Transforming Church

Transformation (p479) is a dominant theme and reality in the Apostle Paul (Rom. 12.2) and in this treatment of Paul by the British NT expert Robin Griffiths-Jones. After treating Paul's Damascus road transformation experience in terms of the OT prophets and paradise regained through the risen Christ, G-J goes on to show, in magisterial exegesis, how Paul re-presents Jesus Christ as God's transforming Anointed person to congregations in conflict (Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, Philippians, Acts). In each of these NT books, G-J shows how, rhetorically and theologically, Paul moves his listeners and readers from a beginning position of life conflict to the transformed life available in Jesus Christ, God's Promised Person who reverses Adam's curse and offers new life. Although G-J does not mention the work of Margaret Barker, his treatment of transformation as a dominant theological theme and reality covers many of the same angles of vision. Information about G-J, excerpts from the book, maps showing Paul's journeys, scriptural and subject indices are available on the website www.thegospelaccordingtopaul.com Griffiths-Jones has previously published a substantial book on Jesus and the Gospels entitled Four Witnesses : the rebel, the rabbi, the chronicler, and the mystic (HarperSF, 2000). South Carolina Public Television is seeking grant monies to make the Four Witnesses into a PBS television special. Pr. Ted Coleman