A Theology of Paul and His Letters

“Douglas Moo is one of the leading New Testament scholars of our generation, and his many books on the apostle Paul have benefited students and pastors all over the world. This volume on Paul’s theology is arguably Moo’s magnum opus, as it presents an analytic summary of the theology of Paul’s individual letters as well as a synthesis of Paul’s overall thought. Moo has produced here a massive and monumental work on Pauline theology that will teach readers for decades to come. Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in theology, Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia Doug Moo’s A Theology of Paul and His Letters is a book all scholars and pastors should have on their shelves. First, it gives an updated discussion (interacting with the most recent and relevant secondary sources) of all the major topics and issues in Pauline studies. Second, it also gives a sane and very well-reasoned interpretation of the key topics in Paul’s theology. Among the outstanding discussions, as one would expect, are those dealing with the “New Perspective,” justification, grace, and the necessary transformation of true believers. One will gain many insights into various Pauline passages by reading this book (e.g., on various uses of the Old Testament). Even when one may disagree with Moo, he gives an evenhanded, fair, and balanced discussion of debated issues. This, in fact, is a hallmark of the book. I heartily recommend Moo’s work. I will consult it often.”

G. K. Beale

“The ideal person to write a Pauline theology is someone who has been immersed in his letters for decades and has a strong grasp on the wild world of Pauline studies. There are few scholars alive today who could rival Doug Moo on this score. Moo’s careful analysis and synthesis of the entire Pauline canon is an invaluable addition to the field, as A Theology of Paul and His Letters helpfully presents the apostle’s thought organized around the concept of the new realm in Christ, permeated by union with Christ. This wonderful resource will quickly become a standard reference work for anyone interested in Christianity’s greatest missionary-pastor-theologian.”

Constantine R. Campbell

“Doug Moo has had a distinguished career as an outstanding commentator on the Pauline epistles. Now we are treated to his theology of Paul. All the virtues that characterize Moo’s work are on display here, including thorough research, careful exegesis, theological synthesis, and balanced judgment. Moo learns from and interacts with all sectors of scholarship, and he invariably respects other viewpoints. At the same time, he presents his own views with arguments and evidence. Moo’s A Theology of Paul and His Letters is marked by a close reading of the text, and he warns against constructs of Paul’s theology that are imposed upon the text instead of being derived from the text. We are treated to both a theology of each Pauline letter (and he includes all thirteen letters as authentically Pauline) and also a synthesis of Paul’s theology. As is often the case in Pauline theologies, the importance of the “already and not yet” as well as “union with Christ” are stressed. Moo also highlights “realm” in Paul’s thought, featuring it as one of the key Pauline themes. This is a crucial book for understanding Paul’s theology, and I am confident that Moo’s work will impact scholarship for years to come.”

Thomas Schreiner

“Humility is an essential virtue of any biblical scholar, but especially—given the contemporary context—for Pauline scholarship. Doug Moo neither founds nor follows fads. While recognizing wider assumptions in the apostle’s consciousness in the history of Israel, he points out where Paul goes his own way, interpreting the new covenant according to the historical advent of Christ. I have found Moo’s work to be a marvelous blend of biblical-theological breadth and careful exegetical spadework. A Theology of Paul and His Letters is the crown of that exemplary approach.”

Michael Horton

“Doug Moo is one of the few scholars who can be trusted to write a theology of Paul’s letters that is exegetically rigorous, philologically informed, theologically and biblically consistent, and at the same time written in a style that scholars, pastors, as well as believers interested in advanced explanations of Scripture will read with pleasure. Surveying the life of Paul as missionary theologian, Moo provides analyses of each of Paul’s thirteen letters before explaining Paul’s convictions regarding Jesus Christ, Jesus’s substitutionary death, human beings and sin, the blessings of what Moo calls the “new realm,” God’s election and the faith response, Jesus’s return and judgment, the nature and life of the church, and the ethical behavior of believers in Jesus. On the last page of this magnum opus, Moo records his desire that readers would come away with the “renewed mind” that Paul wishes for the believers in the city of Rome. One does not need to be a prophet to be convinced that anyone who reads A Theology of Paul and His Letters attentively will gain a consolidated understanding of the gospel and a new perspective for Christian living that is faithful to Scripture.”

Eckhard J. Schnabel

“This superb work of New Testament scholarship will serve the church for years to come as a reliable guide to Paul’s letters and their theological substructure. It is methodologically rigorous, robust in its engagement with the best scholarship, and reasonable in its conclusions. It is also written with the humility and reverence of one whose life has itself been shaped by Paul’s theology.”

Frank Thielman

“studies for four decades, and this book could only arise out of years of mature reflection. A Theology of Paul and His Letters is at the same time both panoramic in scope and attentive to the details of individual words and phrases. Moo draws on a vast wealth of scholarship, interacting fairly and charitably with others, and invariably clarifying not just Paul’s thought but also his emphases and balance. I can recommend it with pleasure—and with envy of the learning and good judgment evident throughout this book.”

Simon Gathercole