1. Outline the contribution of Paul of Tarsus to the expression of Christianity.
(200 – 300 words; 5 marks)
Paul was the most effective missionary of the early church. A missionary is a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country. The Damascus road experience was both a conversion and a call to advance the life of the new movement. Paul preached the gospel of Christ, beginning at Jerusalem and continuing his journey to Rome. He preached is local synagogues, city markets, outdoor arenas, private homes and public halls.
Through Paul’s extreme and adventurous journeys to Corinth, Athens, Thessalonica, Berora, Phillipi, Alexandra Ruins, Iconium, Tarsus, Antakya, Damascus Gate, Milet Ruins and Ephesus – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Phillipians 4:13. Paul had succeeded in influencing St Augustine and Martin Luther due to the key aspects of his theology. The foundational work of Paul’s letters influenced St Augustine to merge from an immoral life to a life of faith after reading Paul’s epistles. Martin Luther had expressed his belief in validation by faith alone and not faith and good works as Catholic Churches had been teaching.
Paul preached about monotheism, Christology, faith, body of Christ, Jewish law and the resurrection and return of the one Lord. This foundation of Christianity that he had laid created faith and belief of Christianity. He influenced people to believe that Jesus died and
Paul’s distinctive contribution to Christianity is his heresy- the doctrine of salvation by faith. A salvation available not just to the descendants of Abraham, but to the pagan, non-Jewish world as well. When he was writing to those in the Roman capital, Paul makes the declaration that proved to be the cornerstone of all his writings Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live
Paul more than anyone was responsible for the spread of the Jesus movement into the Gentile world. By the end of the first century Christianity had become an important religious force. Paul while respectful of its Jewish origins moved the Christian faith into a position where it was no longer bound by Jewish law and was able to embrace people of any cultural background. After his own conversion, Paul passionately espoused his message from the Palestinian world through Asia Minor and southern Europe to Rome, the heart of the empire. Some of his letters by Paul to fledgling churches throughout the Roman Empire are contained in the New Testament and outline Paul 's theology. He insisted that Gentiles had as much access to the faith as Jews and that freedom from the Law set everyone free. It was this teaching which was essential for the development and success of the early church which would otherwise have remained another Jewish sect.
The Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, and Martin Luther have been three very important figures in the Christian church. Each went through a unique personal experience that changed the course of their lives. Those experiences were important to them and they should be important to anyone of the Christian faith. In this research paper I will explore these experiences and how they do and do not relate to each other.
Paul’s mission’s on reaching the people of God and spreading the word of Christ is driven by the bold spirit imparted to and the rest of the Apostles conducting Christ’s mission. The Holy Spirit speaks to directly to believers guiding them on how to conduct their missions as well as manifesting through speaking in tongues of
This was due to the fact that he called himself, “The Son of God”. Just before Jesus was condemned to death, he commanded his to disciples to continue spreading his teachings. At first they only preached in Jewish communities throughout the Roman world, but Paul played the most influential role in spreading Christianity throughout the world. He set out on missionaries on the road to spread Christianity worldwide. He traveled through the Mediterranean and set up churches in Asia Minor and Greece. He proclaimed that those who believed that Jesus was the son of God and followed his teaching would obtain eternal
Saint Paul spread Christianity when he preached at synagogues and established churches, and maintained Christianity when he revisited the churches and wrote letters or epistles to the citizens of the cities and town he had
St Paul offered the Christian communities of his time what they needed to follow Jesus and his journeys enabled him to improve the lives of the less fortunate whilst relying on Christ for strength and guidance. This is reinforced through the way that Jesus revealed that the intention of his Church would be for less fortunate Christians, as “he chose imperfect people to be leaders of his Church. ”5 Three missionary journeys of St Paul and his companions are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, St Paul’s fourth and final journey was completed alone, as a prisoner in chains and ended with his death. Many are familiar with the journeys of St Paul however, only those who have participated in their own missionary journeys can compare their experiences with those of St Paul. In St Pauls Journey’s it is shown that through making sacrifices, decisions and journeys Christian pilgrimage found expression in the
