look at a story and the person behind the story.

A different side of Paul

The author does a brilliant job of cutting through the layers of interpretation placed upon Paul to get to what we can learn of his own thoughts and teachings. It was very informative and has allowed me to see Paul in a new light.

The man behind the controversy

The real Paul emerges

A much needed reality check on the most misunderstood apostle and influential thinker of the Christian faith. The author is a master storyteller that asks important questions based on contemporary evidence and what is known so far about the period regarding the authorship of some of the Epistles, pastoral letters and other documents attributed to Paul. In doing so, she presents to us a man whose voice was appropriated by nearly every Christian sect and movement which led to the real one becoming a lost memory.
Paul is the one of the early writer's and Christian leaders that has fascinated me the most. Before there was even such a thing as a Christian Church, Paul, like others who followed the teachings of Jesus, attempted to bridge the old with the new, believing Jesus was another chapter of the Jewish faith that was also invited gentiles into becoming part of this reformed ministry. Unfortunately, Paul fell victim to many of the conflicting interpretations and disagreements his fellow peers had in regards on how to take this new ministry, not to mention the disagreements from his fellow Jewish brethren as well as Rome's discontent.
Karen Armstrong perfectly illustrates this turbulent period which Paul lived in and males well grounded inferences as to the reasons he was (possibly) appropriated by splinter groups and why they ended becoming the dominant branch of Christian theology.

excellent.ly presented. <br /><br /><br /><br />

I loved every minute of ms armstrong ' s presentation. it made the story of Paul
come alive and I really got a sense of the culture and the struggles of the people. ironically, we human beings have not changed a bit from Paul's time.

Excellent concise coverage of Paul’s life and letters!

This short and accessible book is an honest, thought-provoking, and inspiring discussion of Paul’s life and letters. It uses information gleaned from historical methods but the author clearly likes and admires Paul without being infatuated by him. In my view, Karen Armstrong does a wonderful job of separating information from disinformation involving Paul’s life and beliefs. I found it an excellent complement to rereading Paul’s letters after each was covered in the book.

excellent introduction to Paul

great scholarship, with egually great insights. Paul is often misunderstood to most people, well worth the read.

very educational

so much truth have been hidden for such a long time. it's time to exit the matrix of lies and half truth

Finished this in one sitting .

Have me many ideas to think about I very much appreciate this book Thank You