The Motives of Paul: Why Did He Change Christianity?

Paul changed the direction of Christianity. But why?Paul did not begin the Jesus movement. He once persecuted it. Yet the former persecutor became the great apostle to the Gentiles and helped create a form of Christianity capable of spreading throughout the Roman world.The Motives of Paul investigates what drove that extraordinary transformation.Beginning with Paul's seven generally accepted authentic letters, Antony Last examines Paul's claimed revelation, his relationship with James and the Jerusalem leadership, his opposition to circumcision for Gentiles, his treatment of the Jewish Law, his authority, finances, opponents and political teaching.The investigation then turns to a more controversial question: whose interests did Paul's Christianity serve?Did Paul act primarily from sincere religious conviction? Did the practical demands of converting Gentiles shape his theology? Did his gospel strengthen his own authority? Why did he tell Christians to submit to governing authorities and pay their taxes? And is there credible evidence that Paul received Roman support-or even acted in Roman interests?Acts and later Christian writings are introduced only after Paul's own testimony has been examined.The result is neither a defence of Paul nor a conspiracy theory.It is an investigation.Evidence is not inference. Inference is not probability. Probability is not fact.