The Life And Missions Of St. Paul Essay, Research Paper

Outline

1. Introduction

2. The early life of Saul/Paul

3. The lapidation of St. Stephan

4. The blinding of Paul on his manner to Damascus

5. The transition of Saul

6. Saul returns to Jerusalem

7. Paul s Belief and Theology

8. Paul s Teaching Methods

9. The imprisonment and decease of Paul

10. The Canonization of Paul

11. The effects of St. Paul on modern universe

Paul of Tarsus is one of Christian History greatest oddnesss. He was born and a Zealot. ( Cremona P.18 ) I relished In the decease and devastation of Christians and their heretic faith. Then in a flash of blinding visible radiation Saul was knocked from his Equus caballus. From that autumn one of the greatest readers of the Christian religion, He converted anyone who would listen and even a few who did non desire to listen. He traveled a cross most of the known universe and did non halt even at the cost of his life. The greatest enemy the church ended up being its Jesus and propagator.

Paul was originally non known as Paul. His given name was that of Saul. He was the boy of a tent mat shaper in Tarsus. Since Tarsus was a major hamlets of trade and trains, his household became somewhat rich. This qualified his household for Roman citizen ship. This gave him certain rights such as exclusion from executing and public humiliation as penalty for offenses. Besides populating in a Roman trade metropolis exposed Saul to many different linguistic communications that would pay off in his hereafter journeys. Saul most likely radius Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and likely a smattering more. All which were used in his spreading of Christ s word to the heathens of the known universe ( Cremona, Saint Paul, 32 ) . He volitionally joined the most avid signifier of Judaism, the Pharisees ( Cremona P. 18 ) . As a Pharisee, Saul studied under one of the Judaic faiths greatest bookmans of the first century Gamaliel. Gamaliel instilled a spiritual Saul an even more spiritual ardor ( F.F. Bruce, New Testament History, 236 ) . This spiritual ardor, a Roman citizen ship, a strong Judaic tradition of difficult work, and a gift for words and public speech production helped model on of the greatest spreaders of the Catholic church ( F.F. Bruce, New Testament History, 236 ) .

When Saul was in his mid-twentiess he participated in the barbarous decease of St. Stephan. He attended one of Stephan meetings with a group of bullies with full blessing signifier the sanhedrien. He argued Stephen s points until both were out of breath and so order Stephan decease. Saul was merely in his mid-twentiess so Pharisee jurisprudence did non let him to lapidate Stephan. Therefore, he guarded the cloaks of all the lapidators. With him guarding the cloaks, the lapidators were able to concentrate on their barbarous undertaking. That manner he was able to Stephan through all the other lapidators. Out of the whole rabble of slayers, Saul is the lone one mentioned in any history ( Cremona P. 19 ) . As Stephan gave up his concluding breath he was said to hold reached up to god and Smiled ( Cremona P. 24 ) . It good about be that as Stephan was taken to heaven God had said if you knew the apostle cheapness I shall make organize your blood. He will be THE Apostle and have no equal in all the ages of the church ( Cremona P. 24 ) . Taking a expression back through are churches history it can be observed that no apostle of all time matched the strength and fevered love of God that was obtained by one of Christianity s greatest tormentors ( Cremona P. 24 ) .

After covering with Stephan Saul felt confident plenty that these Christians were unsafe and obtained warrants from the sanheirden to collar the Christians in Damascus. Damascus and his bodyguard of loyal Jews set out to free Damascus of the Christian threat. On the manner to Damascus it is said that God reached out to Saul. Saul was Engulfed by a bright visible radiation and heard a voice. SAUL, Saul why do you oppress me. Saul responded who are you? and the Godhead replied I am Jesus. The light steeping Saul vanished and the train scattered in fright of the visible radiation. As Saul opened his eyes he learned he had become blind.

In Damascus there lived a faithful follower of Jesus named Ananias. The Godhead ordered Ananias to travel out to the chief street and happen a adult male named Saul from Tarsus. Ananias begged Gods non to do him travel to assist Saul because he had heard of the awful workss of Saul. God ordered Ananias to travel exclamation, HE is my chosen 1. He shall distribute the word to the aliens. Now GO! Ananias left and found Saul was god had told him he would be. Saul had been taken by some of the train to a local house to rest. Ananias entered the house and placed his custodies on Saul proclaiming Saul the Godhead Jesus who spoke to you on the route has sent me to bring around you. Open your eyes, see, and be filed with the Holy Spirit. Saul opened his eyes Ate and was cured.

