St Paul of Tarsus

St Paul of Tarsus

Background

• Born in Tarsus → Modern day eastern Turkey

  • 3BC-10CE born and died in 67 CE

• His position in society gave him a number of rights and religious responsibilities

  • Original name was Saul

  • He was a Jewish Pharisee

  • A Roman citizen from the Israeli tribe of Benjamin

  • Raised in Greek culture

  • Spoke greek

  • Jewish + Greek education

  • Knowledgeable on Jewish law and the old testament

  • Tent maker by trade

• Opposed to Christianity → Wished to persecute Christians

  • Roman citizen, Pharisee, Member of israeli tribe

Conversion

• In his hate of Christians, he was on a persecution mission

  • During his journey he underwent a supernatural experience. God spoke to him and blinded him

  • It was only until 3 days later where his blindness was cured

    • Acts 9:1-20

Mission

• He was the most significant person to Christianity

  • Spreading the gospel became his life mission

  • He explained behaviours based on Jesus’ teachings in a simple and comprehensible manner

  • Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah

  • He atoned for our sins

  • Agape: selfless love

• He went on missionary journeys to convert a lot of Ealy christians

  • Encouraging the new Church to live a life modelled by Christ

• Offers guidance in 

  • Love

  • Sexual immorality

  • Law

  • Behaviour

  • Charity

  • Creation

• The early church struggled with questions concerning Jews, Gentiles, gender roles, sex, marriage, rich+ poor church order, worship, politics and slavery

Paraenesis

• Traditional paraenesis

  • Involving general themes and holiness and love

• Situational paraenesis

  • Consisting of advice on specific matters

• Ecclesiastical paraenesis

  • Directed to the institutional needs of the church and the ministry

• Paul’s moral teaching cant be isolated from the rest of instruction

  • Doctrine and ethics are intimately related

Significance of the epistles

• The earliest records of Christianity

  • Not only the earliest Christian writings but they influenced other writers

  • Gospel writers inspired

• Wrote in Koine (common language)

  • Audience was able to access his letter

  • They make up ¼ of the new testament

  • Laid the foundation for a lot of beliefs and practices used by Christianity today

• Used today

  • During mass and services as well as teaching and advice

• Influenced theologians and fundamental clarification

  • Martin luther, john calvin, thomas aquinas

Theological Teachings

• Baptism must occur to be cleansed of original sin

  • Phil 3:20 1 thess 4:3

• Salvation

  • Romans 10:13 1:thess 1:10

  • Rom 2:8

  • Rom 5:10

  • Rom 8:13

• Revelation

  • The supernatural communication of the divine truth

  • Recognition of Jesus as the Messiah

  • Paul’s conversion story

• How to practise the last supper

  • Remembrance of Jesus’ death and proclamation of it until he returns

  • Examining oneself’ assess your relationship with God

  • Fellowship and discerning of the body: being mindful of others eating

  • Avoid unworthy participation with unconfessed sin

    • 1 cor 11:23-34

Ethical Teaching

• Agape

  • Pauline teachings are not only for individual benefit or individual salvation but the whole aim is to establish a loving, caring brotherhood

  • Rom 12:18

  • 1 cor 13:13

• Charity

  • The more one gives, the more they receive . he encouraged the corinthians to continue to provide charity to the Christians in jerusalem

• Forgiveness and repentance

  • Forgiving to reflect God’s forgiveness

  • Repentance is key to salvation

  • Forgiveness and repentance are intertwined with God’s grace

• Sexual Morality

  • Body as a temple

  • Avoid behaviours that are contrary to God’s will

Council of Jerusalem

• What was it?

  • A conference of Christian apostles in Jerusalm around 50CE

  • Decreed Gentile Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic law of Jews

  • Christians were not bound by Jewish law

  • Showed the willingness of Apostle leaders to make compromises on certain secondary issues to maintain peace and unity

In short

• He was the greatest spokesperson for Christianity and considered the second most influential man after Jesus

• Established written traditions

• First great theologian

  • Established the building blocks of faith

  • Agape and faith over ritual

• An efficient manager for the new church

  • Lead them in enduring times

• Responsible for the spread of Christianity outside Jerusalem through his THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

  • Took it all over the Mediterranean, asia and parts of Africa

• Founded churches + church hierarchies

  • Spoke about how to live a Christian life

  • Transforming and revitalising impacts on the communities

• Decreed christians did not have to follow Jewish law

  • Gentiles did not need to be circumcised

• His journeys and letter writing were appropriate means of communication at the time

  • Letters in common language

• His epistles influenced the gospel writers

Paul’s contribution to the Christian community cannot be measured because there was no one as influential as him during his time. His missionary work allowed Christianity to survive and spread to be a worldwide tradition. Paul did this with his life example and teachings as they continue to inspire and change Christians today. Paul sent the message of forgiveness and love as Christianity’s most important teachings. No matter how misguided one may be, there is always the possibility for change and salvation. He allowed Christianity to become its own religious tradition. His teachings transformed, inspired and challenged Christians in the first century and still do today. His epistles make up over a quarter of the New testament. They continue to revitalise established Christianity of all denominations. They are still a means for people to learn from.