Introduction to PaulIntroduction to Paul

Acts 9, 13-28Acts 9, 13-28

Early LifeEarly Life

Born in Tarsus (SE Turkey today)Born in Tarsus (SE Turkey today) Grew up in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3)Grew up in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3) Studied under Gamaliel – a prominent Studied under Gamaliel – a prominent

teacher and Phariseeteacher and Pharisee May be an indication that his family May be an indication that his family

was wealthywas wealthy Early prominence – while still young he Early prominence – while still young he

was given official authority to direct the was given official authority to direct the persecution of the Christians (Acts persecution of the Christians (Acts 8:2ff).8:2ff).

Paul’s EducationPaul’s Education

Nothing specific known other than under Nothing specific known other than under Gamaliel, a famous rabbinic teacher.Gamaliel, a famous rabbinic teacher.

Knew Greek well enough to travel and Knew Greek well enough to travel and teach in Greek speaking areas, wrote in teach in Greek speaking areas, wrote in Greek.Greek.

Would have studied Jewish wisdom Would have studied Jewish wisdom traditions, OT and otherwisetraditions, OT and otherwise

Strong knowledge of OT, LXXStrong knowledge of OT, LXX

Philippians 3:6 Philippians 3:6 – PhariseePharisee– Devoted to the Law and its proper Devoted to the Law and its proper

observanceobservance– Persecutor of followers of Jesus – they did not Persecutor of followers of Jesus – they did not

keep the law appropriately.keep the law appropriately. This new belief would endanger Israel as This new belief would endanger Israel as

a whole.a whole. A “watchdog” for the ancestral waysA “watchdog” for the ancestral ways Viewed Christianity as a threat to Jewish Viewed Christianity as a threat to Jewish

identityidentity

The persecutions were viewed as The persecutions were viewed as disciplinary actions to bring them back disciplinary actions to bring them back in line with orthodoxy.in line with orthodoxy.

Saul was present at Stephen’s Saul was present at Stephen’s execution (Acts 8:1).execution (Acts 8:1).

He led the persecutions in Jerusalem.He led the persecutions in Jerusalem.– ““Saul was ravaging the church by entering house Saul was ravaging the church by entering house

after house; dragging off both men and women, after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)

He was then sent to Damascus to get He was then sent to Damascus to get the Christians who had fled there the Christians who had fled there (9:1ff.).(9:1ff.).

Saul’s Conversion Saul’s Conversion Acts 9, 22, 26Acts 9, 22, 26 On his way to Damascus, the Lord On his way to Damascus, the Lord

confronted Saul.confronted Saul. He was blinded and sent on into He was blinded and sent on into

Damascus.Damascus. Ananias reluctantly went to him, Ananias reluctantly went to him,

taught him, and then baptized him.taught him, and then baptized him. Saul stayed there awhile, but the Jews Saul stayed there awhile, but the Jews

wanted to kill him, so he left.wanted to kill him, so he left. Went to Arabia (Gal. 1:17; cf. 2 Cor. Went to Arabia (Gal. 1:17; cf. 2 Cor.

11:32f).11:32f). Returned to Damascus then to Returned to Damascus then to

Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

Acts omits the Arabia trip and says he Acts omits the Arabia trip and says he went to Jerusalem. (Acts 2:26)went to Jerusalem. (Acts 2:26)

Barnabas went with him and Barnabas went with him and introduced him to the apostles.introduced him to the apostles.

The Jewish leaders wanted to kill The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Saul, so the church leaders suggested Saul, so the church leaders suggested that he go back to Tarsus for a while.that he go back to Tarsus for a while.

The Jewish leaders viewed him as a The Jewish leaders viewed him as a traitor and wanted him dead. They traitor and wanted him dead. They never “let it go.”never “let it go.”

After a few years, Barnabas After a few years, Barnabas suggested that Saul work with the suggested that Saul work with the church in Antioch.church in Antioch.

Antioch was a multi-cultural church Antioch was a multi-cultural church with both Jewish and Gentile with both Jewish and Gentile Christians.Christians.

Two years later the church sent Saul Two years later the church sent Saul and Barnabas on a missionary tour of and Barnabas on a missionary tour of Cyprus and Asia Minor.Cyprus and Asia Minor.

For the next 16 years or so Saul For the next 16 years or so Saul traveled preaching, teaching and traveled preaching, teaching and establishing churches.establishing churches.

Tactics used against PaulTactics used against Paul– Getting Roman authorities involved by Getting Roman authorities involved by

accusing Paul of being a troublemakeraccusing Paul of being a troublemaker– Charges included economic, political, Charges included economic, political,

religious issues.religious issues. Paul was sometimes stoned, beaten, Paul was sometimes stoned, beaten,

or imprisoned.or imprisoned. In spite of all this, Paul never gave up.In spite of all this, Paul never gave up.

