On Saturday (Sometimes) I'm a Litblogger: The AD Reading Plan

The third book in my AD Reading Plan was a novelization of the life of Paul by Walter Wangerin, Jr. I really loved this book. Wangerin tells the story of Paul's life, beginning with his destiny-changing journey to Damascus, from multiple points-of-view. It is as if the reader were sitting in a room with Timothy, James, Barnabas, Luke, Prisca and others as they reminisce about their part in the momentous events of Paul's life as a Christian. The character of Prisca, especially, is quite compelling.

What Wangerin has done is imagined the man, Paul, in all his flesh and blood reality, including his somewhat difficult personality. It was the author's choice to do this by means of the varying perspectives and "voices" of those who knew him well, loved him, were frustrated by him, had fallings-out with him, and stood by him to the end.

In the end it is a compelling portrait not only of Paul, but of the first-century church and (to a lesser extent) the Roman world generally. The sheer human-ness of these first century believers is palpable. This is not a rose-colored glasses vision of the early church or first-generation believers. Wangerin does not picture a "golden age," but a turbulent time and a people struggling to understand what has happened to them.

In the end, I come away with the renewed sense of the great cost these people paid in order simply to spread a message! this is ultimately a portrait of the faith in all its many facets, and a demonstration of the great power of the message of the Gospel, both for inward regeneration and peace, and for the world's transformation.