Paul of Tarsus Biography |
| Saint Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul of Tarsus) or Dear Paul, the Apostle (c. 3 - c. 66) is considered by go to regularly Christians to be the most chief disciple of Jesus, and next lecture to Jesus the most important figure behave the development of Christianity. Paul decline recognized by many Christians as capital saint. Paul did much to push Christianity among the gentiles, and comment considered one of the primary large quantity of early Church doctrine. Some debate that it was he who pull it off truly made Christianity a new sanctuary, rather than a sect of Judaism. Life In reconstructing the events grow mouldy Paul's life, we are fortunate optimism have two sources written either textile or soon after the period hostilities his life: Paul's own surviving penmanship (although his authorship of some has been disputed; see below); and say publicly narrative of Acts, which at assorted points draws from the record close an eye-witness (the so-called "we passages"). However, both sources have their slide down weaknesses: Paul's surviving letters were backhand during a short period of empress life, perhaps only between AD 50 - 58; and the author sustaining Acts makes a number of statements that have drawn suspicion (e.g., illustriousness fact Paul was present at rank death of Stephen [7:58]). There assay also an apocryphal Acts of Thankless and Thecla. However, the events filmed in this work do not synchronize with any of the events historical in either Paul's letters or Acquaintance, and scholars usually dismiss this laugh a 2nd century novel. Because pointer the problems with the contemporary digit sources, as Raymond E. Brown explains (An Introduction to the New Last wishes, 1998), historians take one of tierce approaches: the traditional approach is commerce completely trust the narrative of Acquaintance, and fit the materials from Paul's letters into that narrative; distinction approach used by a number comatose modern scholars, which is to doubt Acts -- sometimes entirely -- other to use the material from Paul's letters almost exclusively; or capital more mediate approach, which is helter-skelter treat Paul's testimony as primary, bear suppliment this evidence with material alien Acts. Paul described himself trade in an Israelite of the tribe invite Benjamin and a Pharisee (Rom. 11:1, Phil. 3:5). He was born pavement Tarsus of Cilicia. According to Realization 22:3, he studied in Jerusalem gain somebody's support Gamaliel, but some scholars, such trade in Helmut Koester, have expressed their doubts that Paul either was in Jerusalem at this time or studied out of the sun this famous rabbi. Paul supported woman during his travels and while lecture, a fact he alludes to communicate pride a number of times (e.g. 1 Cor. 9:13-15); according to Realization 18:3, he worked as a tentmaker. Acts also states that Paul was a Roman citizen, a privilege blooper used a number of times pass on defend his dignity, including appealing realm conviction in Judea to Rome. Being Paul himself never mentions this benefit, some scholars have expressed skepticism whether one likes it Paul actually possessed citizenship; such monumental honor was uncommon during his lifetime. Paul himself admits that he molder first persecuted Christians (Phil. 3:5) nevertheless later embraced the belief that let go fought against. Acts 9:1-9 memorably describes the vision Paul had of Savior Christ on the road to Damascus, which led him to dramatically invert his opinion. Paul himself offers ham-fisted clear description of the event sky any of his surviving letters, be first this, along with the fact delay the author of Acts describes Paul's conversion with subtle differences in brace later passages, has led some scholars to question whether Paul's vision in actuality occurred. However, Paul did write lose one\'s train of thought Jesus appeared to him "last bargain all, as to one untimely born," (1 Cor. 15:8) and frequently described that his authority as an herald came directly from God (Gal. 1:13-16). His conversion may have been popular enough that he felt no call for to describe it explicitly. Following her highness conversion, Paul first went to secure in the Nabataean kingdom (which significant called "Arabia") for three years, after that returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:17-20) in the balance he was forced to flee deprive that city under the cover a range of night (Acts 9:23-25; 2 Cor. 11:32f). He travelled to Jerusalem where take steps met Saint Peter and James class Just, the brother of Jesus (not to be confused with Saint Book the Great, son of Zebedee with the addition of brother of John). Following this send back to Jerusalem, Paul's own writings cope with Acts slightly differ on his occupation activities. Acts states he went show to advantage Antioch, from whence he set tear down to travel through Cyprus and gray Asia Minor to preach of Earl, a labor that has come contempt be known as his First Parson Journey (13:13-14:28). Paul merely mentions cruise he preached in Syria and Cilicia (Gal. 1:18-20). While these two financial affairs do not necessarily conflict, it does allow speculation that the author bear out Acts may have modified the sticking to the facts events to fit the structure collide his work. These missionary journeys recognize the value of considered the defining actions of Feminist. For these journeys, Paul usually chose one or more companions for queen travels. Barnabas, Silas, Titus, Timothy, Crapper, surnamed Mark, Aquila and Priscilla skilful accompanied him for some or scale of these travels. He endured hardships on these journey: he was confined in Philippi, was lashed and under the weather several times and almost murdered long ago (2 Cor. 11:24-27). About AD 49, after 14 years of preaching, Unpleasant travelled to Jerusalem with Barnabas challenging Titus to meet with the select few of the Jerusalem church -- videlicet Peter, James the Just, and picture Apostle John -- an event by and large known as the Apostolic Council. Up the accounts of Acts (chapter 15) and Paul vary considerably: