How Many Times Did Paul See Jesus

Paul’s Three Encounters with Christ Jesus in Acts

The Acts of the Apostles state that Paul had three visions of the Lord Jesus Christ: the first, the second, and the third. 1) The Vision of Paul on the Road to Damascus (described in Acts 9, 22, and 26). While traveling to Damascus, Paul stops to arrest Christians who had crossed the border into the city. To read my idea that Saul/Paul had Herodian contacts in order to complete this political duty, please visit this page. In the midst of the dazzling light that surrounds Saul, he hears a voice proclaiming, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Trying to kick against the goads is difficult for you.” Saul loses his sight but regains it after Ananias, who then baptizes Saul/Paul, places his hands on him and rubs them together.

Paul travels to Jerusalem after his conversion, and while worshiping in the Temple, he falls into a trance, which lasts for several hours.

Despite the fact that he did not catch Christians in Damascus, he had earlier and personally “imprisoned and beaten” Christians in Jerusalem – “in every synagogue,” according to the author.

Saul would have needed permission from the High Priest, and Herod Antipasto would have been the one to provide it.

As I discuss in my books on Saint Paul as a Roman and Rome as the Capital of Christianity, this is the major “Roman Catholic” text that I draw attention to in both of those books.

Roman Catholicism is a commandment given to Paul by the risen Jesus Christ: “The next night, the Lord stood by him and said: Take courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must also offer witness about me at Rome.” (See Acts 23:11 for further information.) Christ depicts the Great Commission as a line traced from Jerusalem to Rome, connecting it all together.

Revelation, when properly read, is a vision of the unholy adultery that occurred between the Whore of Babylon (Jerusalem) and the Beast (the Antichrist) (Rome).

Can Paul Be Considered a Witness if He Never Actually Saw Jesus?

A lot of people ask me about the direct proof provided by the Apostles in the Book of Acts. These individuals certainly viewed themselves as eyewitnesses to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and they relied on their observations of Jesus when attempting to communicate the truth to others. First and foremost, the Disciples considered themselves to be eyewitnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul, on the other hand, was a latecomer to the Apostles’ team and claimed to be qualified as an eyewitness as well.

  • One of my friends recently asked me about the eyewitness status of Paul, because a rigorous interpretation of two texts depicting Paul’s contact with Jesus on the road to Damascus may lead one to believe that Paul never truly saw Jesus at all: Acts 9:3-9 is a biblical passage.
  • He dropped to the ground and heard the voice of the Lord say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” while heading toward Damascus.
  • The soldiers lifted Saul from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he was unable to see anything.
  • And he was blind for three days, and he didn’t eat or drink throughout that time.
  • The Jew who was born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated by Gamaliel, rigorously according to the rule of our fathers, and as ardent for God as you all are today, I am writing to you.
  • I also got letters from them to the brethren, and I set out for Damascus with the intention of bringing even those who were already in the city to Jerusalem as captives to be punished.
  • And He introduced Himself as Jesus the Nazarene, whom I was persecuting at the time.

Is it possible for Paul to be an eyewitness if he never really saw Jesus in the flesh?

I’ve spoken with a lot of witnesses over the years, and several of them claimed to have witnessed something that was significant to the case but did not.

An officer’s evidence that the hood of a suspect car was raised proved extremely significant to our case in an early 1980’s case, which took place in the early 1980’s.

Paul’s standing as a witness is not contingent on his ability to observe events visually.

Despite the fact that Paul explicitly reported what he heard on the route to Damascus, we shouldn’t be too hasty to dismiss the fair inference that may be drawn from his visual views of Jesus on the way.

However, based on Paul’s later statements in 1 Corinthians, there is ample reason to assume that he did truly see the form of Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (New International Version) In fact, what I also received was that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried according to the Scriptures, that He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve apostles as the first fruits of His resurrection.

As a result of this, He appeared to more than five hundred comrades at once (the overwhelming majority of them are still alive today, though a few have passed away); after that He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last, as a premature birth, He appeared to me as well.

