A stunning reexamination of Pauline theology

In Pauline Dogmatics: The Triumph of God’s Love, Douglas A. Campbell offers a revolutionary reinterpretation of Paul’s theology, liberating it from what he calls its “Babylonian captivity”—centuries of distortion through legalistic, retributive frameworks that have obscured the apostle’s true message.

Campbell rejects conventional readings of Paul that emphasize punitive atonement and contractual salvation. Instead, he characterizes Pauline theology as being rooted in divine love and resurrection. Drawing on the seminal work of Karl Barth while engaging contemporary voices such as Stanley Hauerwas and Willie Jennings, Campbell demonstrates that the starting point for Paul’s thinking about God is not foundationalism but revelation—the reality of the living God.

This edition of the book features an extensive new preface, in which the author reflects on the book’s impact and its resonance across academic and ministry contexts. The book unfolds in four phases: “Resurrection,” “Formation,” “Mission,” and “Navigation.” In addition to examining the Pauline canon, Campbell reads Paul’s life as a theological text, showing how belief and practice are inseparable. Monumental in scope and lively in spirit, Pauline Dogmatics celebrates God’s transformative love and illuminates its relevance for the church today.