The Lost Message of Paul

We have misunderstood Paul, badly.

We have read his words through our own set of assumptions. We need to begin with Paul's world view, to see things the way he saw them.

- What if 'original sin' was never part of Paul's thinking?

- What if the idea that we are saved by faith in Christ, as Luther argued, was based on a mistranslation of Paul's words and a misunderstanding of Paul's thinking?

'Over the centuries,' writes Steve Chalke, 'the Church has repeatedly failed to communicate, or even understand, the core of Paul's message. Although Paul has often been presented as the champion of exclusion, he was the very opposite. He was the great includer.'

Steve Chalke MBE is a Baptist minister, founder and leader of the Oasis Charitable Trust, and author of more than 50 books.

“This is an exciting and timely book. Accessible and authoritative. A great lay introduction to historical criticism, contextual analysis and the writing of St Paul.”

The Lost Message of Paul is not only well-written and fascinating; it is also profoundly bold and revolutionary. Highly recommended! -- Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration
Pulsing and brimming and overflowing with life. The research, the stories, the synthesis of then and now – this book is going to set so many people free... -- Rob Bell, author of Love Wins
A bold and compelling book that speaks from beginning to end of the profound good news of God’s kingdom. There is joy, liberation, and challenge here in equal measure. I thoroughly recommend it. Fr. Richard Rohr, author of The Universal Christ
Steve Chalke in his inimitable style opens up dense theological debate in an accessible and readable manner ... fascinating. Dr Pauline Muir, lecturer at Goldsmiths University and member of Oasis Church Waterloo
Prepare to have your mind expanded and your spirit stretched. -- Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly, London
This is an exciting and timely book. Accessible and authoritative. A great lay introduction to historical criticism, contextual analysis and the writing of St Paul. -- Dr Robert Beckford, Professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora, Theology and Religious Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury
Its impact could be of historic importance, if enough of us have the courage to read it and put its message into practice. -- Brian McLaren
This fascinating book will challenge you to reconsider familiar theological ‘truths’ and may even revolutionize your Christian journey. -- Dr Pauline Muir, Lecturer in Arts Management, Goldsmiths, University of London
Just as when you read St Paul himself, you will not finish this book unchanged. -- Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s Church, Piccadilly, London
Brilliant and well researched ... in every case he states what he has to say with clarity, documentation and persuasiveness. Tony Campolo, PhD, Eastern University
Chalke's voice is an important one. He brings with him decades of hard experience . . . [that makes] him worth listening to. Premier Christianity
This is a book that every preacher should read. Why? Once you have had the opportunity to engage with St Paul's message as articulated here, it is "literally world-changing". -- John Inge Church Times

The Revd Steve Chalke, MBE is the founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust. He is also a former United Nations' Special Adviser on Human Trafficking, a British Baptist minister, a regular contributor and commentator on television, radio and other media, and the author of several bestselling books.

In the early years of the 16th century a young German monk by the name of Martin Luther came to believe that the shape of the established Church and its relationship to the State did not fit the needs of the world in which he was called to live and serve. He wrote a commentary to re-imagine faith and Church, based around the work of Paul and especially the Epistle to the Romans.In the early years of the 20th century a young Swiss pastor by the name of Karl Barth came to believe that the shape of the established Church and its relationship to the State did not fit the needs of the world in which he was called to live and serve. He wrote a commentary to re-imagine faith and Church, based around the work of Paul and especially the Epistle to the Romans.In the early years of the 21st century it is clear once more that the shape of the established Church and its relationship to the State no longer fits the needs of the world in which we are called to live and serve. It is time, once more, to re-imagine the role of faith, Church and its place in the public square, based around the work of Paul and especially the Epistle to the Romans.

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