Christianity - Significant People and Ideas

Question 1

Who is Paul of Tarsus?

Answer 1

He was the first theologian of the church and inspired people to think again about spiritual notions.

Question 2

What was Paul of Tarsus’s background?

Answer 2

He was of a Jewish, Roman and Greek background.

Question 3

How is Paul of Tarsus is recognisable as a figure of great faith and love in God?

Answer 3

Through his commitment to his missionary work, theologies and writings.

Question 4

How did Paul of Tarsus supported Jesus’s last instruction to spread the Good News?

Answer 4

By taking upon 3 major missionary journeys which were recorded in the Book of Acts.

Question 5

How has the development of Christianity manifested through Paul’s missionaries? (Missionary Work - Spreading the Good News Contribution)

Answer 5

Through his missionaries, he ultimately fosters the growth of Christian communities outside of the Jewish context.

Question 6

How is Paul able to travel?

Answer 6

Supported by his Roman citizen status allowed him to be flexible in his travels able thus able to spread Christian theology.

Question 7

Where was Paul able to establish churches in the political and cultural centres of the western world? INCLUDE QUOTE. (Missionary Work - Spreading the Good News Contribution)

Answer 7

Rome, Antioch, Corinth and more.

“So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in their numbers” Acts 16:5. Based on Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ beliefs, teachings, concepts of his community and ethics.

Question 8

How has Paul transformed and adjusted mosaic laws? (Impact of his missionary work)

Answer 8

Through this exposure and missionary works to wider communities and societies filled with Gentiles that Paul comes to understand and change the face and direction of the Christian movement, transforming and adjusting Mosaic law.

Question 9

How did Gentiles able to become more involved in the Christian tradition?

Answer 9

Through Paul’s agitation for change, the necessity for one to undergo circumcision was removed which allowed Gentiles to become more involved.

Question 10

What supported the Gentiles in becoming more involved with the Christian traditions? QUOTE

Answer 10

Romans 11:13

“I am the apostles to the gentiles, I take pride in my ministry”, stated Paul

Question 11

How has Paul’s acceptance of the Gentiles developed the Christian tradition?

Answer 11

Through the acceptance of Gentiles formed a Christian foundation, to that of being a universal and inclusive religion, leading to the rapid expansion and significant rise in the number of adherents
∴ Ultimately establishing Christianity to become the most dominant religion in the contemporary world

Question 12

How has Paul’s writings in the New Testament contributed to the development and expression of Christianity? (His Writings Contribution)

Answer 12

Paul contributed to more than one-fourth of the New Testament scriptures with his letters which are considered to be a part of the sacred writings of Christianity as they bear God’s authority thus Paul’s letters laid the foundations for much of the belief and practice.

Question 13

What was the most important theme in Paul’s writings? INCLUDE QUOTE (His Writings Contribution)

Answer 13

The concept of agape which is selfless love as shown in

“If I speak with the tongue of men and of angels but have not love, I have become a noisy gong” (1 corinthians 13:1).

Question 14

What are the other themes of Paul’s writings? INCLUDE QUOTE. (His Writings Contribution)

Answer 14

Other themes of writing are the centrality of Christ’s resurrection, faith as total dependence on God as highlighted in
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection” (Romans 12.9).

Question 15

Who was the one that presented complaints of Gentiles at the Council of Jerusalem? (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 15

Paul of Tarsus was the one that informed the issues of circumcision, kosher food and sexuality mortality.

Question 16

Is Christianity a sect of Judaism?

Answer 16

No, Christianity has developed as a religion in its right through Paul.

