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Paul

Karen Devine 2008

Saul

Saul was born in Tarsus


circa 10 CE. It was a
centre of thriving
culture, philosophy and
education.
Saul was a Hellenistic
Jew and a Roman
citizen.
He was a tent maker.
Saul was brought up in
Jerusalem and a
student of Rabbi
Gamaliel.
He belonged to the
Jewish tribe of
Benjamin.

Sauls Conversion

He was a Pharisee and


zealous for Jewish
traditions.
Saul was a persecutor
of Christians.
Saul never met Jesus,
yet had a mystical
conversion experience
on the road to
Damascus, 3-5 years
after Jesus death.
He knew the apostle
Peter and James, the
brother of Jesus.

Pauls Journeys

Saul became Paul and a


Christian missionary.
His journeys, letters and
preaching were integral in
establishing Christianity in
the Greco-Roman world.
Pauls belief that gentile
Christians did not have to
be circumcised or follow
the Jewish law enabled a
broader group of people to
access Christianity.
He laid down foundational
beliefs about Christianity.

Pauls Theology

a)

b)
c)

The key aspects of


Pauls theology are:
Jesus died and was
resurrected. Hence,
all humans will be
resurrected as well
through belief in Jesus
Christ.
Salvation is available
to all humanity.
The church is a body
united by belief and
guided by the Holy
Spirit.

Pauls Death

Paul was
executed in
Rome circa 62
CE.
His teachings
have influenced
every generation
of Christian
thinking.

Pauls Contribution to
Christianity

After Jesus, Paul is the


most significant figure in
Christian history.
He is known as an Apostle
(one sent) since he had a
vision of Jesus.
In this sense he was an
eyewitness to the
resurrection.
Pauls letters constitute
about 25% of the
Christian Scriptures and
they are the earliest
Christian documents to
have been preserved.

Paul and Christian


Doctrine

a)
b)

c)

As a theologian, Paul
formulated Christian
doctrine, for example:
Salvation through Jesus
Christ
Atonement: ie: Jesus
death was a sacrifice for
the sins of the world.
Eschatology: the end
times and the dawning of
a new age. (the Parousia).

Paul and Christian


Doctrine

By separating the Mosaic


Law from Christianity,
Paul saw that
Christianity was no
longer a sect of Judaism.
It became a religion in
its own right.
Pauls view of
Christianity saw a united
church of baptised
followers.
He saw the church as
the body of Christ.

Paul and Christian


Rituals
Pauls uniting message is

a)

b)
c)

inclusive of women and they


played a prominent
leadership role in the early
Christian Church.
Paul added rituals which are
still used today including:
Baptism - Immersion in water
symbolised death in Jesus
and coming out of the water
symbolised resurrection.
Church meetings met in
honour of Jesus resurrection.
A communal meal which Paul
called the Lords Supper. It
consisted of bread and wine
and was in commemoration
of the death of Jesus.

Paul vs Peter

In the early Christian Communities


most of the first Christians were
Jews.
But what if a person was a gentile
and wanted to be a Christian, did
they have to become a Jew first?
Peter and Paul had differing opinions.

Pauls views

One could become Christian


without being a Jew first.
Gentiles were not bound by the
Jewish food laws.
Gentiles were not bound to keep
feast days.
Gentile men did not have to be
circumcised.
Sacrifice through temple was no
longer needed.
Pauls resolution of these issues
effectively separated Judaism
from Christianity permanently.
Paul largely preached to gentiles.

Peters views

Peter, James and John were the


Jerusalem apostles who
opposed Paul on the issue of
the dietary or food laws.
Peter sees the necessity of
keeping the Mosaic Law and
achieving ethical perfection.
They agreed that Gentiles did
not have to be circumcised to
become Christians.
Jewish Christianity faded out of
existence with the conquering
of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Peter largely preached to Jews.

Pauls Letters

a)
b)
c)
d)

A collection of 13
letters attributable to
Paul has been included
in the Christian
Scriptures.
They were written
before the Gospels
and fall into 4 major
themes:
Gentiles and the law
Problems of church life
The imminent Parousia
Letters from prison.

Pauls Letters

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

However, most
scholars argue that
only between 7-10
letters were actually
written by Paul.
The letters considered
to be authentic are:
Romans
Galatians
1 and 2 Corinthians
1 Thessalonians
Philippians
Philemon

Pauls Letters

The other letters are either


deemed pseudonymous or
are disputed.
These were written by his
supporters and followers in
his name even after he had
died.
Pauls letters addressed
particular problems
occurring in the new
Christian communities.
These communities
believed they were living in
the last days of the world.

Pauls Letters

Pauls letters addressed the


different community needs and
questions about Christian faith in
a diverse society.
The letters were written in Greek
and encouraged people in their
life and faith.
They were often complex
documents written in a
philosophical way.
The letters communicate Pauls
theology and his beliefs in Jesus.
There is little reference to Jesus
words or teachings.

Question Time

Why is Paul
said to be the
founder of
Christianity?

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