The impact and contribution of Paul of Tarsus

The impact and contribution of Paul of Tarsus on Christianity -Sources of evidence in the New Testament -Contribution - Significance

Evidence in the New Testament of Paul of Tarsus’s work Acts of the Apostles Chapters 16 to 28 detail Paul’s missionary journeys around the Mediterranean Sea from Antioch to Rome. The Pauline Epistles or Letters These letters were written to help the new Christian communities overcome theological concerns and realise how to live a Christian life in the varied cultures of the Mediterranean- as Jew or Gentile. Paul’s letters helped, supported encouraged and inspired the communities and interpreted the teachings of Jesus.

How did St Paul change the world of his time? • St Paul as a missionary established Christian communities in key cities such as Rome, Ephesus and Corinth. • By spreading the story of Jesus Christ, Paul gave Jews and Gentiles a way forward. His teachings about love of God and neighbour challenged the followers of Jesus to follow the command of love over the law. • Paul made Christianity a universal faith, rather than a just a sect of Judaism. • Paul, a threat to the Roman Empire, was martyred in Rome.

How did St Paul change the world of his time? • St Paul challenged the leadership of the Jesus movement. Peter and James at the Council of Jerusalem to allow Gentiles to be Christians without following the food laws or be circumcised. This is recorded in Acts 15. • Paul’s writings formulated key teachings about the nature of the Church. He taught about how Christ lived in them and by their baptism and the Holy Spirit they were able to contribute to the Christian community. • Paul’s teaching on resurrection explained that Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection offered salvation for all who believed.

How has St Paul changed Christianity through history? • St Paul influenced theology and later theologians such as St Augustine of Hippo and Martin Luther. • St Augustine (300 CE) was changed from an immoral life to one of faith after reading Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Augustine's foundational work on the gospel as a gift (grace), on morality as life in the Spirit, on predestination, and on original sin all derive from Paul, especially Romans. • Martin Luther during the Reformation studied Paul’s Letters to the Galatians and the Romans. From this he formulated belief in justification by faith alone and not faith and good works as the Catholic Church taught.

How does St Paul influenced Christians today? • St Paul’s letters laid the foundations for much of the belief and practice evident in the Christian Church today. • Paul’s writings are foundational underpinning rites such as Baptism (initiation) and Eucharist (memorial of Jesus’ breaking of bread). • Paul’s experience of conversion continues to give hope that Christians can amend their live and change for the better with the grace of God.

What is St Paul’s contribution to development of Christianity? • Reform: Inclusion of the Gentiles • Reinterpretation: Clarified and codified teachings on what was needed for membership of the Christian community • Expansion: Spread to the Hellenic community the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.

What is St Paul’s contribution to expression(s) of Christianity? • Reform: Letters formed part of practice of Christianity used in ceremonies of initiation and Sunday worship. Interpretation of Paul’s teachings led to Reformation (Luther). • Reinterpretation: From a Jewish sect where Jewish followers of Jesus followed the law of Moses, Christianity inclusion of Gentiles changed what it meant to be a Christian. • Expansion: As Christianity expanded Paul clarified how the Hellenic community might interpret the teachings of Jesus.

Key Ethical Teachings • The importance of love (1 Corinthians 13) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal This passage clarifies LOVE as the key ethical teaching for Christians as more important than the observance of LAW. • Membership of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 13) For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. All are equal. Baptism is the visible sign of this membership and Paul makes reference to the community as ‘one body’. This defines the importance of COMMUNITY and BAPTISM as a sign of membership of the community.

Key Ethical Teachings • Christ’s call to a life of freedom and responsibility (Galatians 5: 14) The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself. " • The commandment to love your neighbour summed up all Christ’s teaching into an ethical way of acting with all people. It challenged Jewish laws such as those found in the Torah that included 613 mitzvot (rules) for living a good life. It offers ‘freedom’ from these rules but ‘responsibility’ to care for others. This outlines ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR for Christians. • The physical self as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 19) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. • This passage indicates that one must care for oneself as you are God’s creation and that gift should be respected. This aspect of the Holy Spirit is evident in a number of passages about how Christians are empowered/strengthened by their faith. This outlines MORAL guidelines for Christians.

What is St Paul’s significance for Christianity? St Paul’s was the Church’s first theologian Outlined the ethical demands of Christianity Missionary to the Gentiles Challenged Early Christians to accept Gentiles into the Church as full members • Taught about salvation through grace and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ • Martyr for his faith • •