Question 17

What is Paul’s teaching of Grace and salvation? INCLUDE QUOTE (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 17

Paul taught faith in God alone was not salvation, that salvation and the Grace of God were offered to all who believed in Jesus Christ.
“For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed…the righteousness will live by faith” (Roman 1:17)

Question 18

What is Paul’s teaching of membership of the body of Christ? INCLUDE QUOTE (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 18

All are equal, baptism is the visible sign of this membership and Paul refers to the community as ‘one body’. This defines the importance of community and Baptism as a sign of membership.
“For we were all baptised by one spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Question 19

What did Paul’s ethical teachings guide Christians? (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 19

Guided Christians in their behaviour and morality to achieve fulfilling and flourishing lives through the concept:

• Agape
• Freedom and responsibility
• Morality

Question 20

What is the ethical teaching of Agape? INCLUDE QUOTE (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 20

One of the most important themes evident in his writings is the concept of agape ( selfless love- unconditional love).

• “ If I speak in the tongues of men or angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal ( 1 Corinthians 13:1)
• “Love does not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6)

Question 21

What is the ethical teaching of Freedom and responsibility?(Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 21

The commandment to love your neighbour summed up all of Christ[‘s teachings into an ethical way of acting with all humanity.
-“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “love your neighbour as yourself” (Galatians 5:14). Quote from Jesus’s teaching

Question 22

What is the ethical teaching of morality? INCLUDE QUOTE (Paul’s Theologies Contribution)

Answer 22

Paul teaches of those behaviours and vices adherents must reject to live ethically, in accordance with the teachings of Jesu Christ
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips”(Colossians 3:8).

Question 23

Who was the greatest Christianity spokesperson? (Personal Leadership Contribution)

Answer 23

Paul of Tarsus

Question 24

What did Paul of Tarsus’s leadership reflect? (Personal Leadership Contribution)

Answer 24

Reflected in his conversation of heart and his ability to lead others to conversion through his preaching and teaching of ways of Christ.

Question 25

Why was Paul of Tarsus a well-respected leader? (Personal Leadership Contribution)

Answer 25

Paul is recognised as being integral to the development of Christianity by early leaders. He was an effective model of Christianity leadership who empowered others to continue living out the faith.

Question 26

What was the impact of Paul’s missionary work? INCLUDE QUOTE (Impact of Missionary Work-Spreading the Good News Paul’s ministry)

Answer 26

Paul has, not only shaped Christianity but has directly impacted and guided all adherents in emulating the model that Jesus set as shown in
“ To Me, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Question 27

How has Paul’s writing impacted the development of Christianity? (Impact of His Writing)

Answer 27

Paul’s impact on Christianity is evident in the Acts of the Apostles and his 13 letters which are used today as holy law/teachings, particularly in Saturday/Sunday worship.

Question 28

How have Paul’s Theologies impacted the development of Christianity?(Impact of Paul’s Theologies)

Answer 28

His theologies are the source of the church and spiritual renewal. Theologians such as Martin Luther have interpreted belief and teaching derived from Pauline theology consequently impacting the widespread development of Christianity.

Question 29

What is an example of the impact of Paul’s theology?(Impact of Paul’s Theologies)

Answer 29

His theology provided a sense of spiritual renewal to contemporary Christians faced with issues such as violence (Black Lives Matter movement). This his influence is profound where he continues to teach that in “fore-bearing one another in love..in the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:1-3 adherents can overcome contemporary adversities.

Question 30

What was the impact of Paul’s teaching of Agape? (Impact of Paul’s Theologies)

Answer 30

The impact on the expression of Christianity is reflected through Pope Francis’ letter “To the people of God” (2018), addressing child sexual abuse incidents as he used extracts from Paul’s letters to promote the primacy of love in our daily lives and provide a vision of unity for the future.

Question 31

How does Paul challenge his/new generations to renew appreciation of the truth of the gospel of Jesus and provide example? (Impact of Personal Leadership)

Answer 31

Paul provoked and inspired supporters of Christianity to fresh insights into the meaning of being Christian. e.g During the 2020 Covid Pandemic, Trinity Anglican Church delivered zoom services drawn on Pauls’ letters to the Philippians 4:7 “ Be anxious for nothing… and the peace of God. which surpasses all understanding. will guard your heartsand your minds in Christ Jesus.