Paul’s Pastoral Ministry In the Light of the Gospel

Examine the connections between theology and praxis in Paul’s letters as a model for community minded leaders.

Dedicated to spreading the light of the gospel far and wide, Paul the Apostle believed that the gospel message would bring forth a new creation in which all can participate in the life of the triune God. In this comprehensive treatment of the connection between Paul’s theological perspective and his pastoral practice, Sulpician Father Ronald Witherup offers a vision of Paul as a pastor who brought his highly sophisticated theology to bear while attending to the pastoral care of his communities.

Witherup proposes Paul as a model for contemporary ministry based on the pastoral theology of his letters. Through careful examination of how Paul’s pastoral practice influenced his theology, and how his overarching theology impacted his response to the pastoral situations he encountered as missionary, evangelizer, founder of churches, and pastor, Witherup explains how theology and the challenges of parochial ministry intersected in Paul’s ministry. Readers find in Paul a model for where orthodoxy and orthopraxis come together for the good of the church, the community of faith—and for all who desire to live “in the light of the gospel.”

Ronald D. Witherup, PSS, is former superior general of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice. He holds a doctorate in biblical studies and is the author of numerous books, including the award-winning Saint Paul and the New Evangelization published by Liturgical Press. He is also a contributor to Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press.