The Apostle: A Life of Paul

by John Charles Pollock

The Acclaimed Biography of the Early Church's Greatest Evangelist--the Apostle Paul.Master storyteller John Pollock makes Paul and his amazing story freshly alive, so that you can know the greatest apostle much as Luke and Timothy did as they traveled with him. As you turn the pages, you'll sense Paul's motives, his aims and priorities; what mattered to him; and what he was willing to die for.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction

311 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

The late John Pollock, an award-winning biographer, had a flair for telling a dramatic story. He used this talent to write many biographies including ones on D. L. Moody and Major General Sir Henry Havelock.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sky was clear blue. Paul remembered every moment of that day, for the rest of his life.

”Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

The voice spoke from the intense, sustained light (a light brighter than the sun) that had suddenly flashed before them. Within it, Paul saw the form of a man about his own age, and he replied, “Who are you, Lord?” Paul did not know the answer, until the voice spoke again. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you, this kicking against the goad.”

”What shall I do, Lord?”

In that very moment he knew he was utterly forgiven, utterly loved. To know what forgiveness meant to him so readily given in this moment, you must know at least an inkling of his past. “A Pharisee among Pharisees”, Paul would later describe his former self, which meant that he as others of this sect would have lived to study and adherently follow the Torah, God's Law handed down through the time of Moses. Paul would rise quickly among the ranks by seeking to stamp out The Way, and its followers. So it is on the road to Damascus, the next place Paul would seek to punish, that his life changed. Saul would be named Paul from this point forward. The change in name is a small thing, but significant and telling. In God's eyes and in that moment of time, his old self was forever left behind. His past was if it had never been.

In the coming years of travels, and sharing of the Gospel, many would know this same feeling and belief. “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” He would give all of his life to it. The once persecutor would suffer much persecution, but that would only serve to strengthen his resolve, and his love for the Lord. After leaving an area, he would toil, pray and worry for the new believers left behind. Young churches would struggle but endure. Christianity would spread by small seeds planted. It is a testament to Paul's gift of teaching, writing and fervent prayer. How many miles did he and his fellow missionaries travel over the next thirty-five years, circumventing the area from Jerusalem to Asia Minor, to Greece, then finally to Rome and possibly beyond? By foot? By sea? It's impossible to say. His epistles to the churches have been analyzed and studied by scholars and by everyday readers for generations. These letters survived for a reason. Paul would never seek credit for his toils. Not my works he would say. They were the labor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said of himself, “I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” One “untimely born” he would say. “But He (Christ) appeared to me. By the grace of God.”

[Andrew Mcneill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of the Apostle Paul which is scrupulously accurate and detailed. It does a remarkably good job at helping the reader see the life-setting of the epistles. Paul comes to life through the pages, and although Pollock is at times a little quick to label Paul's decisions as mistakes, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Omar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have read the book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles many times, this book really brought all those events together. It also added a lot of background/historical information that I hadn't known previously.
I wish I would have read it slower and following along in my Bible, making notes in my Bible about the history and culture of the places Paul visited.

[Jason Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good book that I didn’t like. It’s weird, but I don’t know how else to say it.
When I got this book, I was hoping it would humanize Paul and provide all the little details about his era that would make his whole story come to life, that would put meat on the bones of historical artifacts.

And that’s exactly what the book does. It talks about Paul’s hometown, his parents, his education. It meticulously follows his travels, right down to details about what the scenery looked like from the particular roads he walked on. It fleshes out the backgrounds and personalities of all the people in Paul’s story.

Sounds interesting, right? So why was this book so easy to put down and so hard to pick back up again?

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think the explanation that comes closest is this: When a Christian writes a book that puts words in the mouth of God or heroes of the Bible, the writer tends to tread very carefully. Treading carefully in a dramatic, fictionalized re-telling of history doesn’t generate a lot of compelling drama. So, we end up with a dramatic story that reads more like a history textbook.

