Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles

by Chaplain Ron McCants

The Letters of Paul• Author of 13-14 of the 27 books of the

New Testament • Romans First and Second Corinthians

Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians First and Second Thessalonians First and Second Timothy Titus Philemon

Controversial Leader 30 C.E. - 65 C.E.

• Returns to Damascus then exits the city for safety (Gal 1:17; Acts 9:20-25; 2 Cor 11:32-33)

• In Lystra Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods (Acts 14:8-18)

• Paul and Silas imprisoned after casting out a demon from a slave girl (Acts 16:16-25)

Paul’s Legend• Saint Augustine (385-430) influenced by

Paul• Also Martin Luther, John Calvin, John

Wesley, Karl Barth, Reinhold Niebuhr• Scholars recognize Paul's debt to Jewish

heritage, "a member of the people of Israel… as to the law, a Pharisee" (Phil. 3:5)

Historical Paul• Birth - Acts 9:11;

22:3• Background - A

native of the Hellenistic world of the Roman Empire

• Writings in Greek

Paul’s Heritage• References to the Mosaic Torah, nomas,

law• Former notion of salvation by works of the

Law-Torah• His love encompassed both Israel after the

flesh and Israel after the Spirit.

Apostle Paul• Conversion - Luke's

account of Saul/Paul vision of the Risen Messiah on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22)

• The thought himself as a better Jew

Missionary Journeys three or more

• Paul tried to revisit the churches he had established (Col. 4:16)

• No physical description of Paul survives in credible sources

• (2 Cor. 12:7-10).• Paul a creative thinker

whose influence stands next after Jesus himself.

Paul’s Death• Paul and Peter jointly martyred in Rome

during Nero's postfire persecution of 65 C.E.

Class AssignmentReflect on the following questions:

What would Paul do with politics today?

What issues would Paul be concerned with?

How would Paul relate his religion to today’s religion?