PaulPaul

© Karen Devine 2008

SaulSaul Saul was born in Saul was born in

Tarsus circa 10 CE. It Tarsus circa 10 CE. It was a centre of was a centre of thriving culture, thriving culture, philosophy and philosophy and education.education.

Saul was a Saul was a HellenisticHellenistic Jew and a Roman Jew and a Roman citizen. citizen.

He was a tent maker. He was a tent maker. Saul was brought up Saul was brought up

in Jerusalem and a in Jerusalem and a student of Rabbi student of Rabbi Gamaliel. Gamaliel.

He belonged to the He belonged to the Jewish tribe of Jewish tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin.

Saul’s ConversionSaul’s Conversion He was a Pharisee and He was a Pharisee and

zealous for Jewish zealous for Jewish traditions. traditions.

Saul was a persecutor Saul was a persecutor of Christians. of Christians.

Saul never met Jesus, Saul never met Jesus, yet had a mystical yet had a mystical conversion experience conversion experience on the road to on the road to Damascus, 3-5 years Damascus, 3-5 years after Jesus’ death.after Jesus’ death.

He knew the apostle He knew the apostle Peter and James, the Peter and James, the brother of Jesus.brother of Jesus.

Paul’s JourneysPaul’s Journeys Saul became Paul and a Saul became Paul and a

Christian missionary. Christian missionary. His journeys, letters and His journeys, letters and

preaching were integral in preaching were integral in establishing Christianity in establishing Christianity in the Greco-Roman world. the Greco-Roman world.

Paul’s belief that gentile Paul’s belief that gentile Christians did not have to Christians did not have to be circumcised or follow be circumcised or follow the Jewish law enabled a the Jewish law enabled a broader group of people to broader group of people to access Christianity.access Christianity.

He laid down foundational He laid down foundational beliefs about Christianity.beliefs about Christianity.

Paul’s TheologyPaul’s Theology The key aspects of The key aspects of

Paul’s theology are:Paul’s theology are:a)a) Jesus died and was Jesus died and was

resurrected. Hence, resurrected. Hence, all humans will be all humans will be resurrected as well resurrected as well through belief in Jesus through belief in Jesus Christ.Christ.

b)b) Salvation is available Salvation is available to all humanity.to all humanity.

c)c) The church is a body The church is a body united by belief and united by belief and guided by the Holy guided by the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

Paul’s DeathPaul’s Death

Paul was Paul was executed in executed in Rome circa 62 Rome circa 62 CE.CE.

His teachings His teachings have influenced have influenced every generation every generation of Christian of Christian thinking.thinking.

Paul’s Contribution to Paul’s Contribution to ChristianityChristianity

After Jesus, Paul is the After Jesus, Paul is the most significant figure in most significant figure in Christian history.Christian history.

He is known as an He is known as an ApostleApostle (one sent) since (one sent) since he had a vision of Jesus.he had a vision of Jesus.

In this sense he was an In this sense he was an eyewitness to the eyewitness to the resurrection.resurrection.

Paul’s letters constitute Paul’s letters constitute about 25% of the about 25% of the Christian Scriptures and Christian Scriptures and they are the earliest they are the earliest Christian documents to Christian documents to have been preserved.have been preserved.

Paul and Christian Paul and Christian DoctrineDoctrine

As a theologian, Paul As a theologian, Paul formulated Christian formulated Christian doctrine, for example:doctrine, for example:

a)a) SalvationSalvation through Jesus through Jesus ChristChrist

b)b) Atonement: Atonement: ie: Jesus’ ie: Jesus’ death was a sacrifice for death was a sacrifice for the sins of the world.the sins of the world.

c)c) EschatologyEschatology: the end : the end times and the dawning of times and the dawning of a new age. (the a new age. (the ParousiaParousia).).

Paul and Christian Paul and Christian DoctrineDoctrine

By separating the By separating the Mosaic Law from Mosaic Law from Christianity, Paul saw Christianity, Paul saw that Christianity was no that Christianity was no longer a sect of longer a sect of Judaism. Judaism.

It became a religion in It became a religion in its own right.its own right.

Paul’s view of Paul’s view of Christianity saw a Christianity saw a united church of united church of baptised followers. baptised followers.

He saw the church as He saw the church as the “the “body of Christbody of Christ”.”.

Paul and Christian Paul and Christian RitualsRituals Paul’s uniting message is Paul’s uniting message is

inclusive of women and they inclusive of women and they played a prominent played a prominent leadership role in the early leadership role in the early Christian Church. Christian Church.

