This book, by a distinguished German scholar, is a clear and readable guide to the thought of St Paul. The author has a particular audience in mind:'I did not want to write a theology, a biography, of the apostle Paul, or even an introduction to his writings and his work. I wanted to start a conversation with him and to introduce above all a Catholic readership to this conversation in the light of its traditions and sensibilities. I felt it was much more important to listen and enter into the faith and thought of the apostle and to provide an introduction to that.I once discovered Paul, years ago. Since then I have not been able to forget him. However, sometimes I am attracted by him and sometimes he repels me. But I cannot get rid of him, and in particular his contradictions are uniquely fascinating. I feel that this will go on being the case. He is always disturbing, as he often has been in history.'