St. Paul’s Cosmic War Myth: A Military Version of the Gospel

St. Paul’s Cosmic War Myth shows how Paul used military symbolism as a way to present an almost complete version of his gospel, parallel to his legal and personal versions which use quite different types of symbols. By drawing together all Paul’s military symbols, the book enables readers to see beneath the surface to the relatively complete cosmic war myth that he probably entertained in his imagination. The book elaborates J. C. Beker’s emphasis on Paul as an apocalyptist, and then suggests what value this military/apocalyptic symbolism has for modern readers.