(The emphasis is mine, of course.) As Paul said this again and over again, branding himself as a witness who, together with the other eyewitnesses, attested to the resurrection of Jesus, he said: 1 Corinthians 15:12-15 is a passage from the Bible that says, “It is written, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, “It is done, ” Now, if Christ is taught, and it is believed that He has been risen from the dead, how can some among you assert that there is no such thing as resurrected bodies?

  • Because without the resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been risen; and if Christ has not yet been raised, then our teaching is in vain, just as your faith is in vain.
  • Once again, my emphasis is on the word “again.” The Apostles’ testimony of the Resurrection changed the course of history; they were live eyewitnesses who never bowed their heads when they were called on to repudiate their beliefs.
  • Due to his transforming encounter with the risen Jesus while traveling on the road to Damascus, Paul became one of these early eyewitnesses as well.
  • The Apostles’ testimony of the Resurrection changed the course of history; they were live eyewitnesses who never backed down when they were called on to repudiate their beliefs.
  • You may learn more about the credibility of the New Testament gospels and the argument for Christianity in the book Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels if you read Cold-Case Christianity.
  • The book is complemented by an eight-sessionCold-Case Christianity DVD Set (as well as a Participant’s Guide) that may be used to assist individuals or small groups analyze the evidence and make their case for Christianity.
  • Warner Wallace has been featured on Dateline NBC.

Originally from New York City, he now lives in Los Angeles. Sign up for J. Warner’s Daily Email Updates.

Did Paul ever meet Jesus in person?

QuestionAnswer The issue of Jesus Christ and His atoning act was at the heart of the apostle Paul’s missionary endeavors throughout his life. His words were “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” he said (1 Corinthians 9:16). This outstanding apostle concentrated his evangelistic efforts on persuading people that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah of Israel as well as the rising Lord and Savior of the Gentiles on a regular basis. Paul’s theology was centered on Jesus’ uniqueness as a person and as a Savior.

  1. Had the future apostle ever had the opportunity to see or hear Jesus in person?
  2. First and foremost, Paul had been a resident of Jerusalem as a boy (Acts 22:3) and had returned to the city years later to approve of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 22:4).
  3. According to Acts 23:16, Paul’s nephew was present in Jerusalem following Paul’s conversion, indicating that Paul and his family had been residing in the city for some time.
  4. On one of Jesus’ frequent travels to the area, it is extremely probable that Paul saw or heard Him speak, and it is possible that Paul did.
  5. Third, as a Pharisee, Paul would have been very interested in the teachings of a well-known, though unusual, rabbi like Rabbi Yochanan.
  6. For the fourth time, the apostle Paul suggests that he may have known Jesus prior to his conversion in one of his epistles, yet his statement is far from definitive (2 Corinthians 5:16).
  7. We don’t know whether or not Paul had ever met Jesus, therefore we can’t be certain.
  8. Paul’s traveling companions reported hearing Jesus’ voice (Acts 9:7) and seeing a bright light (Acts 22:9).
  9. The Lord appointed Paul to declare His name to both Gentiles and children of Israel, and Paul did so with great success (Acts 9:15).

Part of the reason why the gospel of grace spread throughout the Mediterranean realm was due to his relentless efforts. Go back to the page with all of the Bible questions. Is it possible that Paul had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus?

Did paul meet jesus?

Rahsaan Hirthe posed the question. 4.5 out of 5 stars (20 votes) The stories found in the New Testament. It is mentioned in both the Pauline epistles and in the Acts of the Apostles that Paul had a spiritual conversion experience. The Bible and the New Testament both claim that Saul/Paul was not a follower of Jesus and did not know him prior to his crucifixion.

Did Paul and Jesus live at the same time?

Based on this, it is possible to assume that he was born about the same time as Jesus(c. He came to faith in Jesus Christ sometime around the year 33 CE, and he died sometime around the year 62–64 CE, most likely in Rome. Paul learnt how to “work with his own hands” during his childhood and adolescence (1 Corinthians 4:12).

Did Paul see Jesus get crucified?