CHRONOLOGY OF PAUL’S CHRONOLOGY OF PAUL’S MINISTRYMINISTRY

Fixed date - Proconsulship of Gallio Fixed date - Proconsulship of Gallio C.E. C.E. 51-52 (52-53) – Corinth51-52 (52-53) – Corinth

ConversionConversion 3333

11stst visit to Jerusalem visit to Jerusalem 3636

Famine visit to Jer.Famine visit to Jer. 4646

11stst miss. Tour miss. Tour 46-4946-49

Claudius’ EdictClaudius’ Edict 49-5049-50

Jerusalem CouncilJerusalem Council 50 50

22ndnd miss. Tour miss. Tour Spr. 50 – Fall 52Spr. 50 – Fall 52

33rdrd miss. Tour miss. Tour Spr. 53 – Fall 58Spr. 53 – Fall 58

Caesarean Caesarean Sum. 58 – Fall 60Sum. 58 – Fall 60

ImprisonmentImprisonment

House arrest in RomeHouse arrest in Rome Spr. 61 – 63 Spr. 61 – 63

Aegean Ministry ?Aegean Ministry ?

Ministry in Spain ?Ministry in Spain ?

Death in RomeDeath in Rome 66?66?

Paul’s TravelsPaul’s Travels

First missionary tourFirst missionary tour– CyprusCyprus– Asia MinorAsia Minor

Perga (Pamphilia) – Mark left the groupPerga (Pamphilia) – Mark left the groupAntioch (Pisidia)Antioch (Pisidia) IconioumIconioumLystraLystraDerbeDerbe

– Back to AntiochBack to Antioch

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Jerusalem Council – Acts 15Jerusalem Council – Acts 15

Jewish Christians in Antioch were telling Jewish Christians in Antioch were telling Gentiles who wanted to be followers of Gentiles who wanted to be followers of Jesus that they had to become Jews firstJesus that they had to become Jews first

Peter was in Antioch working with the Peter was in Antioch working with the Gentile Christians, but when Christians Gentile Christians, but when Christians from Jerusalem came, he stayed away from Jerusalem came, he stayed away from the Gentilesfrom the Gentiles– Paul challenged him with being a hypocritePaul challenged him with being a hypocrite

The leaders of the church in Antioch The leaders of the church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to talk with the apostles about thisto talk with the apostles about this

Jerusalem CouncilJerusalem Council– Apostles, elders in Jerusalem, Paul, Apostles, elders in Jerusalem, Paul,

Barnabas discuss thisBarnabas discuss thisGentiles are to be accepted by the Church Gentiles are to be accepted by the Church

without their becoming Jews firstwithout their becoming Jews firstGentiles should observe basic Jewish customs Gentiles should observe basic Jewish customs

when eating with Jewish Christianswhen eating with Jewish Christians

Paul’s Second TourPaul’s Second Tour Asia MinorAsia Minor

– Mostly same places as beforeMostly same places as before– TroasTroas

MacedoniaMacedonia– PhilippiPhilippi– ThessalonicaThessalonica

AchaiaAchaia– AthensAthens– Corinth (18 mths)Corinth (18 mths)– EphesusEphesus– Jerusalem - AntiochJerusalem - Antioch

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Paul’s Third TourPaul’s Third Tour

Asia MinorAsia Minor– Ephesus (3 yrs)Ephesus (3 yrs)

Macedonia – AchaiaMacedonia – Achaia EphesusEphesus JerusalemJerusalem

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Paul’s Arrest and Trip to RomePaul’s Arrest and Trip to Rome

The Jewish leaders threatened Paul in The Jewish leaders threatened Paul in JerusalemJerusalem

Roman officials took him into Roman officials took him into protective custodyprotective custody

They sent him to Caesarea to await They sent him to Caesarea to await trialtrial

He was there two yearsHe was there two years– Exercised his right to see CaesarExercised his right to see Caesar

Shipwreck on the way to RomeShipwreck on the way to Rome In Rome, he was under house arrest, In Rome, he was under house arrest,

at his own expenseat his own expense– Luke was with him all the wayLuke was with him all the way– Paul taught any who came to see himPaul taught any who came to see him

Luke concludes Acts with these words:Luke concludes Acts with these words:– ““proclaiming the kingdom of God and proclaiming the kingdom of God and

teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”all boldness and without hindrance.”