Paul added rituals which are Paul added rituals which are still used today including:still used today including:

a)a) Baptism Baptism - Immersion in water - Immersion in water symbolised death in Jesus symbolised death in Jesus and coming out of the water and coming out of the water symbolised resurrection.symbolised resurrection.

b)b) Church meetingsChurch meetings met in met in honour of Jesus’ resurrection. honour of Jesus’ resurrection.

c)c) A communal mealA communal meal which Paul which Paul called “the Lord’s Supper”. It called “the Lord’s Supper”. It consisted of bread and wine consisted of bread and wine and was in commemoration and was in commemoration of the death of Jesus. of the death of Jesus.

Paul vs PeterPaul vs Peter

In the early Christian Communities In the early Christian Communities most of the first Christians were most of the first Christians were Jews. Jews.

But what if a person was a gentile But what if a person was a gentile and wanted to be a Christian, did and wanted to be a Christian, did they have to become a Jew first?they have to become a Jew first?

Peter and Paul had differing Peter and Paul had differing opinions.opinions.

Paul’s viewsPaul’s views One could become Christian One could become Christian

without being a Jew first.without being a Jew first. Gentiles were not bound by the Gentiles were not bound by the

Jewish food laws.Jewish food laws. Gentiles were not bound to keep Gentiles were not bound to keep

feast days.feast days. Gentile men did not have to be Gentile men did not have to be

circumcised.circumcised. Sacrifice through temple was no Sacrifice through temple was no

longer needed.longer needed. Paul’s resolution of these issues Paul’s resolution of these issues

effectively separated Judaism effectively separated Judaism from Christianity permanently. from Christianity permanently.

Paul largely preached to gentiles.Paul largely preached to gentiles.

Peter’s viewsPeter’s views Peter, James and John were the Peter, James and John were the

Jerusalem “apostles” who Jerusalem “apostles” who opposed Paul on the issue of opposed Paul on the issue of the dietary or food laws.the dietary or food laws.

Peter sees the necessity of Peter sees the necessity of keeping the Mosaic Law and keeping the Mosaic Law and achieving ethical perfection.achieving ethical perfection.

They agreed that Gentiles did They agreed that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised to not have to be circumcised to become Christians.become Christians.

Jewish Christianity faded out of Jewish Christianity faded out of existence with the conquering existence with the conquering of Jerusalem in 70 CE.of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Peter largely preached to Jews.Peter largely preached to Jews.

Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

A collection of 13 A collection of 13 letters attributable to letters attributable to Paul has been Paul has been included in the included in the Christian Scriptures.Christian Scriptures.

They were written They were written before the Gospels before the Gospels and fall into 4 major and fall into 4 major themes:themes:

a)a) Gentiles and the lawGentiles and the lawb)b) Problems of church lifeProblems of church lifec)c) The imminent ParousiaThe imminent Parousiad)d) Letters from prison.Letters from prison.

Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

However, most However, most scholars argue that scholars argue that only between 7-10 only between 7-10 letters were actually letters were actually written by Paul. written by Paul.

The letters considered The letters considered to be authentic are: to be authentic are:

a)a) RomansRomansb)b) GalatiansGalatiansc)c) 1 and 2 Corinthians1 and 2 Corinthiansd)d) 1 Thessalonians1 Thessalonianse)e) PhilippiansPhilippiansf)f) PhilemonPhilemon

Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters The other letters are either The other letters are either

deemed deemed pseudonymous pseudonymous or or are disputed. are disputed.

These were written by his These were written by his supporters and followers in supporters and followers in his name even after he had his name even after he had died. died.

Paul’s letters addressed Paul’s letters addressed particular problems particular problems occurring in the new occurring in the new Christian communities. Christian communities.

These communities These communities believed they were living in believed they were living in the last days of the world.the last days of the world.

Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

• Paul’s letters addressed the Paul’s letters addressed the different community needs and different community needs and questions about Christian faith in questions about Christian faith in a diverse society.a diverse society.

• The letters were written in Greek The letters were written in Greek and encouraged people in their and encouraged people in their life and faith.life and faith.

• They were often complex They were often complex documents written in a documents written in a philosophical way.philosophical way.

• The letters communicate Paul’s The letters communicate Paul’s theology and his beliefs in Jesus. theology and his beliefs in Jesus.

• There is little reference to Jesus’ There is little reference to Jesus’ words or teachings.words or teachings.

Question TimeQuestion Time

Why is Paul Why is Paul said to be the said to be the founder of founder of Christianity?Christianity?