Paul confessed his lack of understanding of Jesus in person (2 Corinthians 5:16). As Paul approached the city for the festival, he had no way of knowing who this contemporary was; yet, by his witness (“I preach Christ crucified!”1 Corinthians 1: 23), he would learn who he was and identify him once more on that terrible path ahead of them both.

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How long after Jesus died was Paul converted?

The stories found in the New Testament. It is mentioned in both the Pauline epistles and in the Acts of the Apostles that Paul had a spiritual conversion experience. The Bible and the New Testament both claim that Saul/Paul was not a follower of Jesus and did not know him prior to his crucifixion. Paul’s conversion took place between 4 and 7 years after Jesus’ execution, in the year 30 AD.

How many times did Paul see Jesus?

According to the Book of Acts, Jesus appeared to Paul three times after his resurrection, and Paul himself refers to this encounter on several occasions in his letters. There were 30 questions that were connected.

How old was Jesus when he was crucified?

The majority of experts believe Jesus was crucified between 30 and 33 AD, which corresponds to 1985 to 1988. Given that we may infer Jesus was around 30 years old when he was baptized and began his ministry, we can safely presume he was well into his 30s when he was killed.

How long was Paul in Arabia?

Agrippa II’s observation of “Arabia,” as well as Paul’s three years in that land, vindicates his claim before him: “Whereon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” It would have been blatant disobedience to the mandate received from the resurrected Lord to spend three years in the Arabian desert contemplating the meaning of life.

Did Matthew Mark Luke and John know Jesus?

None of them; the Gospel is written many years after the crucifixion of Jesus; it is anonymous; it is simply titled as Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John; none of them ever met Jesus; and none of them is the author of the Gospel; That is, no New Testament author had the opportunity to personally encounter Jesus.

How long after Jesus died was the Bible written?

The four gospels of the New Testament, though they narrate the same tale, represent widely diverse thoughts and concerns, despite the fact that they were written over the span of almost a century following Jesus’ death. The death of Jesus and the composition of the first gospel are separated by a forty-year interval.

Who Really Wrote the Bible?

Moses is credited with writing the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy (the first five books of the Bible as well as the whole Torah) around 1,300 B.C.

according to both Jewish and Christian dogma. Although this is true, there are certain problems with it, such as the absence of evidence that Moses actually existed.

Why was Book of Enoch removed from the Bible?

Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, and Tertullian were among the early Church Fathers who regarded the Book of Enoch as scripture. Tertullian wrote around the year 200 that the Book of Enoch had been rejected by the Jews because it contained prophecies pertaining to Jesus Christ, which was later confirmed by the New Testament.

How many years before Paul started his ministry?

Because he was still mostly “unknown” at the time of his public ministry to the world, Paul had three years of preparation before he launched his public ministry to the world.

How many years did Paul preach?

Paul traveled to Antioch with Barnabas after a period of 8 to 14 years, during which time the two of them stayed for one year (Acts 11:25; Gal. 1:21-2:1 see below). Paul next journeyed from Antioch to Jerusalem, where he stayed for a brief period of time.

Did Jesus have a last name?

The Last Name of Jesus. Joachim was the name of Mary’s father. She was therefore referred to as “Mary of Joachim,” which was a reference to her father’s loin. When Jesus was born, there was no indication of his last name. He was known only by his given name, Jesus, and not by his biological father, Joseph, and while he acknowledged Joseph as his earthly father, he recognized a greater father from whom he was descended.

Did Jesus have a child?

The book that says Jesus had a wife and children — as well as the man who wrote it — are both under fire. The authors wish to speak about Christ in their book. You should be aware that, hidden under centuries of disinformation and deceit, Jesus had a secret wife named Mary Magdalene with whom he fathered two children. They want you to be aware of this.

Is there a sin that is unforgivable?

Book that says Jesus had a wife and children — and the author who is at the center of the controversy around it A discussion on Christ is desired by the writers. You should be aware that, hidden under centuries of disinformation and deceit, Jesus had a secret wife named Mary Magdalene, with whom he had two children. They want you to be aware of this fact.

What does Damascus mean in the Bible?