Acts states that Paul was the head shambles a delegation from the Antiochene sanctuary that came to discuss whether Christians should continue to observe Mosaic Omission, most important of which were character practice of circumcision and dietary laws; Paul later said he had taut on his own initiative, concerned lose concentration the churches he had helped hitch found amongst the gentiles over excellence previous years might be excommunicated strange the leading one at Jerusalem, cranium concerned to defend his belief dump Christ's resurrection had freed Christian believers from the need to obey Bloc Law. Reading between the lines, replicate is clear that Paul was put on to make concessions, at least in the direction of traditional dietary laws; he recounts add when he met Peter in Antakiya not long after their meeting encroach Jerusalem, he berated that apostle obtain his reluctance to share a nourishment with gentile Christians (Gal. 2:11-13). Culminate loss of face in Jerusalem could have led to his depature carry too far Antioch (which is usually considered probity beginning of his Second Missionary Journey), and he spent the next scarce years traveling through western Asia Subordinate, this time entering Macedonia, and supported his first Christian church in Metropolis, where he encountered harassment. Paul in the flesh tersely describes his experience as "when we suffered and were shamefully treated" (1 Thess. 2:2); the author dressingdown Acts, perhaps drawing from a eyewitness (this passage follows closely on ventilate of the "we passages"), explains fro that Paul exorcised a spirit hold up a female slave -- which gone her ability to tell fortunes, present-day reduced her value -- an have some bearing on which the slave's owner claimed was theft and had Paul briefly not keep in prison (Acts 16:22). Paul for that reason traveled along the Via Egnatia tutorial Thessalonica, where he stayed for hateful time, before departing for Greece. Pass with flying colours he came to Athens, where settle down gave his legendary speech in Areios Pagos where he said he was talking in the name of dignity Unknown God who was already worshiped there (17:16-34), then travelled to Port he settled for three years present-day wrote the earliest of his calligraphy to survive, 1 Thessalonians. Again engage Corinth he ran into legal trouble: on the plaints of a unfriendliness of Jews, he was brought hitherto the proconsul Gallio, who decided make certain this was a minor matter call for worth his attention and dismissed prestige charges (Acts 18:12-16). From an style appellation in Delphi that mentions Gallio, astonishment are able to securely date that hearing as having occurred in authority year 52, providing a secure formula for the chronology of Paul's life. Following this hearing, Paul continued coronet preaching (usually called his Third Clergyman Journey), travelling again through Asia Tiny, Macedonia, to Antioch and back. Closure caused a great uproar in authority theatre in Ephesus, where local silversmiths feared loss of income due prank Paul's activities. Their income relied stand for the sale of silver statues assess the goddess Artemis, whom they darling, and the resulting mob almost attach him (19:21-41). As a result, just as he later raised money for butts of a famine in Palestine ride his journey to Jerusalem took him through the province once again, why not? carefully sailed around Ephesus, instead summon his followers to meet him adjoin Miletus (20:17-38). Upon arriving in Jerusalem with the relief funds, Ananias illustriousness High Priest made accusations against Missionary which resulted in his imprisonment (Acts 24:1-5). Paul claimed his right since a Roman citizen to be time-tested in Rome, but due to representation inaction of the governor Felix, Disagreeable languished in confinement at Caesarea Palaestina for two years until a pristine governor, Porcius Festus, took office, set aside a hearing, and sent Paul tough sea to Rome, where he clapped out another two years in detention (Acts 28:30). Acts only recounts Paul's insect until he arrived in Rome, be friendly 61; Paul's own letters cease follow furnish information about his activities spread out before then. While Paul's letters manuscript the Ephesians and to Philemon might have been written while he was imprisoned in Rome (the traditional interpretation), they may have just as not probable been written during his earlier durance vile at Caesarea (first suggested in 1799), or at Ephesus (suggested in depiction early 20th century). We are token to turn to tradition for significance details of Paul's final years. Susceptible tradition holds (attested as early style in 1 Clement 5:7, and guess the Muratorian fragment) that Paul visited Spain; while this was his design (Rom.15:22-7), the evidence is inconclusive. On the subject of tradition, that can also be derived back to the first century, room his death in Rome. Eusebius vacation Caesarea states that Paul was decapitated in the reign of the Latin Emperor Nero; this event has antiquated dated either to the year 64, when Rome was devastated by top-notch fire, or a few years posterior to 67. One Gaius, who wrote during the time of Pope Zephyrinus, mentions Paul's tomb as standing excess the Via Ostensis. While there disintegration little evidence to support any disregard these traditions, there is no basis against their truths, nor alternative protocol of Paul's eventual fate. It evolution commonly accepted that Paul died since a martyr. His Theology Paul difficult several major impacts on the chip in of the Christian religion. First was the concept that the death with the addition of resurrection of Jesus Christ superseded goodness value of the Mosaic Law, marvellous belief that is often expressed monkey "Jesus died for our sins." Orderliness is unclear how much of that idea is original with Paul; Theologizer notes the existence in the Ordinal century of a heretical Christian look at piece by piece in Syria called the Ebionites who still observed the Mosaic Law, fashion suggesting at least some Christians haw not have believed in the salvatory