The Illustrated Life of Paul

by Charles L. Quarles

Publisher:

Holman

, 2014

Overview

Except for the Lord Jesus himself, no person has been more influential in the history of the church than Saul of Tarsus. Paul’s influence upon the early church’s most cherished convictions is so clear and powerful that some scholars have dared to describe him as the founder of Christianity.

Paul had a greater impact on the formation of the Christian church than any other apostle. He wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament so that nearly half of the New Testament documents bear his name. Although some of Paul’s letters are brief compared to other New Testament books, his epistles compromise approximately one-fourth of the total volume of the New Testament.

Approximately sixteen chapters of the Book of Acts focus on Paul’s persecution of the church, conversion, missionary labors, arrest and imprisonment. When these chapters are combined with Paul’s letters, Paul may be recognized as the author or subject of nearly one-third of the New Testament. Paul was not only the most effective Christian missionary and church planter in history, but also the most significant and influential interpreter of Jesus’ teachings and of the significance of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and return.

This book introduces readers to this amazing man and his incredible story. It explains the background of each of Paul’s letters and offers a summary of the beliefs of one of the keenest theological minds in the history of the church. All along, it enables the reader an opportunity to step into the world of Paul with over 150 photos, maps, illustrations, and charts.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Sadducees argued that the course of history was determined solely by human decision. Essenes believed everything was determined in advance by God and human will could not thwart the divine plan. Pharisees affirmed both free human choice and divine sovereignty in a carefully balanced paradox.” (source)

“Jesus did not ask why Paul persecuted his disciples, believers, or followers of the Way. He asked, ‘Why are you persecuting Me?’ In his later reflection on these words, which Paul undoubtedly replayed in his mind again and again, Paul recognized that Jesus had some kind of close connection with his disciples that resulted in Jesus sharing the experiences of his disciples and his disciples sharing Jesus’ experiences as well.” (source)

“Paul also wrote to defend the gospel of grace against Jewish legalism that insisted Gentile believers needed to be circumcised, keep the rituals and celebrations of the Jewish calendar, and observe Jewish dietary laws.” (source)

“only Acts mentions the specific trade (Acts 18:3). Paul and his family were ‘tentmakers.’” (source)

“Paul viewed this act of compromise as sinful and twice called it ‘hypocrisy’ in Galatians 2:13.” (source)

Product Details

• Title: The Illustrated Life of Paul
• Author: Charles L. Quarles
• Publisher: Holman
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Paul, apostle; Bible. N.T. › Biography; Christianity › Biography
• ISBNs: 9781430071778, 9780805494532, 0805494537, 143007177X
• Resource ID: LLS:WS_C807DC8591064159B26A581B5E2CA584
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-03-19T21:44:28Z

About Charles L. Quarles

Charles L. Quarles (BA, University of Mississippi; MDiv and PhD, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary) is vice president for integration of faith and Learning, dean of the Louisiana College Caskey School of Divinity, and William Peterson Carter Sr. Research Professor of New Testament and Greek, at Louisiana College’s division of Christian Studies.