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Paul. Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul the Pharisee. Tarsus. Born around 10 AD Citizens of Tarsus were Roman citizens Family were Pharisees Received a Hellenistic education Taught a trade – tentmaker. Cleopatra’s Gate, Tarsus. Jerusalem.
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Paul Apostle to the Gentiles
Tarsus • Born around 10 AD • Citizens of Tarsus were Roman citizens • Family were Pharisees • Received a Hellenistic education • Taught a trade – tentmaker Cleopatra’s Gate, Tarsus
Jerusalem • Sent to Jerusalem to study under the famous rabbi Gamaliel • May have become a member of the Sanhedrin • Believed that the new Christian movement was heretical
Paul was a witness to the execution of the Christian deacon, Stephen “The Stoning of St. Stephen” Rembrandt, 1625
Persecution of Christians • Paul was responsible for the arrest and imprisonment of many Christians in Judea • He received permission from the Sanhedrin to arrest Christians in Damascus and bring them to Jerusalem for trial • On the road to Damascus, Paul had a vision of Jesus “The Conversion of St. Paul” Michelangelo
Paul’s vision left him blind • Spent 3 days in prayer and meditation • Healed and then baptized by Ananias The house of Ananias in Damascus
Paul’s conversion took place around 35 AD • Spent next 2 years in Arabia, then returned to Damascus and began to preach • Forced to flee Damascus when Jewish authorities there attempted to arrest him • Spent two weeks in Jerusalem with Peter and James • Returns to Tarsus and remains there for the next four years
First Missionary Journey 46 – 49 AD
The Church in Antioch decided to support the apostle Barnabas on a missionary journey • He asked Paul to accompany him and his nephew John Mark Antioch in Syria
Major Events of the First Journey: • Traveled to Salamis and Paphos on the Island of Cyprus; Lystra, Derbe, Pisidian Antioch and Pergamum • Converted the Roman governor of Cyprus to Christianity • Stoned and left for dead in Lystra Ruins of Salamis on the island of Cyprus
The “Gentile Problem” • The first Christians were all Jews who believed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah • They continued to obey Jewish Law and worship in the synagogue • They did not intend to found a new religion • Paul frequently baptized Gentiles and did not require them to become Jews or obey the Jewish Law
The Question: Should Gentiles be required to become Jews and obey the Jewish Law in order to be baptized as Christians?
James, the “Brother of the Lord” presided over the Council • Many of the disciples, including Peter and John, were present • Paul, along with some of his Gentile converts, presented their arguments James the Just, the “Brother of the Lord”
The Decisions of the Council: • Gentiles did not need to convert to Judaism to be baptized as Christians • Gentiles did not need to obey all of the Jewish Laws or be circumcised • Gentiles did need to obey some of the Laws, especially the Ten Commandments and those regarding moral issues
The Importance of the Council: • Allowed Gentiles to become Christians without becoming Jews – within a generation the majority of Christians will be Gentiles • Led to the split between Christianity and Judaism • Established a precedent for how the Church will solve problems in the future = the Ecumenical Council
Second Missionary Journey 49 – 52 AD
Accompanied by Silas rather than Barnabas • Visits the churches already established in Asia Minor, then crosses over to Greece • First to bring Christianity to Europe
Athens • Preaches at the Acropolis in Athens • Equates The God of the Jews with the “Unknown God” of the Greeks • Is laughed at when he talks about Jesus’ Resurrection
Corinth • A major crossroads between Eastern and Western Mediterranean • Site of an important temple to the goddess Aphrodite • There was a large Jewish community there
Paul spent 18 months there • Lived and worked with a couple named Aquila and Prisca • Founded a church composed of both Jews and Gentiles • He would later write at least 3 letters to the Corinthian church The Acrocorinth from the Temple of Apollo
After this journey, Paul returned home to Tarsus for an extended vacation
Third Missionary Journey 54 – 57 AD
Ephesus • Major port city in South-western Asia Minor • Temple of Artemis – one of the “Wonders of the World” • Paul spent two years there Ruins of Artemis’ Temple
Paul is very succesful in making converts and establishing a church • Silversmiths protest – he is hurting their business because people are not buying statues of the goddess • Anti-Christian riot and Paul flees the city Artemis of Ephesus
After leaving Ephesus, Paul travels to the churches he previously established in Greece, taking up a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem, who are facing a serious famine
Paul is arrested by Jewish authorities in Jerusalem – accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple • Roman troops take him into “protective custody” and move him to Caesarea (the roman capital of Judea)
Paul remains under house arrest in Caesarea for two years Ruins of Herod’s harbor at Caesarea
After two years, Paul’s case was heard by King Herod Agrippa II and the Roman governor Felix • Paul was afraid he would not receive a fair trial in Judea • He appealed to Caesar – his right as a Roman citizen
It is not known what happened to Paul after he arrived in Rome • Acts ends with his being placed under house arrest • It is believed his case was heard by Nero and he was acquitted and continued his missionary journeys Nero
The Great Fire of Rome • Broke out in the stables near the Circus on July 18, 64 AD • Burned for 6 days and destroyed 70% of the city • Roman people blamed Nero for setting the fire
Nero’s Persecution • Nero needed to find a scapegoat on whom to blame the fire • He chose the Christians – since they were a small group with no important protectors in the Senate Nero burning Christians to light his gardens
Many Christian leaders, including Peter and Paul, were executed during Nero’s persecution • According to legend, Paul was beheaded on the Ostia road just outside of the city walls
The Basilica of St. Paul Built on the site where it is believed Paul was martyred
The Accomplishments of St Paul St. Paul by El Greco
Paul was one of the first missionaries to envision taking the Church beyond its Jewish roots and opening it to the Gentiles
Paul was able to bridge the Hellenistic and Jewish cultures and make the Christian message understandable to Hellenistic Gentiles • He had a Hellenistic education • He understood the pagan, Greco-Roman culture • He was able to make the message of Christ understandable to people who knew nothing about the Hebrew Scriptures or the Jewish religion • He was a Jewish theologian, trained by Gamaliel
He saw Christ as bringing a new equality to the world: “In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free person, neither male nor female.” His co-missionaries were men and women, Jewish and Gentile Christians, wealthy and poor, educated and not well educated.
Paul’s Letters • Paul wrote at least 7 letters to various Christian churches and people • His letters help us understand exactly what it was the early Christian believed • They became the basis for much Christian theology
Letters definitely written by Paul: • Romans (ca. 55-58 AD) • Philippians (ca. 52-54 AD) • Galatians (ca. 55 AD) • Philemon (ca. 52-54 AD) • First Corinthians (ca. 53-54 AD) • Second Corinthians (ca. 55-56 AD) • First Thessalonians (ca. 51 AD)
Letters possibly written by Paul: • Colossians • Second Thessalonians Paul also wrote several letters which have not survived and are not included in Scripture
