J. Gresham Machen's fascinating account of the Apostle Paul explains and sheds light on the religious beliefs of the titular subject, which remain an important component of Biblical theology. Paul was one of the first proponents of Christianity, establishing some of the first recorded Christian churches in the 1st century AD. As an early preachers of the religion Paul's attitudes are, in Machen's eyes, a vital component of the faith which must not be ignored or discounted. Some scholars have disavowed aspects of Paul's writings, deeming them confined to the culture of his time and therefore of little value to Christians in the modern day. Machen considered things differently and wrote this book in response. He establishes that Paul's words and spiritual mores are a crucial part of the Christian doctrine, that he is the primary interpreter of Jesus Christ himself, and that therefore his religion is - for the most part - authentic Christianity.

J. Gresham Machen's fascinating account of the Apostle Paul explains and sheds light on the religious beliefs of the titular subject, which remain an important component of Biblical theology. Paul was one of the first proponents of Christianity, establishing some of the first recorded Christian churches in the 1st century AD. As an early preachers of the religion Paul's attitudes are, in Machen's eyes, a vital component of the faith which must not be ignored or discounted. Some scholars have disavowed aspects of Paul's writings, deeming them confined to the culture of his time and therefore of little value to Christians in the modern day. Machen considered things differently and wrote this book in response. He establishes that Paul's words and spiritual mores are a crucial part of the Christian doctrine, that he is the primary interpreter of Jesus Christ himself, and that therefore his religion is - for the most part - authentic Christianity.

This is a new release of the original 1923 edition.

This is a new release of the original 1923 edition.

Ned B. Stonehouse, in his helpful Introduction, said, ""Machen was a singularly effective spokesman for Christianity for more than a score of years before his death on New Year's Day, 1937. Though his own books constitute the most significant record of what he had to say, they do not tell the complete story. Especially the public phases of his career as preacher, teacher, educator and citizen are illumined by the contents of the two volumes of sermons and addresses which are now made available to the general reader (the other volume being God Transcendant ). The present volume particularly discloses the rich diversity of his interests and activities as a Christian man and minister."

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Machen believed that culture (understood in the sense of high culture) was extremely important. The categories that one received from one's culture either enabled or disabled the understanding of biblical Christianity. Consequently, culture was far too vital simply to be ignored, and it could not be de-stroyed without doing injustice to our humanity. On the other hand, culture was not simply to be given the final word. Where culture enabled a right understanding of Christianity, it had to be nourished and fostered. Where culture challenged Christianity, its claims had to be faced squarely. If Christianity was to maintain its plausibility, then the possibility of its claims had to be vindicated.

"This volume sustains, and more than sustains, Dr. Machen's reputation as not only one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars but as one of the ablest defenders of historic Christianity. His former books, 'The Origin of Paul's Religion' (1921), 'Christianity and Liberalism' (1923) and 'What is Faith?' (1925), have so whetted the appetites of their thousands of readers that the announcement of a new book by Dr. Machen fills them with eager expectancy---whatever may be their theological position. It will be recalled that Mr. Walter Lippmann, whose theological position is about as far removed as possible from that of Dr. Machen's, in his widely read book, 'A Preface to Morals', not only speaks of Dr. Machen as 'both a scholar and a gentleman' but says of his book, 'Christianity and Liberalism': 'It is an admirable book. For its acumen, for its saliency, and for its wit, this cool and stringent defense of orthodox Protestantism is, I think, the best popular argument produced by either side in the current controversy. We shall do well to listen to Dr. Machen.' Dr. Machen's latest book, it is true, like 'The Origin of Paul's Religion', moves throughout in the field of exact scholarship. It would be difficult to point to a book anywhere that is more thorough-going in its recital and examination of all that bears upon the subject with which it deals. But while this is the case, Dr. Machen writes so simply and lucidly that men and women of intelligence everywhere, whatever their standing as technical scholars, will be able to read it with understanding and profit. Certainly no minister or Bible teacher of adults can afford to ignore this book. To the reviewer at least it is a source of much satisfaction to know that what is confessedly the most exhaustive and most scholarly book on the problem of the Virgin Birth of Christ ever published, at least in English, has been written by a man who after having acquainted himself with everything of importance that has been written on the subject since the first century, no matter in what language, holds to the historic belief of the Christian Church that its founder was born without human father, being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary." -Samuel Craig

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His first book, 'The Origin of Paul's Religion' (1921) was a masterful and forthright defense of the historical truthfulness and supernaturalism of the New Testament. This volume is taken from the James Sprunt Lectures delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. Machen is absolutely masterful in dealing with the anti-supernaturalism that was beginning to dominate the church in the early decades of the twentieth century. Although written 85 years ago it remains a model of biblical scholarship and warm piety. "In an age when the nature and content of Paul's message are once again under scrutiny, evangelical and Reformed readers will benefit immensely from a close reading of Machen's masterwork. This book is an outstanding example of careful, patient scholarship that received high praise when it was first published and continues today to demand attention." - R. Scott Clark "J. Gresham Machen not only believed, practised, and proclaimed Paul's gospel, he was also able to defend its authenticity at the highest scholarly level. Because 'The Origin of Paul's Religion' penetrates to the heart of the matter it continues to speak to contemporary controversies over the nature of the gospel and the Christian faith." - Sinclair Ferguson