Oxford University Press - Cosmology and Self in the Apostle Paul

Cosmology and Self in the Apostle Paul: The Material Spirit offers a fresh perspective on Pauline theology. Published by Oxford University Press, this work by Troels Engberg-Pedersen moves beyond traditional cognitive and metaphorical interpretations of the Apostle Paul. Instead, it presents a study centered on a literal understanding of Paul's cosmology. This text explores how central concepts like "being in Christ" or "having God's pneuma" are deeply connected to a materialist view of the world. Engberg-Pedersen argues that Paul viewed the pneuma as a physical element rather than a purely abstract idea. This material, bodily understanding of the spirit is presented as a key factor in how Paul viewed the resurrection and the connection between the self and the divine. Ideal for scholars and students of the Bible, this book provides a necessary supplement to standard readings of Pauline thought. By examining the physical nature of the pneuma, readers gain a deeper understanding of the cosmological framework that shaped Paul's teachings on the body and the spirit.