The author certainly knows his history — I learned a lot about Paul and his era. If you’re looking for that, this book will suit you. If you’re looking for a gripping read, not so much.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:15-16

[Keenan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Johnny Cash biography led me to an interest in Saint Paul. Cash - with all his contradictions - found a lot of comfort in the scriptures. David was an adulterer; Moses was a murderer; Jacob was a cheater; and Paul was a persecutor of Christians. If God had time for these flawed characters, Cash believed God had time for him too despite all his highs and lows.

This perspective of the founders of Catholicism as flawed human beings was something that I've never considered. Though not one of the 12 disciples - born the year after Jesus died, Paul arguably had the biggest impact in spreading Christianity during a time when idolatry was still prevalent and worshipping Christ as the Messiah was considered blasphemous and treasonous - punishable by death.

With that as backdrop, this book does an excellent job of bringing Paul and other biblical names into character, and identifying the courage, risks, and struggles associated with what these men were attempting. This book reads like a true biography, explaining Paul's flaws, his mistakes, lapses of judgment and his ultimate unwavering faith. It illuminates how talented Paul was a orator, how humble he was, and of course his tremendous perseverance and faith in God.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

#litlife192021 A Literary Biography
Absolutely hands-down, bar none, the best biography I've ever read (even better than Unbroken). This is my third time reading it, and it seems to grow with me and touch me more every time I read it. It should be a classic read by every Christian, because it is a biography compiled mainly from the Bible, from personal details in Paul's epistles and Acts. Pollock makes it come alive with his perfectly fluid cross-referencing and systematizing and his addition of historical and geographical details as well as legends from early church history. I think every pastor should consult this book while teaching any of Paul's epistles or Acts for background information that will help so much in forming the sermon's argument.
The ending is perfect and so moving in its buildup to the final line: “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with”—the flash of a sword—“ the glory.”

[Brian Eshleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biographer stitched together biblical insights about Paul with his own knowledge of historical context for a very valuable read. Want to know how Paul would have been trained? Want to know what was culturally normal in the Corinth or Thessalonica he was writing to? This is your book. The author manages to keep a textured narrative going without rampant speculation filling in the gaps. When he isn't sure, he says so. When there are alternate explanations, he is willing to admit it. And yet spending 300 pages in this book feels like spending some time with Paul.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biographical look at the life of the Apostle Paul with scripture and people he wrote to thrown in. This seemed to take forever as an audiobook but was worth it.

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Learned more about the Apostle Paul with this book. Gave me a clearer picture of where he went and all he did in the name of Jesus Christ.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75🌟
It was a little hard to follow due to the writing style. But, it was so wonderful to read about Paul and his unceasing love for God and Jesus. I loved reading about how he went to the ends of the earth preaching the gospel. I truly recommend this to anyone who wants to grow in their faith.

[Thurman Faison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Pollock gives us an intriguing look at the Apostle Paul through a most interesting historical unfolding of his life: through personal experiences, and through the exhibition of his unconquerable faith in Christ. The author helps us to better understand the writings of Paul from the perspective of what he was going through in his personal life, and his interactions with his companions and the various congregations of believers he helped to establish. You get a deeper look into his motives, actions and reactions to the times and the reality of the Christ within him. As you follow the sensitive way in which the author presents the true devotion Paul had toward God and his unshakeable faith in Christ, and his love for all men, 'especially those of the household faith,' you are deeply moved as you read of the sufferings of Paul as he preached the gospel and finally gave his life for what he knew to be true. Pollock helps us to see Paul in ways we might not be able to see him if we only read some verses here and there from his epistles. Read this book, it will be well worth your time.

[Amy Kannel]

I'm officially giving up on biographies. I don't know why I dislike the genre so much, but I almost always find that they bore me to tears. And after not even being able to get into this biography of the apostle Paul, for crying out loud, I'm done trying. Give me a memoir or a narrative nonfiction history that includes shorter, more focused biographies any day of the week.

[Suzanne Kehlenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I feel as if I know Paul personally now - as if I have traveled with him. I would like to read this book again with my Bible and maps in front of me and trace his route.
Highly recommend.