Damascus is defined in several ways. A city in Syria that dates back to antiquity and is currently the country’s capital and largest metropolis; according to the New Testament, it was on the route to Damascus that the Apostle Paul (then known as Saul) had a dramatic conversion. Syria’s capital, Dimash, is an example of a synonym. As an illustration, consider the national capital.

What country is the city of Damascus in?

Damascus,Syria. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is based in Damascus.

Is Damascus the oldest city in the world?

The ancient city of Damascus is believed to be one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited towns, having been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Tell Ramad, located on the outskirts of Damascus, has shown that the city had been inhabited as early as 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. The city served as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate during its existence.

What lessons can we learn from the life of Paul?

Paul the Apostle Has Taught Us 5 Important Lessons.

  • He didn’t live to please other people. Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, ” This sentence made me laugh because Paul came across as cocky. But Paul was also modest, unselfish, and focused on God’s purpose in his life. He lived with eternity in mind
  • And he was a man who loved God and served others.

What island did Paul shipwreck on?

In his life, he was not concerned about pleasing others.

Paul writes in Galatians 1:10 that This sentence made me laugh because Paul came across as cocky. But Paul was also modest, unselfish, and focused on God’s purpose in his life. He lived with eternity in mind; and he was a man who loved God and others.

When did Paul get saved?

When Saul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:3-5, many people think that he was saved. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Jesus appeared to him on the road, and he realized that he was in fact persecuting the Messiah and not the Christians.

WHO removed the books from the Bible?

Both Catholics and Protestants believe that he was correct on a number of points and that he had a significant impact on Western history. His next step was to delete seven books from the Bible, which is considered to be one of his most significant accomplishments. So, what was it about Martin Luther that caused him to remove seven books from the Bible?

Was Enoch removed from the Bible?

Many of his beliefs were shared by Catholics and Protestants alike, and he is credited with altering Western history. His next step was to eliminate seven books from the Bible, which is considered to be one of his most significant achievements in history. So, what was it about Martin Luther that caused him to remove seven books from the Bible.

Did Paul Actually See Jesus?

The apostle Paul was perhaps God’s most powerful instrument, as he preached the gospel message in the midst of a period when Christians were being persecuted in unprecedented numbers. No, he did not fly out to Jerusalem to preach, then fly back to the United States to live comfortably in the comfort of his own home. His life was spent preaching the gospel in hostile territory, and rather than bemoaning the loss of such a life, he delighted in the fact that he was able to experience the honor of suffering for the cause of the Lord.

  1. As a result, it is reasonable that individuals who do not believe in him would criticize his conversion experience.
  2. Some non-Christians hold the belief that Paul had a hallucination of the resurrected Lord, that it was not a true experience, and that it took place just in his imagination.
  3. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:8, “And last of all, he was viewed by me as if he had been born at an inconvenient hour.” As a result, Paul clearly claimed and believed that Jesus Christ really came to him in a bodily body, and he wrote about it in his letters to the Corinthians.
  4. As previously stated, if it is true that Jesus came to Paul in his physical body and that this appearance was the catalyst for his drastic change in which he was transformed into a new creature, it follows that the core claims of Christian theology are correct.
  5. So, did Paul genuinely see a vision of Jesus?
  6. Examine some of the most heinous persecutors of the Christian movement in the contemporary period.
  7. Perhaps we should worry about individuals who are inside the church who are spreading incorrect theology and taking advantage of their parishioners’ goodwill.

Paul the apostle is one of these deriders, and he claims that he is the worst of sinners.

“But Saul started to ruin the church,” says Luke of Paul in Acts 8:3, “and the church was destroyed.” He went from home to house, dragging both men and women away and putting them in prison,” says the author.

There was undoubtedly a deep-seated animosity and fury toward the Christian movement that drove Paul to write this letter.

Alternatively, one may say that he merely changed his opinion.

Why in the universe would a devout Jew abandon the faith that he had practiced his whole life in order to promote a resurrection claim that he had been persecuting only a few days before, all for the glory of being beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and ultimately killed?

If, on the other hand, the narrative of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:1-18 is correct, and he truly did come face to face with the living Lord, then we have a very simple answer.

