Christianity+-+St+Paul

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 * • analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Christianity**

If the question is about his**ianity by...** a. His strong particip]Jerusalem (Acts 15), where Paul argued that Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity should need have to keep all of the Laws of Moses: specifically the men would NOT need to be circumcised. The Council of Jerusalem decided that new converts would only have refrain from eating the meat of strangled animals and to avoid sexual immorality. This is significant because it meant that Christianity could spread more easily throughout Europe and Asia Minor.

b. Paul took up the challenge of promoting the Gospel to the Gentiles. Whilst he did preach to Jews, he called himself the “Apostle to the Gentiles”

c. Paul’s three missionary journeys boggle the mind for the sheer kilometres that he covered on foot, on horseback and horse-drawn cart, and by boat. He started Churches in many places throughout Europe and Asia Minor and he went back to check on them (wherever possible) and he wrote letters to them.

a. Moral teachings – about things such as sexual immorality which was a big problem in some of the churches.
 * 2. Paul’s teachings:**

b. Social teachings – about the way to relate to others and in contributing to the poor and suffering in other Churches.

c. The Church – Paul described the Church as the Body of Christ and he wrote at length about how the Church should operate.

d. Worship – Paul wrote about communal and personal prayer. Paul gives the first accounts of the Eucharist.

e. Jesus Christ – Paul wrote extensively about Jesus, who he was, what he accomplished on behalf of humanity, and what our response should be to Him.

f. There are other favourite topics too such as the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, life in the Spirit, etc.

Many of Paul’s teachings are reflected also in the life and teaching of Christ, and no doubt Paul was aware of many of the stories, however, Paul’s writings are the earliest writings that still remain to this day, and therefore the 1st account of Christianity. Also, Paul’s writings went far and wide and spread the good news to all the Churches.

3. Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. These writings form a crucial part of the Holy Bible for Christians. The Bible is regarded as the Word of God, and Paul’s writings as “inspired by the Holy Spirit”. What began as letters to a particular Church, eg. Corinth, became in the end a testament to all the world over the past 2,000 years.

a. worship, eg. Communion services.(eg. in the Catholic Mass – often the 2nd Reading is from St. Paul) Also, Paul’s writings contain the 1st known account of the Last Supper, which is what Christian communion services are modelled on even up to the present day.
 * 4. Pauls’ writings are used in:**

b. Rituals – eg. Marriage (1 Corinthians 13)

c. Instruction on Christian theology and Christian morality. d. All of the above plus the Bible is the biggest selling book of all time and there are 1.7 billion Christians in the world today who take the New Testament, including Paul’s writings, as the inspire word of God, not to mention all the Christians over the past 2,000 years.

5. Also, Paul’s writings and other accomplishments took place at the beginning of Christianity and so have had a massive impact on the entire development of Christianity.

6. All Christians, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc draw extensively on the writings of St. Paul in all the areas given above.

7. But wait, there’s more! You can work out the rest for yourself at this point in time. Just remember the other question that could be asked is about impact, where you would need to not simply explain but to demonstrate and analyse, and possibly even evaluate the impact that Paul has had on Christianity. It would mean mostly the same information but it would need to have the added dimension of evaluation of the impact.


 * The saving work of God and life in the Spirit for Christians.**

• St. Paul describes the human condition in Romans: that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The law is a guide that tells us what not to do but it does not actually save us or make us right with God. For St. Paul, Baptism into the life in the Spirit is important for Christians. (Rom. 6: 3 – 5). “3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

• Christians are no longer living under the law but under the grace (Rom 6: 14): “14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

• Christians have been set free from sin and death by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a free gift from God. (Rom 6: 23): “23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes the inner struggle with sin (Rom 7: 18-20): “18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.”

• The answer to this problem is life in the Spirit. (Rom 8:1): “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

• God has made his home in us (Rom 8:9). “9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

• God also has great things in store for those who live the life in the Spirit (Rom 8:18). “18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.”

• In Romans 8: 28, Paul describes the way God looks after us in every circumstance. No matter what our problems or suffering in this life, we will be victorious through our life in Christ and the love that God has shown for us by sending his only Son. “28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

• No matter what happens in life, nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Rom 8: 38-39): “38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Paul urges Christians to offer themselves as a living sacrifice to God and to allow God to influence their thinking. (Rom 12: 1-2) “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

• Saint Paul preaches the cross of Christ, which seems like foolishness to many. (1 Corinthians 1: 22-25) “22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

• God lives in us. (1 Corinthians 3:16) “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”


 * Moral Issues**

• Paul teaches, as Jesus did, to forgive and bless our enemies as well as our friends (Rom 8: 14). “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

• Paul also echoes the teachings of Christ in his teachings on love (Rom 13: 9): “You must love your neighbour as yourself”

• Paul is against sexual immorality: (Rom 13:12-14). “Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; 13let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

• Paul writes to promote peaceful relationships in the Christian community (Rom 14: 13). “13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another.”

• Paul writes of being helped by women who were deaconesses in the church, such as Phoebe (Rom 16)

• Paul states that people who are caught up in sinful lives will not experience the Kingdom of God. But all of us have sinned, and we are made clean by the grace of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). “9 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, 10thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

• (1 Corinthians 6:13-14) “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord form the dead, and he will raise us also”.

• (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)“18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.”

St Paul teaches that the Church is the body of Christ – Christ is the head and Christians are the body. In this body, Christians each have their own role, just like each body part has a different function.
 * The Church**

Colossians 1 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

1 Corinthians 12

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. ….. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
 * St Paul’s great passage on love:**

For Paul there is no distinction now between Jew or Greek, slave or free etc, all are one in Christ. Colossians 3
 * St. Paul teaches that people should focus on Jesus.**

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. …….7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ephesians 4 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
 * Paul promotes peace within the church**