Paul the Progressive?: The Compassionate Christian’s Guide to Reclaiming the Apostle as an Ally

by Eric C. Smith

A generation of biblical scholars have sparked a revolution in thinking about the apostle Paul. Now, bible scholar and progressive Christian pastor Eric C. Smith is helping Christians see how that revolution makes a difference for people engaged in the work of justice and inclusion.In Paul the Progressive, Smith revisits Paul in light of modern biblical scholarship, telling the story of a Paul who challenged the norms of his day, broke down barriers of gender and ethnicity, and re-imagined God’s plan for the world in terms of radical inclusion and salvation available to everyone.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2019

About the author

Eric C. Smith is Assistant Professor of Early Christianity and Contemporary Christian Practice at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO.

Reviews

[Jeremy Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if Martin Luther – and you and I – was wrong about Paul? Rev. Dr. Eric Smith, Disciples of Christ pastor and Assistant Professor of New Testament and Christian History at the Iliff School of Theology (spoiler alert: we work together and he’s my friend), has heard throughout his pastoral and academic career that Paul was the bad guy who ruined the lovely religion that Jesus introduced. The point of this book is to gently persuade the folks who believe that Paul was the bad guy that he is, in fact, on their side. Dr. Smith uses the best and recent biblical scholarship – the Radical New Perspective on Paul – and weaves it together with his personal experience to present a winsome portrait of Paul as an egalitarian progressive. In successive chapters, Dr. Smith addresses the stereotypical images of Paul as misogynist, homophobe, anti-Semite, prudish, an apologist for slavery, xenophobic, and guilt-mongering, and corrects each stereotype with evidence from Scripture for why that just isn’t so. The New Perspective observes that Paul was not a Jew converted to a new ‘religion’ called Christianity, but a proud (and often stubborn) Jew who was trying to bridge a gap between cultural worlds, between classes, between genders, and between the powerful and marginalized. Smith’s tone is warm and deeply personal, and the stories interspersed with his exegesis make the book a joy to read.

Deeply recommended for undergraduates in religion and pastoral leaders, but especially as a discussion guide for religious communities who both take their commitments to Scripture and to social justice seriously. (Not so much if you think Scripture is inerrant or if women shouldn’t preach in church, however.) Smith’s love for the Bible, and his reverence for interpreting it honestly and seriously, shine through on every page. He might even get you to love Paul again. Or at least understand him a little better.

[Mike Berry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t bother... same old revisionist bunk with a new cover art

This book on Paul isn't just semi blasphemous, it denies the deity of Jesus.

From Ch. 8 "Jesus, like Adam, Abraham, and Moses, was a human who played a decisive role, and who upon his resurrection assumed an eternal place with God."

From Ch. 9 "Jesus is still central to our faith, but not because he is a god masquerading as a human. Jesus is central because he is the human sent from God, faithfully fulfilling his calling and calling all of us to do the same."

“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:22-23‬

I'm so sad.

[Kathy Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't Paul's fault that he was misunderstood. the author tries to blame everyone else but Paul why he was misunderstood. someone else added something, misinterpretation because of Martin Luther, reading out of context. The author didn't convince me that Paul was the progressive that he proports him to be.

[Lori Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of fascinating ideas that make you reexamine what you thought you knew.