pstrongemI Paulos, 4 volumes in one, addresses the specific question Can we learn anything about an authentic Paul through a close reading of just one of his letters 1Thessalonians emstrongppThe backdrop of this study is that the mid-1960's erupted in a virtual volcano of dissent against historical interests when reading ancient authors and texts. Authors were declared dead, texts were redefined, and revolutionary literary theories swept the academic landscape. Concurrently, studies on Paul exploded into new perspectives, counter perspectives, wildly different lives of Paul, and a general disillusionment that anything at all about the real Paulcould be known. ppIn the face of such explosive views, strongem I Paulos emstrongposes a daring two-fold thesis First, an authentic Paul can be known from at least the letter of 1Thessalonians, just as much as anyone can be known from a personal encounter. For what is authentic about authors inhabits particular kinds of texts like this one. Secon