A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF PAUL
The man, his mission and his message
By Michael F. Bird. IVP. 192 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-255-4
Michael F. Bird is a lecturer at the Highland Theological Institute in Dingwall, Scotland. His book aims to be ‘an introduction to the apostle Paul for laypersons and undergraduate students’ and ‘a refresher for pastors’. He seeks to go deeper into Paul without getting bogged down in scholarly debates and complex technicalities, and to show how relevant the apostle’s teaching is to the church today.
As the title suggests, the book is an overview, a bird’s eye view. It moves quickly and is therefore unable to go into things in massive depth. Targeted as it is at those who are already grounded in theology, it assumes a fair amount of understanding. Many Bible references are included, not many of which are quoted. Nevertheless, the book is readable — I read it in one sitting on an aeroplane.