[David And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vey helpful

Sheds much light on Paul’s context.
Weaves scripture in liberally and usually naturally.
Careful to stay within the bounds of the historical evidence.
Inspires your own Christian faith.

[Mason Gilb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. I mean I knew it was going to be a biography of Paul, but it moved me a whole lot more than I thought it would. It was so well researched and did a really good job of connecting arguments in his letters to events in his life. If Paul, a great persecutor of the early church, became one of the greatest messengers of Jesus ever, how much more are my sins forgiven? If Paul was whipped, beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately martyred - and then have the audacity to say he has learned to be content and give thanksgiving in all circumstances, how much more grateful should I be? The call to live like Christ can be intimidating, but as this book shows, in the midst of our greatest failures and suffering, we shouldn’t despair, because God is working out all things for the good of those who love him.
My only criticism is that I wish the author would’ve put which verses he was quoting throughout the book. All in all, very good though.

[Kipi (the academic stitcher) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never read the book of Acts or any of Paul's epistles the same way again. Every Christian should read this book. There is no attempt to push any particular interpretation of scripture and no conjecture that I could see. If there was no historical record to support a possibility, the author made that clear. It was simply the story of Paul's life beginning with the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 through to his death.

The audiobook is read by Kirby Heybourne. This is the first book read by him that I've listened to, and I thought his performance was very good.

[Narek Khalafyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and colorful journey to a man's life, whose devotion and eagerness have certainly changed the world.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul was a complicated individual. Not always doing it right, but striving to atone for past misdeeds and indiscretions. He wasn't perfect and he wasn't always RIGHT, but he was convicted and a living example of "believe something or you'll believe anything". Well-researched and fascinating in how we can trace the apostle's steps and life with almost 100% certainty.

[Ryan Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some liberties taken with the life of Paul, though this was overall a pretty solid book.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cool how much we know about his life and time.

[Justin Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pauline Epistles, I have to say, are my most favorite in the New Testament. The ubiquitous Apostle Paul, formerly Saul the persecutor, is a classic story in the book of Acts about a pharisee turned Christian that has a timeless element to it. His writings have been pondered by millions of Christians, theologians, philosophers, and lay people to where his influence stretches 2,000+ years. It was the sixth chapter of Romans that sparked the interest of the great Augustine of Hippo to turn from his evil past and accept by faith the risen Savior Jesus Christ; Luther's study of Romans sparked the dawn of the Reformers against the Catholic Church; John Wesley, in turn, read Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans and was converted. The legacy of Paul the Apostle resonates throughout history and the ripples of his influence are still being felt today.



A biography of Paul has it's own unique challenges. Largely Paul's first biographer, Luke, is one of the only reliable sources we have to ascertain the life of Paul. What John Pollock does so well is he puts into context the historical events surrounding Paul as well as the pervading culture. From this, we see a different side of the Apostle.



What is also interesting is that Dr. Pollock meshes the accounts in Acts with the corresponding Epistles that Paul penned, showing the connection between what Luke wrote about Paul and how that connects with what Paul wrote himself. This enhances the perspective of the Pauline Epistles, particularly when you look at a letter like the one he wrote to the Philippians. You see the joy ooze out of every word in that letter, and you see why in the corresponding narrative in Acts. In turn, you see the time spent with the Galatians and the heartbreak Paul experienced in his letter to the Galatians when they turned away from what he preached there.



Many read the Pauline Epistles and find a jaded man with a temper that lashes out with passion. But the character of Paul taken in it's entirety shows the love and empathy he has not only for the Gospel, but also for those whom he stayed with and in a way, all of humanity. Imagine living amongst these converted Christians for years at a time and the friendships that developed for the sake of the Gospel. Particularly moving to me was the largely forgotten Epistle to Philemon, which, lacking the theological depth of some of Paul's other Epistles, shows a side of Paul's deep love, compassion, and even humor.