Paul wrote letters to churches and went on long, dangerous journeys in order to share the Word. Humbly serving the Lord, no matter what the cost, he became a disciple who made disciples. His personal, deep relationship with Timothy reveals the kind of atmosphere and level of commitment required in discipleship. The discipleship model Paul follows allows for a personally invested relationship between any amount of gathered people whether it be an entire church congregation, a small group, or
Christianity over the course of history has a vast influence on individuals, society and the way believers conduct themselves. It provides morals, practices and ethics that every Christian attempts to live by. Throughout the many denominations in the Christian church, Paul of Tarsus had a significant influence on the faith. His contribution to the development and expression of Christianity is immense and can be seen to stem from his writing and missionary journeys which have implemented his ideas and interpretations onto the development of Christianity. After Jesus, Paul was arguably the most significant figure in Christianity as his teachings form a significant part of the New Testament. Like may other Pharisees of that time in history, Paul sought to suppress the early Christian movement. He accused early Christians of blaspheming against God and breaking Mosaic Law. However, Paul had a life-changing experience when he had a vision of Jesus, and he spent the remainder of his life as a missionary for the early church. Centuries after his ministry, his teachings still influence Christian theology.
The Apostle Paul (formerly Saul) is responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the areas of Asia Minor and Greece. Through his 3 mission trips to the region Paul created a base of support for the Christian faith and implemented a support strategy for future growth. The time period for his journeys was 45 AD – 58 AD. The story of Paul is interesting from the perspective that the man best known as the author of most of the New Testament started out as a devout Jew and despised the Christian faith. After his conversion he made it his life’s work to spread the Christian message throughout the world. To this end, Paul made several mission trips to the area of Asia Minor and Greece.
It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.
Saint Paul, originally named Saul, was a crucial part in the development of Christianity. Paul, who was born in Tarsus, Cilicia, grew up Jewish and was trained as a rabbi (Adcock). Paul eventually converted to Christianity, but before he did, the future of the religion was looking very slim. Rome had made it illegal to practice Christianity. Paul was a pious Jew, so his conversion to Christianity surprised many of his followers. They viewed him with much suspicion and treated him with hostility. Paul was dedicated to his new life and made it his mission to spread Christianity throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire and eventually to Rome itself. Paul made two separate journeys throughout the Mediterranean. He preached about the message of Jesus to many and sent his letters to the people he had not visited. Paul saw that his new faith had a message for everything and everyone. By converting to Christianity, St. Paul has saved Christianity from extinction, has written crucial letters about his faith, has preached to hundreds of people, has spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, has caused
St Paul made an impact upon Christianity as an Apostle, a theologian and as a letter-writer. Out of the 27 books contained in the bible, Paul wrote a total of 13. Paul’s writings made a significant
Paul saw what the Athenians believed and personalized His teaching of God and the Gospel to fit their understanding and explained in a way that they would understand given their backgrounds. This is something that can be beneficial to me in order to get rid of my bias and teach the Gospel in a way the person of another religion can understand rather than going on my assumptions about
The biggest impact of Paul is his contribution to the book of Acts and his 13 Epistles which make up more than half of the New Testament, this fact alone helps to emphasise his enormous impact on the Christian Church. One of the most important themes throughout his writing is “agape” which is defined as being selfless love, he also emphasise the value of faith in the Christian Church represented through the quote “therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” . The teachings that are outlined in his books are still read today during the mass and his writing such as “this is my body, which is for you, do this in memory of me” is still quoted by the priest during the mass. Clearly St. Paul’s teaching are based on justification by faith, moreover he is seen as a symbol for his teaching, as he shows that it is possible to undergo a “metanoiac” experience and repent all your previous actions through true faith in