The Origin of Paul's Religion (James Sprunt Lectures)

J. GRESHAM MACHEN (1881–1937) was one of the most articulate defenders of orthodox Christian theology against the liberalizing and rationalizing trends of the early twentieth century. Deeply influenced by his Reformed Protestant background, he was trained as a pastor at Princeton Seminary. Distressed by the forces of theological liberalism, Machen eventually left his position as professor of New Testament at Princeton and founded Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Orthodox Presbyterian denomination. He authored numerous books, including Christianity and Liberalism, still a best-seller. / In The Origin of Paul's Religion, Machen turns his erudition against critics who disparage the relation of Paul's teachings to the original message of Jesus. In exploring the crucial questions surrounding this debate from both biblical and historical perspectives, Machen not only offers a convincing defense of the traditional view regarding Paul but also makes a lasting contribution to the study of the beginnings of the Christian faith.