But a book about the Apostle Paul cannot be written without some controversy. For example, we do not possess any solid evidence of the life of Paul after the last chapter in Acts. Some believe he went onto Spain. Others, Britain. Dr. Pollock, and I in turn, believe he died in Rome. There was just one are where I disagreed with Dr. Pollock. He elaborated on Paul's thorn in the flesh, making the connection that it must have been some kind of physical ailment. I do not believe this: in fact, I believe in the text (2 Corinthians 12:7) he says that it is a "messenger from Satan." This would led us to believe it was not something physical, but rather a person that was spreading a false Gospel. This is certainly open for debate.



The other warning I would give to those interested in this book is that Dr. Pollock at times extemporizes the narrative to make it interesting. He utilizes his imagination to paint a picture of what the scene might have actually looked like but things that the text does not explicitly say. He might talk about how the wind moved through the temple as a cool breeze on a hot summer's day in Ephesus, or picking up the writing utensil to write in his own writing in the Epistle to the Galatians. This is a matter of semantics, but nonetheless important.



Overall, a fine look at the life of the Apostle Paul.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pollock indubitably shows his authorship within his most comfortable realm: biographical accuracy.

Taking time to delve into Ancient Greek and Roman culture, Pollock sets the reader on a journey from the tip to tail of Paul's ministry.

I found some scrupulous tendencies in his writings; some definite liberties taken. But it can't be said that Pollock identifies these as such and yet they interact with the narrative and the biblical account so well it causes in essence a reaction to the early church and the struggle within and without.

What was incredibly convincing was his ability to draw in his own way a conviction about what the gospel meant to Paul and how far he was willing to take it. Almost unwittingly, Pollock puts together an apologetic for the early church validity and gospel message relevancy for today's church. He gives reason and thorough strengthening to how impactful the message is and the kind of effect it should have on the world despite personal cost.

Convicting to say the least.

[Alicia Ruggieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book had a bit of a slow start for me, I cannot express adequately how glad I am that I persevered! Polluck brings together all of the information on the Apostle Paul from the New Testament and supplements it with extra-biblical source material (including primary and secondary sources). The author also uses his tremendous grasp of NT Greek to expand on the nuances of some of Paul's words. For anyone like me - who has long tried to piece together the details of Paul's life with his Letters - this book is well-worth a thorough read. Fascinating and compelling, it provides the context for Paul's Letters in an engaging and spiritual light.

Recommended for: Everyone, but especially those interested in missions and the early church.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an Evangelical based book. The author believes that Paul was saved on the road to Damascus. “Forgiveness was a gift, entire and whole and perfect...It could not be earned; no human merit could outweigh human sin; but in having Christ, Paul had it all.”
Still Ananias from the account in Acts 22:16 had to appear and say to him, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Pollock gives no explanation why Ananias would give this command for the author is sadly blind himself by Calvinistic doctrine.
Despite some interesting historical and cultural facts my advice is read the Biblical account of Paul’s life instead of letting a man interpret it falsely.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much reliance, preference and references given to corrupt Bible versions and manuscripts.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stoning of Stephen is a perfect opening to this book. The first martyr for Christ. And since Paul was a witness to this stoning, it makes sense to begin here. It shows Paul's pre-conversion nature. Unfortunately, from there, it quickly starts to drag. We get a little history of Paul's upbringing, which reads like a textbook. And that's what keeps this book in relative obscurity. Too often, the author fails to hold the narrative. There are moments when it shines. Those moments tend to coincide with well described portions of Acts. When the author has to fall onto conjecture, the writing becomes more intellectual, boring even, and less story-telling.

Had I abandoned this book after 50 pages, I would have given it a 1-star rating. Paul's first missionary journey doesn't have the excitement of his later journeys and the author fails to bring life to it. Fortunately, for both myself and the author, I decided I couldn't give it a rating in good conscience if I didn't finish it to the end. So I forged ahead. As the book turned toward Paul's 2nd missionary journey, through Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, my rating climbed to 2 stars and finally 3 stars. Again, as the author had more to work with from both Acts and Paul's letters, I found the writing more engaging. Taken as a whole, it doesn't deserve more than 3 stars, unless you are a scholar or enjoy sporadic textbook writing.

