Book Review: Saint Paul by Pope Benedict XVI

Saint Paul by Pope Benedict XVI

Following the tradition of his predecessor Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict gave ongoing series of general audiences in Rome on Wednesdays. This book collects twenty lectures on the life and theology of the Apostle Paul. Paul's original name was Saul and his first appearance in the Christian story was that he zealously persecuted the nascent church. Then he was struck down (and even struck blind) on the road to Damascus by Christ Himself. This moment was Paul's conversion. He sought out the Christian community. His blindness was cured when he received Baptism and changed his name to Paul. He then became a zealous evangelist for the church, traveling far and wide through the Roman Empire.

Benedict gives a fine historical overview of both Paul's life and the context in which he lived. The Pax Romana allowed free and unmolested travel from Spain to Egypt as well as a common language and culture from which the early church could grow. Benedict describes Paul's missionary journeys and his martyrdom in Rome under Nero's persecution.

Even better is Benedict's theological overview of Paul's teaching. He discusses Paul's relationship with the other apostles as a follower of Christ and a teacher of others. He describes Paul's Christology, showing how it moves from the sacredness of the place (the Temple in Jerusalem) to the sacredness of the people (the Christians who are the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit). The Spirit of God no longer dwells just in the Holy of Holies but in all Christians through baptism and the other sacraments--especially the Eucharist. In a mysterious way, God the Son shares His life, His very physical life, through the sacrament He instituted at the Last Supper. Paul follows this insight to its natural conclusions. We are all called to participate in Christ's death and resurrection. We must not only have faith but also work toward the expansion and fulfillment of that faith. We need to grow personally and help others to grow. Benedict highlights many key insights and details from Paul's teachings.

This book reads quickly. It's twenty chapters long but each chapter is only four to seven pages long. The overview of Paul's life and theology is great and well worth reading.

Highly recommended.