The Origin of Paul's Religion

The Origin of Paul''s Religion by J. Gresham Machen is a scholarly exploration of the Apostle Paul''s theological foundations examining the sources and development of his beliefs. In this influential work Machen defends the view that Paul''s teachings were rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and were not derived from external influences such as Hellenistic thought or pagan religions as some critics of the time suggested. Machen challenges the modernist theories that sought to separate Paul''s message from the historical Jesus arguing instead that Paul’s doctrine was firmly grounded in the early Christian tradition. He meticulously examines the Apostle’s writings particularly his letters and compares them with the Gospels to demonstrate their consistency and shared theological foundations. Machen refutes the idea that Paul created a new religion showing that Paul’s core message—salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus—was in continuity with the early Christian belief system.