What I was looking for in this book was nonfiction more along the lines of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. There's someone who can take a figure and bring him to life. Granted she had first account interviews, which I won't deny helps a lot. But I think Pollack could have used other accounts, documents or descriptions to take this book to a higher level. For example, the festival of Artemis in Ephesia. Certainly there's much more to say about that. Throughout the entire book I know there's much more he could have added about the way people lived, interacted, etc. He tried. He scratched the surface here and there. But it wasn't enough. The best nonfiction books are all factual but read like they're fiction. Those are the books I love. And that's what I really wanted here.

Still, it unmuddled a lot of my knowledge about Paul and for that I'm grateful.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispersynced on Kindle/Audible (Included).

Written in the same style as some of Erik Larson’s historical books—a biography of the life of the Apostle Paul that reads like a novel. His research was thorough, although there’s no bibliography included. There are a few footnotes scattered throughout, however there are no sources listed for his research. It’s clear that much of his material came from Luke’s gospel, the book of Acts, and Paul’s letters. For the rest of his information, my scholarly tendencies want sources. That said, he clearly researched not only the life of Paul, but the geography, demographics, historical and religious backgrounds of the locations Paul spent time in on his missions trips.

When I attended Bible college, we were required to take a class in First Century History. Our main textbook was the book of Acts, along with sources like Josephus. I struggled to make sense of all the information such as differences of each mission trip, who accompanied Paul, names of towns. It was just too much for my puny freshman brain. And besides, who cares? History is so boring. Or so I thought at the time. If I’d had this book, I think I would’ve aced my final exam in the class. It was my second to worst test score of my entire time at college. That may have turned out to be a good thing because it has driven me to study the book of Acts several times in my adult life, just to get a firm grip on the information. I’ve since learned the value of studying history but also gained a good bit of spiritual value from the book of Acts. This biography of Paul puts into a cohesive unit not just the two books of the New Testament known to be written by Luke, but also ties in material from Paul’s letters. I found it to be very interesting. It’s even sparked some interesting conversations or book discussions. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrator. I suppose you could just listen but I recommend having a written version for note taking.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting to rate this with 5 stars when I began reading. The life and writings of Paul had always seemed a bit beyond my reach, probably because I never took the proper time to read and evaluate them. I felt there were tidbit treasures here and there, from his epistle about charity to the Corinthians, to his expose on faith to the Hebrews. Even though I knew the surface story of Saul to Paul, I never felt I had a grasp about the man, about his passion, about his conviction. Even as I'd read the New Testament, it seemed a bit disjointed.

Thank you, John Pollock, for putting order to the story, to the man and his life. This book is a narrative of Paul's life, without footnotes or annotation. However, the author tells you up front that the best sources are the writings of Luke, and Paul's own writings. Then Mr. Pollock puts the story in chronological order, and that made all the difference.

I gained a much better understanding of what Paul had done, what he became, and what he testified of all the rest of his life. He knew that God knew, and he would not deny any of it, even to the point that he was flogged mercilessly over and over.

I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about gaining insight, understanding, and even love for one of the greatest advocates and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative chronicle of Paul's early life, conversion, travels, and ministry that is based largely on his letters, the writings of Luke, and other Greek and Roman historians of the time. The author explains what was going on in Paul's life and the lives of the early Christians as he was writing each of his letters, and describes the reasons why he was writing them. The overall flow of the book reads as a detailed story rather than the academic product of the extensive research that it took to assemble.

This book provided me with a better appreciation for Paul the man (as opposed to Paul the saint) and opened my eyes to his writings in a new way. The author places the reader right there alongside Paul, John Mark, Barnabas, Timothy, Luke, Priscilla, and even Onesimus in a way that helped relate the community that Paul was building.

Catholic readers may be tempted to find distraction with the emphasis on a 'faith alone' theme and strong admirable references to Luther and John Wesley. Keep focus on the facts presented and the words of St. Paul, however, and this book will more than reward you for the time spent reading it.

There is a lot in this book, and I can envision myself picking this one off the bookshelf again someday for another read.