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Things to Consider When Studying Things to Consider When Studying Paul’s LettersPaul’s Letters

1.1. Paul’s letters were occasional. Paul’s letters were occasional.– Particular situations in mind.Particular situations in mind.– Much of what he said was influenced by Much of what he said was influenced by

the situation.the situation.– We need to understand as much as we We need to understand as much as we

can about the situation addressed.can about the situation addressed.– Most of what we can know must be Most of what we can know must be

inferred from the letters themselves.inferred from the letters themselves.

– Similar to listening to one end of a Similar to listening to one end of a telephone conversation. Much can be telephone conversation. Much can be reconstructed, but realize this involves reconstructed, but realize this involves some circular reasoning.some circular reasoning.

2. Though addressed to specific 2. Though addressed to specific situations, they contain truths and situations, they contain truths and principles useful today.principles useful today.– Look for the principles within the specific Look for the principles within the specific

occasion addressed, then apply them occasion addressed, then apply them today.today.

– A difficulty, then as now, is to apply these A difficulty, then as now, is to apply these principles across cultures.principles across cultures.

3. Paul’s letters provide only with part of his 3. Paul’s letters provide only with part of his thinking. We don’t have a complete thinking. We don’t have a complete theology of Paul’s thinking – only on issues theology of Paul’s thinking – only on issues that were urgently needed at that time.that were urgently needed at that time.

He mostly wrote people he had worked He mostly wrote people he had worked with and they knew much of his teaching. with and they knew much of his teaching. He was writing to clarify or reinforce. So He was writing to clarify or reinforce. So he didn’t repeat all of his theology.he didn’t repeat all of his theology.

We know some of his thinking, but not all.We know some of his thinking, but not all. His teaching on the Lord’s Supper is in His teaching on the Lord’s Supper is in

Corinthians only because they were having Corinthians only because they were having problems with it.problems with it.

4.4. Paul’s letters were organized with Paul’s letters were organized with great care:great care:

Saluation Saluation Thanksgiving/blessing – often a Thanksgiving/blessing – often a

summary of the lettersummary of the letter BodyBody

– Theological developmentsTheological developments– ParanesisParanesis– Travel notes, etc.Travel notes, etc.

Closing Closing

Studying Paul’s LettersStudying Paul’s Letters

Who is he writing?Who is he writing? What can we know about his What can we know about his

audience? audience? Why is he writing?Why is he writing? Read statements within the context Read statements within the context

of the paragraph, chapter, book.of the paragraph, chapter, book. Does he say similar things in other Does he say similar things in other

books/letters?books/letters?

Importance of PaulImportance of Paul Wrote approximately ¼ of the NT.Wrote approximately ¼ of the NT. ½ of Acts is about Paul & his ministry.½ of Acts is about Paul & his ministry. A pioneer in taking Christianity to new A pioneer in taking Christianity to new

cultures.cultures. Laid the groundwork for Christianity to Laid the groundwork for Christianity to

become an international movement.become an international movement. Helped shape the Church in dealing with Helped shape the Church in dealing with

difficult issues (Jew-Gentile; Church-State; difficult issues (Jew-Gentile; Church-State; conflict of cultures -ethics, etc.).conflict of cultures -ethics, etc.).

He worked out a way to present a He worked out a way to present a Jewish Messiah to a Gentile world as Jewish Messiah to a Gentile world as Lord. Gentiles were not interested Lord. Gentiles were not interested in a Messiah, but a savior, Lord in a Messiah, but a savior, Lord (Caesar was their Lord).(Caesar was their Lord).

He was a master at moving from He was a master at moving from one culture to another and sharing one culture to another and sharing the message of Christ on a level the message of Christ on a level that rose above the culture yet that rose above the culture yet spoke to the concerns of the spoke to the concerns of the culture.culture.

Obviously, Paul is a significant figure Obviously, Paul is a significant figure in the New Testament.in the New Testament.

Luke worked with him so Acts has Luke worked with him so Acts has more about Paul than any other more about Paul than any other individual.individual.

By the time the NT canon was By the time the NT canon was developing the Church had already developing the Church had already become primarily Gentile, so Paul’s become primarily Gentile, so Paul’s influence is reflected in the amount influence is reflected in the amount of his writings included.of his writings included.

Order of the New Testament BooksOrder of the New Testament Books

Gospels – life and teachings of JesusGospels – life and teachings of Jesus Acts – a bridge from Jesus’ ministry Acts – a bridge from Jesus’ ministry

to the life of the Church; also a to the life of the Church; also a history of the Church.history of the Church.

Paul’s letters – arrangementPaul’s letters – arrangement– Letters to Churches first then individualsLetters to Churches first then individuals– Order by length of letterOrder by length of letter