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Non-believers will seek to explain that Paul simply hallucinated Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, which resulted in his drastic change.

But even if Paul were to simply encounter someone who claimed to be Jesus in a supernatural manner, one might expect him to be convinced that he was, rather than God, a demon.

However, as a result of this interaction, Paul changed his thinking about Jesus, which is an effect that we cannot be certain would be had by a mere encounter.

It is possible to claim that Luke was simply inventing a narrative when he penned these passages of text.

They were able to hear what he was saying, but they were unable to see him.

Because he did not do so, it might be claimed that Luke was just faithfully recounting the events that were taking place.

In my opinion, we have compelling evidence that Paul’s experience was authentic rather than a hallucination, and that it is the most plausible explanation for the drastic alteration of his character that he underwent.

If you would want to continue the discussion, please come to our Theology Discussion Group.

Verse by Verse Ministry International

What Luke wrote in his Gospel was based on information he got from Paul, and what Paul received was based on information he obtained through contacts he had with Jesus following His resurrection. Was Paul involved in any other interactions except those on the route to Damascus? Paul testifies that he received direct instruction from Christ, and we can see this in various places throughout the Bible. Paul claims in 2 Corinthians that he met with the Lord in the heavenly throne room, and he goes on to state the following:

2Cor. 12:2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven.2Cor. 12:3And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows —2Cor. 12:4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.2Cor. 12:5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.2Cor. 12:6For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.2Cor. 12:7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself!

To avoid appearing arrogant, Paul narrates the moment he walked into Christ’s presence by speaking in the third person. Aside from this, in Galatians 1, Paul affirms that he was immediately informed of the truth of the Gospel by Christ:

Gal. 1:10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.Gal. 1:11For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.Gal. 1:12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul narrates the time he entered Christ’s presence in the third person (in order not to look arrogant). Aside from this, in Galatians 1, Paul affirms that he was immediately informed of the truth of the Gospel by Jesus Christ:

When did Jesus appear to Paul?

Asked in the following category: General The most recent update was made on the 19th of June, 2020. It is generally accepted that it was built between AD 33 and AD 36. Since his birth is thought to have occurred around 5 AD, he would have been between the ages of 28 and 31 when he made the decision to become a Christian. The name “BrotherSaul” was given him by Ananias, who arrived to restore his vision. Saulis addresses Paul as “Paul” for the first time on the island of Cyprus in Acts 13:9, which is considerably later than the moment of his conversion.

Two post-Resurrectionapparitions are recorded in Matthew, the first to Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” at the tomb, and the second, based on Mark 16:7, to all of the disciples on a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus asserts authority over heaven and earth and commissions the disciples to preach the gospel throughout all of creation.

  • In Paul’s opinion, his vision demonstrated that Jesus was alive in heaven, that Jesus was the Messiah and God’s Son, and that he would return soon.
  • Was Paul the same age as Jesus when they met?
  • 4 bce) or a little later from this.
  • Paul learnt how to “work with his own hands” during his childhood and adolescence (1 Corinthians 4:12).

Saint Paul the Apostle

Frequently Asked Questions

What influences did St. Paul have on Christianity?

St. Paul the Apostle, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, (born 4 BCE?, Tarsus in Cilicia—died c. 62–64 CE, Rome), one of the leaders of the first generation of Christians, is often regarded as the most important figure in the history of Christianity after Jesus Christ, according to many scholars. He had many adversaries and detractors in his own day, despite the fact that he was a key role within the very small Christian movement at the time, and his contemporaries probably did not regard him with the same reverence that they did Peter and James.

Therefore, Paul was driven to engage in a conflict in order to prove his own value and authority. He is now considered to be one of the greatest religious leaders of all time because of the huge effect that his letters have had on future Christianity.

Sources

Approximately half of another book, Acts of the Apostles, is devoted entirely to Paul’s life and accomplishments. Paul is credited with 13 books in the New Testament, 13 of which are attributed to him. As a result, Paul and the others who came under his influence are responsible for almost half of the New Testament. Only seven of the thirteen letters, on the other hand, may be recognized as being completely legitimate (dictated by Paul himself). The others originate from disciples who wrote in his name, who frequently drew on material from his surviving letters and who may have had access to letters written by Paul that have since been lost.