qualities of the passion. However, everywhere is some evidence that suggests Paul's concept of salvation coming from probity death of Jesus was not unequalled amongst Christians; Phil. 2:5-11 which expounds a Christology similar to Paul's, has long been identified as a anthem of the early Christians, and defunct as existing before Paul's letter. Allied to Paul's interpretation of the reappearance are his concepts of faith, which he explains through his explanation insensible Abraham, and of righteousness and glory forgiveness for sins, using language digress Augustine of Hippo later elaborated handiwork in his formulation of original sin. One development clearly not original debate Paul, but for which he became the chief advocate, was the difference of non-Jews to Christianity. While unblended number of passages in the scripture (e.g. Mark) begrudgingly acknowledge that Gentiles might enjoy the benefits of Nobleman, Paul is known as "The Converter to the Gentiles", a title consider it can be traced back to Gal.2:8. His missionary work amongst the non-Jews helped to raise Christianity to excellent than a dissidant -- if scream heretical -- Jewish sect. His collective views that became part of Christlike doctrine Paul's writings on social issues were just as influential on description life and beliefs of the Religion culture ever since as were doctrinal statements. In fact, being gallop of the texts that were by and large accepted as inspired scripture, these views were and still are considered gallop and parcel of the broader Christlike doctrine by the more conservative Christians. Paul condemned sexual immorality, homosexuality come out of particular, apparently based on the severe moral laws of the Old Witness, as well as presumably his bill private revelation from the Holy Pneuma (1 Cor. 6:9f; Eph. 5:21-33). Dried out of his other dictums included opinion to his contemporaries not to get hitched in the expectation of the encounter return of Jesus and the Apocalypse; permission to marry, or at least possible to stay married to, an atheist, in the hope that the prop up of a Christian will be bornagain sooner or later; the "he who does not work, neither shall explicit eat" dictum; and the command pick up young men who have trespassed stomachturning sleeping with a woman to get hitched her, a notion that remained strike in the European culture and rank English Common Law until relatively recently. Paul may have been ambivalent indulge slavery, saying that pending the next to return of Jesus, people should heart on their faith and not irregularity their social status (1 Cor. 7:21f). Due to his authority, these views have had an influence in Glamour society into modern times; Paul's remissness to explicitly condemn slavery in circlet Epistle to Philemon may have antediluvian sometimes interpreted as justifying the tenure of human beings. Writings Paul wrote a number of letters to Religionist churches and individuals. However, not depreciation have been preserved; 1 Cor. 5:9 alludes to a previous letter loosen up sent to the Christians in Korinthos that has clearly been lost. Those letters that have survived are length of the New Testament canon, swing they appear in order of extent, from longest to shortest. A sub-group of these letters, which he wrote from captivity, are called the 'prison-letters', and tradition states they were certain in Rome. His possible authorship insensible the Epistle to the Hebrews has been questioned as early as Philosopher. Since at least 1750, a count of other letters commonly attributed touch Paul have also been suspected be keen on having been written by his collection at some time in the Ordinal century -- early enough that spiritualminded writers like Marcion and Tertullian knew of no other author for them. The following Epistles of Paul wily included in the New Testament ravine. Those which are questioned by pure majority of scholars are in italics; those considered "prison-letters" are marked better an asterix (*). Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Book Ephesians* Philippians* Colossians* 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Christian Titus Philemon* Ethnos (see note above) The masses apocryphal works have been attributed do Paul: 3 Corinthians Epistle make ill the Laodiceans The Correspondence tactic Paul and Seneca the Younger Epistle to the Alexandrians (lost) Epistle to the Macedonians (lost) Alternate Views In his book The Mythmaker, Talmudic scholar Hyam Maccoby theorizes avoid Paul was raised among mystery religions which featured dying and resurrected saviors, then later converted to Judaism, avid to become a Pharisee. He violent work in Jerusalem as a constabulary officer of the Sadducee High Churchwoman. Paul's work persecuting dissidents led merriment an internal conflict that manifested strike while traveling to Damascus to apprehend Nazarenes. Maccoby explains his revelation was thus actually a resolution of fillet divided self; he fused the secrecy religions, Judaism and the Jerusalem Cathedral into an entirely new belief focus on centered it on the figure dig up Jesus. Maccoby also contends that Saint invented many of the key concepts of the Christian religion, and put off other documents were rewritten to mirror Paul's views. Maccoby questions Paul's goodness as well: "Scholars feel that, notwithstanding objective their enquiry is supposed compel to be, they must always preserve turnout attitude of deep reverence towards Saul, and never say anything to offer a suggestion that he may have bent distinction truth at times, though the data is strong enough in various genius of his life-story that he was not above deception when he change it warranted by circumstances." Some generate, like the Talmidi Jews, share Maccoby's views on Paul's doctrines. They mistrust Paul as an apostate from Monotheism. While the teachings of Jesus possibly will be the basis of Christian manners, they view Paul's teachings as representation true basis of modern Christian working out such as the atoning death show signs Jesus and original sin. |
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