To Live Is Christ: Embracing the Passion of Paul

by Beth Moore

New - Exposition of the life of the apostle Paul, the passionate. Beth Moore traces Paul's life from childhood to martyrdom, the book looks at how the apostle's life can give readers a renewed sense of purpose in God's plan.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Faith, Spirituality, Religion, Christian Non Fiction

315 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

Beth Moore has written many best–selling books and is a dynamic teacher and a prolific Bible–study author whose public speaking engagements take her across the United States to challenge tens of thousands. Beth is focused on teaching women all over the world and is known and respected wherever she goes. She is a dedicated wife and mother of two adult daughters and lives in Houston, Texas, where she leads Living Proof Ministries and teaches an adult Sunday school class. Beth is one of the best known women in the evangelical Christian market.

Reviews

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Designed as a Bible study, but I've read it as a kind of biography of Paul. Great tool for a study of Acts (starting around Acts 5). More substantial than I expected. "Readable" writing, but not flippant or flighty. She makes references to her personal life without hanging out her dirty laundry too explicitly. In addition to shedding light on some passages in Acts, Moore really makes me think about Paul's letters differently. They seemed so "teacherly" before, but Moore makes you really consider the conditions and states of mind in which Paul was writing them.

[Beth Peninger]

Originally I gave this title 3.5 stars. I am revising my stars to zero.

The reason I am doing so is that since reading this title, several things about my faith journey and expression have changed and I no longer subscribe to evangelical ideologies.

I respect Beth Moore but cannot stand behind stars/reviews I have given based on prior readings.
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3.5 stars
This book takes the reader from the beginnings of Paul's life all the way through to the end of it. Moore highlights important faith lessons and moments that Paul had that can be of importance to our own faith journey's as well. Moore is a great communicator and has a sincere zeal for God and that always comes through in her writings. This book, however, would be better suited for someone newer to faith in Christ. I grew rather...ancy...with it. The majority of what she shared wasn't new news to me. As the saying goes, "Been there, done that." Also, it was 50 chapters long. 50!! Granted the chapters were on the shorter side but 50. About 1/3 of the way through the book I was feeling pretty draggy so finishing it felt more like a chore, in a sense. This is not to say that the book isn't good or contain some really great truths about a life for Christ, it is just perhaps suited better to someone who wasn't birthed into the church nursery. :)
What I definitely liked about the book was the thorough examination of Paul. Paul gets a bad rap from Christians and non-Christians alike. He's been called a male chauvinist, a woman-hater, etc. Those labels are so far from the truth of Paul and Moore addresses some of them in this book - and I was grateful. I've always liked Paul and been a "fan" and believe me, if I really though he was a chauvinist then I wouldn't be a fan. Take Paul in context, both culturally and biblically, and then you will see Paul for who he really is - a lover of God's people, men and women. He didn't hate women, in fact he esteemed them.
If you want to get to know the Apostle Paul and his ministry, Beth Moore's book is a good place to start.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book walks through the conversion of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus. It takes apart the whole book of Acts and Paul's missionary ministry journeys. I especially have so many highlights of relevant pieces that were fundamentally profound portions in my own experiences. Highlighting Paul's humanity and truth he shares about being in Christ was interesting and I took many notes. I really enjoy reading books by Beth Moore, she brings the story to life in a way I have found compelling to understanding more of the Bible. This is a great look at the early Christian church and the struggles and triumphs the disciples faced. I would recommend this book to anyone!

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this one. Beth Moore's research is so good. And its good because she LOVES to research and LOVES to have God show her things in the Word. Paul is some of my favorites in scripture. The way he writes, the passion he felt for God, his story before and after believing. Huge testament.

[Jessica Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people would love this

I didn't love it. I liked it. It had some thought-provoking moments and she clearly has a heart for God and for teaching. If you consider yourself to be a more conservative Christan, this book is for you. If you are a person of faith who doesn't fit in with more conservative Christan philosophy, this book will have troubling aspects for you.

