Reframing Paul

The Greco-Roman world was shaped by ideals and abstract ideas. The Apostle Paul left them behind. But they continue to shape evangelical teaching and practice.This picture contradicts the common impression of Paul as an abstract theologian, someone who wrestled with deep theological doctrine while hovering six feet above everyday reality. But in fact, it was the philosopher's of Paul's day--and even some of Paul's Christian opponents--who traded heavily in abstractions, one-way rhetoric and top-down hierarchies while depreciating the currency of common experience. By contrast, Paul the tentmaker was a conversationalist of God's good news, a storyteller of Jesus Christ, an apostle who walked the avenues and back alleys of everyday reality. His passion was for communities of grace and conversation where the new reality of Christ was explored and embodied within the daily messiness of life.Reframing Paul unveils this Paul in his original context and invites us to engage him on new terms. Courageously author Mark Strom draws Paul into vital conversation with contemporary evangelicalism. His book is for those who wonder why people leave churches for alternative spiritual paths--and who may even be tempted to do so themselves. More than anything, his book is for those who wonder what's gone wrong and who want to learn how the church can be an attractive community of transforming grace and conversation.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Reframing Our Conversation with Paul Part 1: Primary Reality Everyday Reality: Ancient Frames for a Split World 2. From Homer to Plato The Shape of Primary Reality in Early Greek Literature The Emerging Intellectual Consensus on Primary Reality Plate Sets the Pattern for Primary Reality 3. From Aristotle to Seneca Aristotle on Abstractions as the Key to Primary Reality Hellenistic Philosophy and the Framing of Primary Reality as Moral Idealism Platonist Revivals of Transcendent Reality 4. The Inadequacy of Ideals The Inadequacy of Primary Reality Fate, Fortune and Everyday Uncertainties The Everyday Manipulation of Primary Reality 5. Rank, Status Convention Ideas and Social Conformity Social Order and Convention A Tale of Two Realities Part 2: Paul on Jesus Christ: Frames for Telling the Story 6. Social Frames Framing the Story of Jesus Christ Respect and Frustration Toward Jerusalem and the Law Reconciliation of Jew and Gentile Radical Social Relationships Within the Ecclesia 7. Historical Frames In the Fullness of Time Adam, Christ and the Shape of History In Christ 8. Personal Frames The Antithesis of Flesh and Spirit Dying and Rising with Christ Perspectives on Paul Part 3: Meeting of Two Worlds 9. Paul Philosophy The Rationalist-Irrationalist Tension Within Greek Philosophy Paul and the Renewal of the Mind in Christ 10. Paul Theology Theology and the Constraint of God Paul on the Areopagus at Athens Paul and the Free Mercy of God in Christ 11. Paul Religion Awe and Intimacy Paul, Local Religion and the Imperial Cult Paul and the Presence of God in the Ecclesia The End of Religion in the Ecclesia 12. Paul Morality Moral Philosophy and the Pathway to Progress and Perfection Honor, Obligation and Virtue Paul and the Transformation of the Person in Christ Meeting of the Three Worlds Part 4: Frames for Grace Conversation 13. Dying to Rise The Experience of Knowing Christ The Experience of Strength in Weakness The Experience of Social Humiliation The Freedom of Slavery to All The Shape of Dying to Rise 14. Frames for New Community Ancient Assemblies and New Communities Graeco-Roman Desires for Community and the Shape of the Ecclesia The Centrality of the Meal and Conversation The Reframing of Human Relations The Reframing of Leadership 15. The Rhythm of Conversation Coherence in Improvisation and Conversation Improvising and Conversing from the Old Testament Improvising and Conversing Within Graeco-Roman Culture Galatians: The Freedom of the Spirit Versus the Tyranny of Law 1 Corinthians: The Priority of Love over Prestige The Cutting Edge of Conversation Part 5: Now Then: Reframing Grace-full Conversation 16. Living in the System The System Is What the System Does The Priority of Preaching in the System The Absoluteness of Theology and Preaching Preaching as Therapy of the Soul Idealism and Authority in the System Professionalism in the System Maintaining System Boundaries: The Biblical-Unbiblical Game 17. When Meaning Breaks Down The Burden of Being Right The Power of Ideals and Rectitude Seeds of Disaffection Piety, Idealism and Rectitude When Meaning Breaks Down An Invitation to Conversation at the Crossroads 18. Frames for Grace-full Conversation Journey into Conversation Finding a Rhythm for Grace-full Conversation The Group with No Name When the World Fell Apart Select Bibliography Indexes About the Author

About the Author :
Mark Strom is currently the CEO of Second Road, a unique strategy and innovation firm based in Sidney, Australia. He was previously CEO of Laidlaw College in Auckland, New Zealand. Mark's Ph.D. explored the intellectual and social background of Paul and his place as a major innovator in western thought.