For the undermentioned hebdomads Saul spent his times with the followings of the manner. There he learned Jesus message and began to prophesy his word like known had before. The people of Damascus became confused by Saul & # 8217 ; s new strong beliefs. They asked themselves if this was the same, one sent to collar the Christians in the first topographic point. He caused even more confusion among the Jews. Who he tried to convert that Jesus was the Messiah. Some of the Jews became outraged and planned to kill Saul. Saul Learned of the program and was lowered over the metropolis walls in a basket.

Saul went back to Jerusalem and tried to fall in the Christians at that place. They were excessively afraid of Saul and thought he was non a true truster. Then he met Barnabas who took Saul to run into the apostles. He explained to them about his blinding by God and his subsequent transition. Barnabas so stood up to state how he had seen Saul stand up courageously and publically proclaim Jesus word. After that meeting, Saul was allowed to travel freely among the Christian community. While in Jerusalem he would reason with the Jews who spoke Greek. This new tactic lead to another tryst effort. The followings of Christ learned of the effort and smuggled Saul of to Caesarea.

Paul is best remembered for his great missional journeys that he under took ( Acts 13-28 ) . Paul s missional technique used different manner so today s methods. Today we are used to everything being done after many arguments by commissions that formulate a rigorous program of action. Paul did non make this, alternatively he set a end he thought was Gods will and carry through it ( Kane pg. 73 ) .

Paul marks were specifically four provinces- . Galatia, Asia, Macedonia and Achaia ( Acts 9:31, Corinthians 9:2 ) . While in these metropoliss Paul choose to see big metropoliss of strategic importance- These metropoliss were known for Roman Administration, Greek Civilization, Judaic influence, and commercial ports ( Allen 13 ) . By set uping churches in these metropoliss he created topographic points that were capable of distributing his message to many more people so he could entirely.

Paul followed the rule of & # 8220 ; to the Jew first & # 8221 ; ( Romans 16: 1 ) , therefore his scheme was to aim the people of the compact in the temple ( Acts 13:5,14 ; 14 ) . The usage was to ask for a visiting rabbi to give a word of exhortation ( Acts 13:15 ) , so Paul took advantage of these devout, attentive, and intelligent audiences. Found there were three distinguishable categories: Hebrews, proselytes, and God fearing Gentiles. Here Paul felt at place, as all of them had cognition of the one true God, an familiarity with the Old Testament, and an outlook of the & # 8216 ; coming & # 8217 ; Messiah. Merely when he was expelled did he travel elsewhere.

For Paul, the spread of the Gospel and the extension of God & # 8217 ; s Kingdom were of paramount importance. He believed that every cultural group had the right to hear the Gospel and he would lief prophesy to them, but if they adamantly refused the message and persecuted the courier, no intent could be served in remaining amongst them. He felt it would be better to travel on to a antiphonal group, Paul experienced that it was the devout Gentiles that were most antiphonal to the Gospel and the Jews that opposed his message ( Acts 21:27, 23:12 ) . Turning off from his ain people hurt him profoundly ( Acts 13:46 ) , for he loved them ( Romans 9:2-3 ) , but he could non compromise the Gospel. He was witting of the fact that a Christian worker was required to be faithful ( I Cor, 4:2 ) –

Though Paul was called straight by God to be a missional ( Acts 13:2 ; Acts 9:15, Acts 13:47 ) , he is confirmed by action ( Acts 13:2,3 ) and sent by the church ( Acts 13:3-4 ) . Paul was convinced that the missional must hold a strong base at place, for at the terminal of each journey he ever returned to Antioch to describe on his journeys ( Acts 14:26 28 ; 18:22, 23 ) . The connexion between the supplications of the church and the success of the missions was a critical thing. Paul spent important clip on his return visits and knew the importance of it. When he was be aftering to travel on to Spain with the Gospel, a missive was sent to Rome to inquire for their support ( Romans. 15.15 24 ) .

Paul & # 8217 ; s ultimate end was to set up strong, autochthonal churches ; folds that would be equipped to transport on the undertaking ( Thess. 1: 1,8 ) . He stayed every bit long as he could, puting up the church inspire of the troubles. When mature local leaders had been trained, he would travel on, go forthing the leaders in charge. These church workss were self government ( Acts 20:17 ) , self-supporting, and self-propagating (

I Thess, 1: 8 ) .

Paul believed in teamwork. On all the missional journeys he had comrades along. Barnabas and John Mark set out with him on the first journey ( Acts 12:25 ; Acts 13:13 ) , and Silas set out with him on the 2nd ( Acts 15:40 ) . The sermon of the Gospel was a joint attempt ( I Thess. 1:1 ) and Paul must hold recruited many as fellow labourers.

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The apostle Paul was a profound influence in many different respects. He was such an influence on the secular universe that his words are uttered in countries that Christians would usually non hold as being really religious.

