Paul of Tarsus and His World

This monograph is the first original Czech work to deal with one of the most significant figures of early Christianity, Paul of Tarsus, in such depth and scope. After his encounter with the risen Lord, this educated diaspora Jew became arguably the most zealous preacher of the Gospel, and it was thanks to his dedication and abilities that the new faith successfully established itself in the pagan world. Against the backdrop of the realities of the contemporary Hellenistic world, the book traces Paul's Jewish formation and intellectual horizon before his conversion, attempts to reconstruct the basic chronology of his life, discusses Paul's missionary work in detail, and provides an analysis of his literary activities and the fundamental themes of his theology. In an effort to present the most complete synthetic picture of Paul's personality, it does not shy away from problematic areas and controversial questions. Special attention is paid to Paul's views on family and sexuality. The book is intended not only for biblical scholars and specialists in early church history, but also for the wider academic community and all informed readers interested in the topic of the origins of Christianity.