[Vickey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off slow, if I hadn't been reading with my husband I may not have finished it. But it did get better and gave me a few new things to think about. I enjoyed the small insights on Jewish customs.

[Eliza Fitzgerald]

I always love Beth! This is one of her older books but it just goes to show she's been fighting the good fight for a long time.

[Kristi Canode]

I learned so much by reading this book! Excellent read

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Beth knocked it out of the park with this study about the life and writings of Paul. I love how she dives deep into the history of the Bible, drawing comparisons between different passages of Scripture, weaving them together with experiences from her own life and drawing conclusions that are applicable to the readers' everyday lives. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Andrew Alterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has some great quotes, good insights, and excellent research. This is a very practical and devotional look at the life of Paul. Love how she imaginatively wove together historical facts and biblical implications. Easy read and great flow. (She also tackles head on several controversial issues. Kudos for her). First beth moore book I've read. She's got a slightly corney sense of humor. As far as content: 5 stars all day!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifty shortish chapters about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. The author is knowledgeable not just about the Bible passages that feature him, but about the typical life of a Jewish family in the first century. So the earliest chapters set the scene for his life, based on historical evidence.

The book then moves into what we know about the apostle from the Bible, particularly the book of Acts, but also some of his letters. It’s essentially a biographical account fleshed out with Beth Moore’s knowledge and research, and with plenty of application to modern believers.

The writing is good, there are some interesting personal touches here and there, giving insights into the author’s life, and on the whole I thought it excellent. There were a few minor things that grated, some because of our different cultures and backgrounds, some because the author takes a traditional view of some authorship rather than a more scholarly and open one. But they were minor blips in what was otherwise a well-written and sometimes thought-provoking book.

[Jennifer Lindsay]

I was given the hardcover version of this book from my small group yesterday evening as a goodbye gift.

I have been attending a Vineyard Church small group in Farmer City since the spring and it has really helped with my spiritual growth.

The group thought that the story of Paul, the apostle, was an appropriate gift for me because he started out on a new path. He left his own life behind to live a life according to Christ. They see me doing the same and hope that I continue on with my spiritual growth as I continue to daily practice surrendering my will and my life to God.

I read the intro and first chapter last night. It is like reading a biography of Paul. And I have always loved reading memoirs and biographies so I think I will enjoy this read as it challenges me.

[Mark]

I read this book as a historical follow-on to The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey.

The manner in which the author treated Saul/Paul's life with explicit bible and personal references is certainly appreciated. Saul's upbringing, and the significance of his Greek/Roman associations were especially enlightening. At some points it did become a bit preachy (again I was reading for a historical point of view); but those areas were not lengthy and certainly were expected.

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second time reading the book. I like having it on my kindle because that I means I can pick it up whenever I have a few minutes, and just immerse myself in Bible study. Miss Beth does a good job of going through the Bible throughly and making it obvious when she's saying something that's just her opinion or her take on the matter.

She also does a good job of adding various little life details and stories to her books which make it so I feel like I'm getting to know her a little bit. (Without these details I find books very hard to read because I really like connecting to the writer.)

Overall her books aren't what I would consider to be gripping, but they do have good information in them and I've learned a lot from her writing.

[Ellen Kelleher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, it was a good walk through the Apostle Paul's life. I enjoyed the Jewish tradition explained at the beginning and most of the conjecture during the course of the book. Unfortunately, the book fell short where Ms. Moore decides that she is capable of correcting God's word using the "so-called" original Greek text. I find it infuriating whenever writers refer to an original that does not exist when attempting to change the word of God. So, while that can be ignored, and small doctrinal errors can be dismissed, it has given me a taste of Beth Moore's writings, and I don't think I will read her work again.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never done a Beth Moore study and if this one is any indication of how thorough and moving her studies are, I'll be back for more. Our Bible study group went through To Live Is Christ one week at a time for 10 weeks and I couldn't wait to get in each week and share what I got out of the study and hear what spoke to others. Beth Moore has you flipping through your Bible like I've never done before. I love that she ties verses from many parts of the Bible together in Paul's story. I love that Paul becomes so relate-able going from a self righteous man to a very humble one very much in love with God and willing to act out His plan no matter the consequences. Really enjoyed the study.

