St. Paul and the Gentiles

St. Paul and the Gentiles How can we best describe Paul’s significance for early Christianity?

St. Paul and the Gentiles

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul of Tarsus († AD 64/67) Born Saul Roman citizen Pharisee Trained under Gamaliel

St. Paul and the Gentiles Saul and the Jesus Movement Hated the new sect Persecuted Christians Converted in Damascus (ca. AD 33/34)

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1-9) “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.”

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1-9) “And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

St. Paul and the Gentiles Apostle to the Gentiles 3 missionary journeys (40s and 50s) Trusted companions Made converts, planted churches “To the Jew first and also to the Greek…” (Romans 1:16)

St. Paul and the Gentiles

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-33) “Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-33) “‘And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and fine him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even one of your own poets have said, “For we are indeed his offspring.” Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.’”

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-33) “‘The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’ Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out of their midst.”

St. Paul and the Gentiles The Areopagus, Athens

St. Paul and the Gentiles The Council of Jerusalem (ca. AD 49) Gentile conversions posed new questions Council called James, Peter agreed with Paul (Acts 15) “The just shall live by faith…” (Rom. 1:17)

St. Paul and the Gentiles The Epistles Romans 1 & 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 Timothy Titus Philemon

St. Paul and the Gentiles Creedal Statement of 1 Cor. 15:3-8 (50s AD) “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all…he appeared to me also.”

St. Paul and the Gentiles Paul’s Fate Arrested in Jerusalem  Rome Set free, but later rearrested Executed in Rome (AD 64/67)

St. Paul and the Gentiles San Paolo fuori le Mura, Rome

St. Paul and the Gentiles How can we best describe Paul’s significance for early Christianity?

Primary Source Epistle to the Galatians What was the problem here? What was Paul’s tone in the letter? What did Paul insist was the reality about justification? How did he seek to prove his point?

Primary Source Epistle to Philemon Who was Philemon? Whom else did Paul greet in the letter? What was the purpose? How might he have been able to secure the freedom of Onesimus? How can we compare/contrast this letter with that to the Galatians?