Here is a corrective to those approaches that simply contrast the "original" Paul with so-called misrepresentations by his later interpreters. Beker contends that the apostle's legacy can be evaluated correctly only when the claims of the original tradition are properly balanced with those of the transmission process. A dual method is advanced that balances a comparison of Paul and his later interpreters with a concern to know about the adaptive strategies of the interpreters. The book also ad-dresses the church today in its own urgent need of adapting Paul and draws lessons from the success and shortcomings of Paul's early interpreters.

"Christiaan Beker's book on the legacy of Paul is the necessary complement to his previous work on Paul himself. With the same clarity of style and purpose that marked his earlier books, Beker sketch-es in bold strokes how the several authors of the deutero-Pauline writings of the New Testament appropriated and interpreted Paul's original apostolic testimony. With this process of transmission and adaptation as guide, Beker also suggests how the church today might best appropriate the witness of Paul. Incisive and provocative in his comments, Beker informs, challenges, and captivates the reader. Here is a book that no one interested in Paul and his legacy dare ignore."

-Jack Dean Kingsbury