  • The seven unquestionable writings of Paul, written in the sequence in which they appear in the New Testament, are Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon, and they are the most reliable sources of information about Paul’s life and ideas.
  • The letters Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Thessalonians are regarded “Deutero-Pauline,” meaning they were written by Paul’s disciples after his death; 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are called “Trito-Pauline” (probably written by members of the Pauline school a generation after his death).
  • Paul is incarcerated.
  • Paul the Apostle in jail, where it is said that he composed the letter to the Ephesians, according to tradition.

Life

Paul was a Jewish man from Asia Minor who spoke Greek. When Paul was a child, his hometown of Tarsus was a significant city in easternCilicia, a territory that had been incorporated into the Roman province ofSyria by the time he reached maturity. Both Damascus and Antioch, which are the two most important cities in Syria, played a significant role in his life and writings. Despite the fact that his actual date of birth is uncertain, he was active as a missionary around the first centuryce’s 40s and 50s, according to tradition.

  • 4bce) or a little later from this information.
  • Paul learnt how to “work with his own hands” during his childhood and adolescence (1 Corinthians 4:12).
  • Using only a few leatherworking instruments, he could travel the world and set up business anywhere he wanted.
  • Even the fact that his letters are written in Koine, or “ordinary” Greek, rather than in the fine literary Greek of his affluent contemporary, the Jewish philosopherPhilo Judaeusof Alexandria, provides further evidence that Paul was not an aristocratic figure, according to some scholars.
  • The Pharisees, a religious sect that developed during the latter Second Temple period, were Paul’s political and theological allies until around the middle of his life.
  • The Pharisees believed in the existence of a life beyond death, which was one of Paul’s most deeply held ideas.
  • The Pharisees were extremely conscientious students of the Hebrew Bible, and Paul was able to cite extensively from the Greek version while he was writing his letter.

As stated by Paul himself (Philippians3:4–6, Galatians 1:13–14), he was the best Jew and best Pharisee of his generation, despite his claim to be the least apostle of Christ (2 Corinthians11:22–3, 1 Corinthians 15:9–10) and his attribution of his successes to the grace of God (Philippians3:4–6, Galatians 1:13–14).

While the exact nature of Paul’s reasoning is unknown, it appears that they had nothing to do with his Pharisaism.

Alternatively, Paul may have felt that Jewish converts to the new movement were not sufficiently observant of Jewish law, that Jewish converts mingled too freely with Gentile (non-Jewish) converts, thus associating themselves with idolatrous practices, or that the notion of a crucified Messiahwas objectionable.

  • In any case, Paul’s persecutions most likely comprised traveling from synagogues to synagogues and demanding the execution of Jews who recognized Jesus as the messiah, whatever his motivations were.
  • It appears that Paul began his persecutions in Jerusalem, which is at odds with his own claim in Galatians 1:4–17 that he had no prior acquaintance with any of the Jerusalem believers of Christ until a long time after his own conversion.
  • More precisely, Paul claims to have seen the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1), whereas Acts reports that he saw a blindingly brilliant light near Damascus (Acts 9:1).
  • He subsequently returned to Damascus, and three years later, he traveled to Jerusalem to become acquainted with the main apostles who were then in residence in the city.
  • Within the next 20 years (c.mid-30s to mid-50s), he built many churches in Asia Minor and at least three churches in Europe, notably the Church of Corinth (Corinthians).
  • Paul the Apostle is a saint who lived in the first century AD.
  • Hartmann Schedel’s Liber Chronicarum (Nuremberg Chronicle), published at Nuremberg in 1493, is depicted here.

As he traveled across the world on missionary trips, Paul knew that his preaching to Gentiles was causing problems for the Christians in Jerusalem, who believed that Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be accepted into the Christian movement.

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It was unanimously decided that Peter would be the primary apostle to Jews and Paul would be the primary apostle to Gentiles in the New Testament.