The first of St. Paul & # 8217 ; s epistles in the canon is his epistle to the Romans. The ground that Romans appears foremost among his epistles is & # 8220 ; because of the greatest Excellency of the epistle, it being one of the fullest of all. & # 8221 ; ( Henry, 363 ) . Romans is one of the best topographic points to happen an organized look of Paul & # 8217 ; s divinity and in it he teaches a extremist philosophy of theocentricity holding three facets: God & # 8217 ; s Providence, God & # 8217 ; s salvation and God & # 8217 ; s aim ( henry 363 ) .

Capital of rhode island is the most general facet of Paul & # 8217 ; s theocentric divinity for it defines the relationship that exists between the Creator and the full created order. God is the 1 who controls and governs all things. The full universe is merely as it is because God has both created to be as such and has sustained it every bit good. In Romans 4:17, Paul calls God the 1 who creates out of nil, because he called the existence into being without the assistance of any other being or without the benefit of utilizing preexistent stuffs. Everything that exists does so & # 8220 ; from Him and through Him. & # 8221 ; ( Romans 11:36 ) . God is the governor of the existence and is Lord over all things ( Romans 10:12 ) . Therefore, He owns the existence and as such is the centre of it. Harmonizing to Romans 9, God is a thrower and adult male is a ball of clay, and God has the right to do of that clay whatever He desires. It is God & # 8217 ; s intrinsic and inalienable right to make with the existence whatever He wills. The authorization that adult male seems to possess is non his, it is given to him by God. ( 13:1,6 ) Even the iniquitous province of adult male is as it is because God has so ordained it to be. In Romans 1, Paul uses the phrase, & # 8220 ; God gave them over & # 8221 ; , three times in four poetries. Man did non get at his evil status, except that God has given him over to it. God is the 1 who governs and controls all that He has created ( Dodd, 138 ) .

The 2nd facet of the theocentricity of Paul & # 8217 ; s divinity has to make with redemptional work of God whereby He reclaims that which belongs to Him. Redemption is a work that & # 8220 ; is all founded on the inviolable stone of the ageless will of God. & # 8221 ; ( Dodd, 142 ) Paul, in Romans 8, writes that it is God who fore knows, predestines, calls and glorifies. & # 8220 ; God & # 8217 ; s action in salvation is free and absolute, jumping entirely from within Himself. & # 8221 ; ( Stevens, 98 ) He is the perfect instigator in the work of redemption ; adult male plays merely the function of a inactive ball of clay. ( Stevens, 114 ) Precedence in redemption is on godly grace and the perfectly gratuitous character of God. ( Ridderbos, 349 ) God is the 1 who saves His ain from His ain wrath. ( Romans 5:9 ) , for He is both the justice and the advocator, holding mercy on whom He wills and indurating whom He wills. ( Romans 9:18 ) All the universe is accountable to God ( Romans 3:19 ) and meriting of decease ( Romans 3:23 ) , but He is besides & # 8220 ; the apologist of the 1 who has faith in Jesus. & # 8221 ; ( Romans 3:26 ) Harmonizing to Paul, & # 8220 ; it does non depend on the adult male who wills or the adult male who runs, but on God who has mercy. ( Romans 9:16 )

God non merely governs all things but He is besides the 1 who redeems. The concluding facet of the theocentricity of Paul & # 8217 ; s divinity describes God & # 8217 ; s aim in both His government and His redeeming. For Paul, all things are done for God. In Romans 11:36, Paul says, & # 8220 ; For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glorification everlastingly. Amen. & # 8221 ; God has worked all things harmonizing to His intents so that all things will work for His benefit. This is the primary motivation of God. & # 8220 ; Christ himself seeks above all things the glorification of his male parent in the redemptional work, in his life, in his decease, in his triumph. & # 8221 ; ( Kennedy, 289 ) God brings about all things for His benefit and in so making besides brings benefit to His people. The Christian & # 8217 ; s hope, harmonizing to Paul, is the glorification of God ( Romans 5:2 ) , as such they are defined by their outlook of the exoneration of the glorification of God. Paul besides defines the Gospel in these footings by naming it & # 8220 ; the righteousness of God. & # 8221 ; ( Romans 1:17 ) ; which is, harmonizing to C.H. Dodd, the act of God whereby He vindicates the right. ( Dodd, 13 ) God is the right and the procedure of the history of salvation is the flowering of God & # 8217 ; s program whereby He is justifying His character by delivering back to Himself what is His. & # 8220 ; Paul & # 8217 ; s construct of God & # 8217 ; s righteousness is that it consists fundamentally in his disposition to move ever for his ain name interest, that is, to keep and show his glory. & # 8221 ; ( Piper, 160 ) God & # 8217 ; s intent is, in all things and at all times, to convey glorification to Himself, which is what He justly deserves.

