Summary Of Empire's End

I find the Apostle Paul to be one of the most fascinating author's of the New Testament. In fact, I devoted 32 weeks last year to reading, studying, and then teaching 1 & 2 Corinthians to a class of elementary aged students. Having spent so much time in Paul's writings helped me to decipher which portions of the Empire's End where fictional from those that were not.

What I admired about this novel is how Jerry Jenkins includes large portions of Paul's writings into the narrative — mainly in the form of God's direct revelation to Paul in the wilderness. Throughout the apostle's letters, he furnishes numerous details about his strict adherence to the law (as a Pharisee), his conversion experience, and most importantly his devotion to the resurrected Christ. What he did not include were many details of the time period between his conversion and the beginning of his gospel ministry. Recreating those in-between years is what the author has undertaken with this book.
Despite my continued affinity for biblical fiction, I've discovered that Jenkins' writing style does not appeal to my tastes. Absent from the story, for me, was a genuine heart connection with it's characters. Instead of being drawn into their experiences — joys and sorrows — I remained an observer. Furthermore, Paul's miraculous escape into the desert and the relationship that ignites between Paul and a widow were a little too far fetched for my