Interestingly, in Romans 15:16–17, Paul appears to read the “sacrifice of the Gentiles” figuratively, implying that it is the predicted Gentile pilgrimage to theTemple of Jerusalem, which will bring their wealth with them (e.g., Isaiah 60:1–6).

In Galatians 2:12–13, the “circumcision faction” of the Jerusalem apostles argued that converts should undergo circumcision as a sign of accepting the covenant between God and Abraham.

He was imprisoned in Jerusalem for bringing a Gentile too far into the Temple precincts, and after a series of trials, he was sentenced to death and exiled to Rome.

According to later Christian belief, he was executed there (1 Clement 5:1–7), possibly as part of the killings of Christians ordered by the Roman emperor Nero in the aftermath of the great fire that engulfed the city in 64ce.

St. Paul the Apostle – Theological views

Paul, like most Jews, was an agnostic who thought that the God of Israel was the sole genuine God, as opposed to other gods. Then there’s the fact that he believed there were several layers to the cosmos and that it was filled with spiritual creatures. Paul’s universe included regions below the surface of the earth (Philippians 2:10), “the third heaven” or “Paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:1–4), and beings he referred to as angels, principalities, rulers, powers, and demons (Philippians 2:10–11). Paul’s universe included regions below the surface of the earth (Philippians 2:10), “the third heaven” or “Paradise,” and being (Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 15:24).

(2 Corinthians 4:4).

Despite all of this, Paul believed that the God of Israel will send his Son to vanquish the forces of evil at the appropriate moment (1 Corinthians 15:24–26; Philippians 2:9–11; Romans 8:28–29).

What influences did St. Paul have on Christianity?

The name “Jesus” was originally used just once; he was referred to as “Jesus from Nazareth” (Matthew21:11), “Joseph’s son” (Luke4:22), or “Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth” (John1:45) when more precise identification was required. It’s possible that during his lifetime, some of his students began to conceive of him as theMessiah (also known as “Christ” in Greek translation), the anointed one who would bring Israel’s fortunes back to its former glory. The Messiah was frequently alluded to by his disciples after his death and resurrection (Acts 2:36: “God made him both Lord and Messiah,” as well as other passages).

Even though Paul recognized that “the Christ” was a term rather than an actual person, he most frequently addressed Jesus as “Jesus Christ,” “Christ Jesus” or even just “Christ,” as in Romans 6:4 when he writes, “Christ has been risen from the dead.” In all of these instances, the word “Christ” is employed as if it were a part of the name of Jesus.

The term “Son of God” is used symbolically in the Hebrew Bible (God is the father, and human people are his offspring), and this use was carried over into postbiblical Jewish literature as well.

In light of the fact that neither “messiah” nor “son of God” carries a precise meaning by themselves, the importance of these phrases must be evaluated by examining how each author employs them.

The apostle Paul claims that Christ Jesus was preexistent and came to earth in the following manner: “he humbled himself, took on the form of a slave, and was born in the likeness of man.” This gives the impression that Jesus was a celestial entity who just looked to be a human creature.

This gives the impression that Jesus was a human person who had been “adopted.” Both views—that Jesus was not truly human and that he was not truly divine—would have a lengthy existence in Christian history; but, by the middle of the fifth century, the church had come to the conclusion that Jesus was both wholly divine and wholly human.

  • It is far easier to understand Paul’s thoughts on Jesus’ work, as opposed to his thoughts on Jesus himself.
  • As previously said, Paul devoted a great deal of time and attention to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
  • Christians in the early centuries were influenced by the old belief that one death might be used to substitute for others, and they thought that Jesus died on the cross so that followers would be spared from eternal punishment.
  • According to Galatians 3:27–28, the believer was baptized “into Christ,” thereby becoming “one” with him.
  • Having died with Christ provided “newness of life” in the present and ensured that we would be risen with him in the future (6:4–5), respectively.
  • It was also necessary to liberate the physical cosmos from its “bondage to disintegration.” The fact that individual believers may be delivered from sin did not result in the liberation of the entire world.