[Katie]

In-depth study of Paul

I would recommend this book for anyone having trouble connecting with characters in the pages of your Bible. The characters' stories and circumstances are brought into examination by the author. Each verse is shown as a step of a person who is just like you or I, struck with the enormous mission of 'running the race' . I love the understanding that comes with knowing the background and Greek words used to deepen the context of commonly used verses.

[Julie Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Study

I love how Beth Moore delves deeper into Biblical figures than anyone else. She digs down deep to give a 360 view. She is not ashamed to share her personal struggles to help us see we are not alone or to help us see how God has worked in her life. Paul was so much like us yet so devoted to God. We can learn so much from his journeys, trials, and persecution. Moore breaks it down so we can see how we can grow from his life and examples.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggled through the first few chapters before I finally gave up on this book. Really let me down to see such an imaginative account of the life of Paul. Maybe the book would have gotten better further in, but Beth Moore's writing style turned me off, and for the first time I was bored with the account of Paul's life

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great simply laid out book on the life of Paul-not necessarily written for women but for all because the actions and faith of this man shows us how we can live our lives for Christ despite living in a challenging world. She had some interesting takes that I never thought before so it's worth a read even if you've read many books and commentary on Acts or the life of Paul.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth's small group study turned into novel on the life of Paul was a great read. She walked us through Paul's life from his conversion to death using Acts and ending in the epistles. Beth has a way of drawing the reader back to Scripture and making you see things you may have missed reading on your own.

[Charles Hache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul is a tremendous writer. He is possibly the first Bible commentator and devotional leader for gentiles. His words ring of truth and acceptance while at the same time glorifying God's great wisdom. Beth Moore takes us on the journey of Paul (Saul) from his perspective, giving life to an author whose words have inspired a culture to accept that to live is Christ.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book about the life of the Apostle Paul. It references all of the Bible verses to go along with the explanations. It is very easy to follow and captured my attention since it is a chronological account of Paul's life and travels. It gave me a greater appreciation for the books that Paul wrote and the conditions that he was in when these books were written.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the biographical parts and her writing is very inspiring but she was a liitle heavy-handed on the lists of "morals to the story" -all those actions of Paul that we are to emulate. Moore also does a lot of "we can assume from the text that..." which can be a little dangerous with Scripture. Overall, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

[Jessica Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I learned SO much about the fascinating life of Paul. Very well written, and I gained a new perspective on this well-known character of Christianity. It brought a new side of Paul, his emotions, strengths, and weaknesses into light. I definitely recommend this to every Christian!

[Courtney Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Beth Moore's writing. I like it that she lets you know what is from the Bible, what is from other sources and what is her own opinion. I enjoy the passion she displays for any study she writes. Sometimes I think I view Paul as nearly perfect, but it was nice to see some of his humanness that maybe I had overlooked before.

[Beth Beutler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a comprehensive, enjoyable book in a conversational tone. It is a good way to take a deeper look at the life of Paul and his inspiration and example to us. Chapters are relatively short so this book can be read as part of a devotional/quiet time if one is interested in approaching it that way.

[Delinda Mauney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book by Beth Moore. The life of Paul is full of interesting details that I had not been aware of. She brings Paul to life in typical Beth Moore style. His journeys, imprisonments, friends, interactions with Jesus' disciples are a wonderful story of a true follower of Christ.

[Ellen Kelleher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book for someone who has enough knowledge of the bible to rightly divide, and to know when something is clearly not the bible's teaching. Much of this book is wonderful and useful for following the life of the apostle Paul, but some of it is unbliblical and should be filtered carefully.

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the research Beth Moore did in this book and her talent to convey the information in meaningful ways. Taking me through the books of Acts, the life and missionary journeys of St. Paul, the early church- made it real for me, gave me an insight and a better understanding of how God used St Paul's passion for Christ. Well written.