The Apostle of God: Paul and the Promise of Abraham

Written by John L. White Reviewed By James C. Miller

White contends that Paul’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus transformed his understanding of God. Once conceived of as lawgiver and judge, God as creator now became his root metaphor for God. Part one of the book examines this metaphor. Part two investigates Greco-Roman influences on Paul’s thought. More specifically, White contends that Augustus provides the model for Paul’s description of Christ’s lordship. Part three looks at ‘God our Father’, ‘Christ the Lord’, and the ‘Household of Faith’ in the light of the previous findings.

White’s argument rests on his contention that ‘God as Creator’ forms the master metaphor of Paul’s conception of God. Yet, he asserts more than argues this point. The same holds true of his claim for an Augustan model for Christ’s lordship. The reader will find extensive evidence from the Greco-Roman world. Yet, references to Paul’s letters are noticeably lacking. As a result, the reader is left with an interesting but unsustained attempt to listen to Paul.


James C. Miller

Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology