Spirituality according to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ
Overview
Spirituality often evokes images of quiet centeredness, meditative serenity, and freedom from life’s pressures. It’s become a chic commodity, with its benefits evoked by images of sunrises and secluded retreats.
Contrast the apostle Paul, who promotes a cross-shaped spirituality for fools making their way through life’s trials. Paul realized that images of crucifixion, burial and resurrection would never be popular images of the spiritual life. So he encourages his fellow travelers, who are spiritually united with Christ, to “follow me as I follow Christ.”
As he explores this ancient spiritual path, Rodney Reeves probes our understanding of what Christian spirituality should be. And to illuminate its transformative power, he gives us living illustrations of what it means to follow Paul as he followed Christ. Here is a book that joins a deep understanding of Paul with a pastoral and spiritual wisdom born of experience.
- Explores an often neglected theme in Paul
- Introduces the significance of dying and rising with Christ for Paul’s theology and spirituality
- Integrates the spirituality of Paul with contemporary life and realities
Top Highlights
“I wish Christians could hear this once and for all: the cross should make us all reticent to declare who is cursed by God. It is astonishing to me how quickly we offer our judgments about the misery of others.” (Page 27)
“What I hope to do in this book is uncover Paul’s ways, that is, the unfolding story of his spirituality, how he lived the gospel.” (Page 10)
“In truth, Jesus taught us that the only way to live is to learn how to die, a little every day. Paul called it a ‘living sacrifice,’ a paradox that makes perfect sense to those who breathe deeply the aroma of Christ.” (Page 40)
“Rather, when dealing with the unrelenting power of sin, Paul blamed two agents. First of all, sin resides in the flesh—the baser appetites of humanity. For Paul the root of the problem of human sin is the flesh.” (Pages 72–73)
“The class is designed to get students to see how the Bible functions as a protagonist and antagonist to American ideals revealed in cultural ‘texts,’ for example, films, plays and music. It takes a while for my students to see how Bible stories have informed movie scripts. What is even more difficult for them to see is their reflection in the Hollywood version of the biblical narrative, when the film functions like a mirror, revealing how American cultural texts have twisted gospel truth. The looks on their faces when they realized they’ve been duped by their culture—to prefer American convictions over biblical faith—is a pitiful site. Sometimes it’s hard to think like an American and still follow Jesus.” (Page 29)
The book is intended for all who are interested in Paul and who are developing a basic understanding of who he is, and, in this regard, Reeves has accomplished his purpose. It is recommended for scholars, pastors, students, and the untrained who are interested in this area and who desire a current scholarly yet readable and understandable approach that emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the gospel in every situation.
—Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
An engaging discussion of Christian living as expounded in Paul’s letters.
—Preaching
I am convinced that my friend Rodney Reeves writes to challenge, confound and sometimes irritate! Rodney has a keen mind and a distinct way of pressing God’s truth into our heart, then probing there to see what we are going to do in response. This is a great book to read, study, digest, meditate and, as a result, imitate the apostle of Christ.
—Rex M. Horne Jr., president, Ouachita Baptist University
This book is an outstanding resource for anyone who yearns to know Christ more deeply and follow him more completely. Rodney Reeves has given us a valuable gift in Spirituality According to Paul. His combination of careful biblical scholarship, wise pastoral counsel and open-hearted sharing of his own faith journey helps us see in new ways what authentic spirituality is all about. This book is a rich resource for pastors, lay leaders and all believers who want to grow in their relationship with Christ and to live out their faith each day.
—Mark D. Roberts, senior advisor and theologian-in-residence, Foundations for Laity Renewal
Reeves has a remarkable ability to make ancient texts speak with a modern voice. He helps us rediscover Paul’s spirituality, not in some lazy, postmodern, touchy-feely sense, but in a rigorous, immensely practical, how-to-live-your-life sense. In a day when we are advised not to put people on pedestals, Reeves insists that we place Paul squarely on a pedestal—head and shoulders above the rest—and imitate him.
—David B. Capes, Thomas Nelson Research Professor, Houston Baptist University
- Title: Spirituality According to Paul
- Author: Rodney Reeves
- Publisher: IVP Press
- Publication Date: 2011
- Pages: 253
Reviews
2 ratings
Aaron Smith
6/23/2022
Benny Dewanto
3/8/2014
