The Reception of Paul the Apostle in the Works of Slavoj Žižek by Ole Jakob Løland offers an erudite overview of Slavoj Žižek’s unique engagement with the Apostle Paul, a figure traditionally associated with Christian theology. This pioneering work is the first comprehensive study dedicated to Žižek’s complex interpretations of Paul’s epistles, examining how Žižek integrates Pauline thought into his broader philosophical and political frameworks.
Løland provides a thorough analysis of Žižek’s appropriation and transformation of Paul’s writings, revealing how Žižek’s readings reflect his Marxist and Hegelian orientations while also challenging traditional understandings of historical and philosophical categories. The book addresses why Žižek, an atheist philosopher grounded in Lacanian psychoanalysis and Hegelian dialectics, turns to Paul, exploring how Žižek rethinks and repurposes Pauline themes within modern political and philosophical debates.
Employing reception history, Løland shows that Žižek’s philosophical turn to Paul is a notable episode in the reception of Pauline texts, mirroring a broader trend in contemporary continental philosophy. Unlike figures such as Alain Badiou and Giorgio Agamben, Žižek’s approach is distinctive for its focus on the radical implications of Paul’s thought for current political and ideological struggles.
The study situates Žižek’s work on Paul within his critique of contemporary political ideologies and his call for revolutionary thought. Løland argues that Žižek’s readings, shaped by his Marxist and Hegelian frameworks, interrogate contemporary socio-political conditions through Paul’s concepts of law, love, and the event.
Løland’s critical engagement also addresses Žižek’s critiques of other prominent thinkers like Badiou and Agamben, noting Žižek’s opposition to their notions of the “Truth-Event” and messianism. Žižek’s Paul emphasizes “dying to the law,” contrasting with Badiou’s reductionist approach and providing a deeper understanding of Žižek’s philosophical method.
Distinguished by methodological rigor, Løland’s study demonstrates that reception history involves a complex interplay between historical context, textual reception, and philosophical reinterpretation. The book underscores that Žižek’s readings of Paul are active engagements contributing to the evolution of Pauline thought.
The Reception of Paul the Apostle in the Works of Slavoj Žižek offers a comprehensive examination of Žižek’s reinterpretation of Pauline texts within his philosophical and political framework. It provides valuable insights into the intersections of theology, philosophy, and political theory, making it an essential resource for scholars interested in how ancient texts continue to influence modern thought. Løland’s work is a significant contribution to reception history and contemporary philosophy, offering profound insights into how Pauline thought is received and transformed in modern radical philosophy.
Simon Gros 
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