In order for God to be “all in all,” when Christ has vanquished all of his adversaries, including death (see 1 Corinthians 15:20–28; Romans 8:18–25), he will turn all creation to God, so that God will be “all in all.” This great vision of the redemption of the created order demonstrates how firmly Paul believed in the one God, creator of heaven and earth, as well as in the cosmic significance of his Son, Jesus Christ, in his letter to the Romans.

Faithin Christ

In the words of the apostle Paul, all persons are imprisoned by sin, no matter how hard they strive (Romans 7:14–21). Paul’s letters are filled with references to sin, which explains why the traditional Jewish perspective of sin, which holds that transgression should be followed by confession and that confession ends in forgiveness, is only given a passing mention. The words “forgiveness” and “repentance” appear only three times in the seven undisputed letters (Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9–10), while the word “forgive” appears six times (Romans 4:7; 2 Corinthians 2:5–10) and the words “repent” and “repentance” appear only three times (Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9–10).

  1. The only way out is to be “buried with” Christ, which can only be accomplished by baptism.
  2. The language of faith is prevalent throughout Paul’s texts, and it encompasses a wide spectrum of meaning.
  3. However, in 1 Thessalonians, the term implies “steadfastness.” It is used occasionally to indicate “to believe that” something is true (Romans 10:9: “believe in your heart that God raised,” but also “believe in your heart that God raised,” etc.).
  4. It was Timothy who reported back to the church that their faith was strong (1 Thessalonians 3:1–13).
  5. All Gentiles who desired to serve the God of Israel were compelled to have their bodies circumcised as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, the first of the Hebrew patriarchs, which was established between God and Abraham.
  6. In contrast, Paul believed that Gentile converts may join God’s people in the end days without having to become Jewish, and he argued passionately that trust in Jesus Christ was the sole condition for Gentiles.
  7. Many people in later Christianity believed that “works of the law” are synonymous with “good acts,” and that Paul was attempting to put faith in opposition to good deeds.
  8. As his focus on flawless behavior demonstrates, he was a firm believer in the importance of good acts, and he did not consider good works to be in opposition to “faith.” Faith, on the other hand, resulted in good acts, which are referred to as “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22).
  9. Having certain portions of the law made necessary for his Gentile converts was something Paul strongly opposed.

Galatians 3:24–28 states, “Therefore the law served as our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith”; “in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith”; those who have been baptized into Christ have “clothed yourselves with Christ”; and the conclusion, “There is no longer a distinction between Jew and Greek, slave or free, male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” “Righteousness by faith” is not in fact any different from being baptized into Christ and being one with him in terms of its meaning and application.

When Paul used the tale of Abraham to argue that circumcision was no longer essential, he used the language of righteousness and faith to make his point.

When he wanted to explain a believer’s transition from the power of sin to the power of Christ, he used language that was more natural to him: dying with Christ, being baptized into him, and becoming one person with him were all phrases that came to him naturally.

Thebody of Christ

Individuals who have been cleansed from sin, but also as organic members of the collective body of Christ, was how Paul viewed his converts when they came to him. He believes the concept of the body of Christ helps to explain why it is difficult to transgress so severely that one’s place in the people of God is forfeited, according to him. Only the most extreme manifestations of denial of Christ have the ability to expel a biological member from the body of Christ. In Paul’s considerations of behavior, the body of Christ plays a significant role as well.

Because individuals who partake of the Lord’s Supper join in the flesh and blood of Christ, they are unable to partake of the meat and wine served at an idol’s table (see 1 Corinthians 10:14–22 for further information).

Even while those who are in Christ will be turned into a spiritual body similar to Christ’s when he comes back, they are already being “transformed” and “renewed” (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16); the “life of Jesus” is already being made evident in their mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16).

Paul believed that being a member of the body of Christ truly transformed people, causing them to live in accordance with their newfound knowledge.

Those who are under the influence of sin naturally commit sins—”those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8)—but those who are in Christ create “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22; see also Philippians 1:11; Romans 8:2–11; Galatians 5:22–23).

His predictions of suffering, even death or postmortem retribution for offenses (see 1 Corinthians 11:30–32; 3:15; 5:4–5) were made in this context.

He must have persuaded a lot of people that they could actually change for the better, and this must have happened rather frequently.

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