The primary undertaking of the Christian, so, is to be righteous and convey glorification to God. Paul urges, & # 8220 ; show your organic structures a life and holy forfeit, acceptable to God, which is your religious service of worship. & # 8221 ; ( Romans 12:1 ) It is the Christian & # 8217 ; s primary responsibility, his & # 8220 ; religious service of worship & # 8221 ; to give himself to God as an instrument of righteousness to God. ( Romans 6:13 ) The theocentricity of Paul & # 8217 ; s divinity drives the people of God to comprehend their undertakings and value from the position of God. Harmonizing to Paul, a adult male derives his benefit in his captivity to God. ( Romans 6:22 ) Merely in every bit much as an single gives himself over to be possessed and used of God as He desires, is that single valuable. & # 8220 ; The glorification and the congratulations of God should represent the main preoccupation of any Christian worthy of the name in his chase of redemption, penetrated as he is with the love of God and of the savior. & # 8221 ; ( Kennedy, 292 ) & # 8220 ; For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord ; hence whether we live or die, we are the Lord & # 8217 ; s & # 8221 ; ( Romans 14:8 ) & # 8220 ; Paul was a God intoxicated man. & # 8221 ; ( Morris, 25 ) His epistle to the Romans reflects this passion and his divinity is rested upon it. God is the centre and is, by His ain design, the primary donee of all that occurs. Christ has accepted His people for the intent of conveying glorification to God ( Romans 15:7 ) , hence God & # 8217 ; s people are to ever move and believe as Christ thinks, theocentrally.

Michael Card, a retainer of God in modern-day Christian music, penned some unbelievable wordss and penetrations about the Bible and its chief message, Jesus. A ageless beginning of inspiration for Michael Card is Paul. As a sample of the range of Paul & # 8217 ; s influence on modern-day Christian music, you can follow Paul & # 8217 ; s life passion in some of what Card has penned. This is non a reappraisal of any Michael Card & # 8220 ; record & # 8221 ; but an overview of Paul & # 8217 ; s impact on him ; an impact that points the listener to Jesus Christ, the astonishing portrayal painted by both Paul and Michael Card.

You will happen a perennial mention to Paul & # 8217 ; s words in the earlier Hagiographas and composings of Michael Card. This Must Be the Lamb rejoices that Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us ( I Corinthians 5:7 ) . Card points out that & # 8220 ; in the New Testament Jesus is our Passover Lamb & # 8221 ; ( Immanuel, 184 ) . Knowing Colossians 1:18, Card sings of the importance of Christ & # 8217 ; s Resurrection in Love Crucified Arose because this & # 8220 ; is the ground for our hope that we will lift once more every bit good & # 8221 ; ( Immanuel, 190 ) .

Although based on the Gospels, Card & # 8217 ; s first trilogy ( about the life of Christ ) has some of its roots in what Paul said about Jesus. The Final Word contains the message of the embodiment. & # 8220 ; We speak of the Incarnation literally as the & # 8216 ; en-fleshment & # 8217 ; of God, or God taking on human flesh in order to be able to portion to the full in all the dimensions of human experience.

The 2nd portion of the trilogy speaks of Jesus Christ, the Scandalon. Paul makes it clear that Christ is good news/bad intelligence ( Romans 9:32-33 ; 10:11 ) . & # 8220 ; A blunt acknowledgment of the scandalon, who is Christ, is needed disciplinary to our deformed apprehension of the Gospel he proclaimed and established by his decease and through his Resurrection & # 8221 ; ( Card, The Life, 41 ) . In Pauline manner, Card communicates the confrontive nature of Christ & # 8217 ; s earthly ministry.

In the last of the three, Known By the Scars, Card concludes with the passion of Christ. Talking to today & # 8217 ; s listeners he says, & # 8220 ; as Jesus & # 8217 ; resurrected organic structure was recognizable by its cicatrixs, so His organic structure, the church, should be known by its cicatrixs and cryings and the indefinable joy it knows in malice of, and so because of, it all & # 8221 ; ( Immanuel, 175 ) .

Michael Card & # 8217 ; s following recording provides the best sample of the impact Paul has made on modern-day music. Present Reality finds its full footing on the letters of Paul. The deepness to which Michael explores the tensenesss of the present comes near to the deep paradox of the present life that Paul knew good.

All of this proves the bosom of Paul is focused on Christ and this focal point extends beyond the first century into ours. Michael & # 8217 ; s portrayal of Paul & # 8217 ; s bosom points to today ; this wise man wants Christ to reflect energetically on others so that, they excessively can & # 8220 ; bear the light & # 8221 ; of Jesus to others.