Paul Apostle to the Gentiles A Significance of

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles A. Significance of Paul 1. 2. 3. Quantity of material in NT – about 1/3 Scope of his missionary work Depth and influence of his theology B. Sources 1. Acts – secondary source 2. Letters – primary source a. Occasional in nature – written in response to particular problems in particular churches. b. Typical Hellenistic letter form – Five regular parts: (1) Salutation – “Sender to Recipient: Greeting” (grace and peace) (2) Thanksgiving (3) Body (4) Parenesis (general ethical admonitions) (5) Closing (peace wish; final greetings; grace benediction)

A. Sources – cont. 2. Letters – cont. a. Authenticity § 13 letters attributed to Paul. § Some may be “pseudonymous” – written later in Paul’s name (“Deutero-Pauline”). Undisputed Debatable Prob. inauthentic 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 Timothy Galatians Colossians Titus 1 & 2 Corinthians Ephesians (“the Pastorals”) Philippians Philemon Romans

A. Paul’s background 1. Diaspora Jew from Tarsus – dual culture a. Hellenistic culture – Greek language, culture, customs b. Jewish culture – Scripture, Torah, Pharisee c. Double name – Saul (Jewish) and Paul (Roman) 2. Persecuted the Christian church. a. Stephen (Acts 7: 58; 8: 3; 9: 1 -2). b. Motivated by “zeal” for Jewish law (Gal. 1: 13 -14; Phil. 3: 6). 3. Conversion/call (c. 32/35 AD) a. Appearance of Christ on road to Damascus (Ac. 9). b. Call to be “apostle to Gentiles” (Gal. 1: 13 -17; Phil. 3: 4 -9; Rom. 11: 13).

D. Paul’s Missionary Journeys 1. First Missionary Journey (Acts 13 -14) a. b. c. d. Barnabas and Saul sent out by Antioch church. Cyprus and central Asia Minor. Rejection by Jews – acceptance among Gentiles. Antioch: controversy over circumcision of Gentiles. 2. Council of Jerusalem ( 50 CE, Acts 15; Gal. 2) a. Summit to resolve gentile adherence to Jewish Law issue. b. Must Gentiles be circumcised (i. e. , convert to Judaism, observe Jewish Law and be circumcised)? c. Agreement not to require circumcision. d. Significance § § § Preserved unity between Paul and Jerusalem leaders. Opened door to wider Gentile mission. Paved way for eventual separation of Judaism and Christianity.

1. Paul’s Missionary Journeys – cont. a. Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15: 36 -18: 22) § Split with Barnabas – accompanied by Silas and Timothy. § Antioch through Asia Minor to Macedonia and Greece. § Corinth – 18 months; wrote 1 Thess. (c. 50).

1. Paul’s Missionary Journeys – cont. 2. Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18: 23 -21: 16) a. Antioch to Ephesus – 2 -3 years; longest stay on any journey. b. Through Macedonia and Greece to Jerusalem. c. Paul’s collection for Jerusalem. § Relief for poor in Jerusalem. § Symbolic of unity of church – Jewish and Gentile Christians in one church.

1. Paul’s Missionary Journeys – cont. a. Arrest and journey to Rome (Acts 21: 17 -28: 31) a. Jerusalem – arrested over disturbance in Temple. b. Caesarea – held 2 years; appealed to Caesar. c. Rome – house arrest; awaiting trial; preaching gospel. d. Likely executed by Nero (60 -65).