A Novel of Saint Paul
by Jay Parini
Copyright (c) 2019.
ISBN13: 9780385522786
Page count: 349
Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to hear an honest account of Saint Paul’s life? I mean, one can only glean so much from the theology of the New Testament; I’m left wondering: What would Paul say if I had a beer with him?
Jay Parini, a Guggenheim Fellow, pursues creative writing in the form of poetry, biography, and fiction, and he has written an insightful account into the person who is responsible for the Christian religion in the West. Parini shows extreme care and respect in this account of the Apostle Paul as he tells the tale alternating from Luke’s point of view to Paul’s point of view.
Although some may reject the more scandalous parts of Parini’s take on Paul (e.g., on Paul’s rejection of a sexual life), Parini does not stray far from the historical tale as originally told by Luke. Instead of idealizing the text as an authority, Parini glances into Paul’s personality by using an acute knowledge of human nature. He sees Paul’s main theological insight (shared during each baptism): “In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor free.”
As historical fiction, Parini is able to interject his poet’s insight into Paul while still dwelling on the basic history. During Paul’s “wilderness period,” Parini sees Paul amongst the Essenes, and in Asia Minor and Greece, he portrays the ancient world in an accurate and well-researched manner. In the afterword, he credits leading contemporary scholars (and the right ones!) for his historical knowledge.
After reading this book, I feel I know Paul as a person better. He is less ideal, less abstract, more real, more emotional. Readers seeking to understand the Christian religion better should spend some time in Parini’s work. He has a good feel for the religious instinct in humanity, and he respects its written products enough not to offend.