Midterm Flashcards
1
Q
Structure of Letters
A
Letters in Paul’s day routinely followed a basic structure…
Intro: Salutation, name of intended recipient(s), brief greeting, thanksgiving (prayer)
Body: Body of the letter that contained the main purpose for writing, then a command signals the closing of the letter
Conclusion: The letter ends with a conclusion that includes a peace wish, greeting to known acquaintances of the recipient and benediction
2
Q
How many Letters in the NT? How many are attributed to Paul? How many were written by Paul?
A
27 / 13 / 7
3
Q
Authentic Pauline Letters (Undisputed)
A
Romans 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians Galatians Philippians 1 Thessalonians Philemon
4
Q
Deutero-Pauline Letters (“Disputed”)
A
2 Thessalonians
Ephesians
Colossians
5
Q
Pastoral Epistles
“even more disputed”
A
1 Timothy, 2 Timothy
Titus
6
Q
What does Diaspora mean? What does it refer to?
A
“scattering”
Diaspora refers to the community of Jews who lived outside of Israel/Palestine after the Babylonian exile
7
Q
What is the significance of Paul as a Diaspora Jew
A
Diaspora refers to the community of Jews who lived outside of Israel/Palestine after the Babylonian exile
This is a significant trait of Paul because it is a key reason why Paul made Christianity open to non-Jews
Paul was born and raised in Tarsus
Tarsus is found just outside of Palestine
Paul was a diaspora Jew
8
Q
What is the significance of Paul as a Diaspora Jew
A
Diaspora refers to the community of Jews who lived outside of Israel/Palestine after the Babylonian exile
This is a significant trait of Paul because it is a key reason why Paul made Christianity open to non-Jews
Paul was born and raised in Tarsus
Tarsus is found just outside of Palestine
Paul was a diaspora Jew
9
Q
What is the significance of Paul as a tentmaker?
Was it also in Tarsus tat Paul learned his trade of being a “tentmaker?” (Acts 18)
A
Tent making was popular in Tarsus.
As a missionary to the Gentiles, Paul worked as a living artisan
According to Acts (18), Paul was a tentmaker, however, Paul does not mention this in his letters
Tentmaking was hard, physical labour (tents were sewn together with cloth and sometimes leather, required strong hands shoulders and back)
Cities such as Tarsus and Corinth (where Paul met Aquila and Prica and stayed for a lengthy time, would have had a very high demand for tents, because tourists, soldiers, sailors and athletes all needed tents for travelling and lodging
10
Q
What is the significance of Paul as a Roman Citizen?
A
The Acts tell us that Paul had Roman citizenship
The story states that he was born with Roman citizenship
It is probable that his family received it then
Paul’s execution in Rome is consistent with Luke’s statement of Paul’s Roman citizenship
Paul was beheaded and not crucified, because it was beyond the dignity of a Roman (too inhumane for a Roman citizen)
Peter was crucified because he was a Jew, Paul was a Jew but also a Roman citizen and therefore was beheaded
Paul’s Roman citizenship most probably was due to the fact that his family had it
However, Paul never speaks of his Roman citizenship, it only appears in Luke’s Acts
SO was this an aim of Luke in his Acts to appeal it to Gentiles?
Paul never tells us this in his letters, but they are very ad hoc (not biographical)
Paul was under a lot of fire from the Romans, so if it were really true that he was a Roman citizen, it would have been very useful for him to bring up.
11
Q
Is Paul a Roman citizen?
A
Acts mentions he was (and his execution verifies this), but Paul never mentions it himself, though it would have given him more credit in proclaiming his message, so it may have been embellished by Luke.
12
Q
Text (in the broadest sense)
A
Anything that has meaning and can be interpreted (example: interpreting a person’s face/facial expression to understand their emotions). A text has three worlds contained in it, we must distinguish between the three levels…
13
Q
Dimensions of a “Text” (The Three Worlds)
A
World 1: the world “in” or “of” the text (the world in itself that the text takes place in)
World 2: the world “behind” the text (the historical circumstances in which the author and subject are situated in)
World 3: the world “in front” of the text (the way in which we interpret the text)
14
Q
World 1
A
the world “in” or “of” the text (the world in itself that the text takes place in)
15
Q
World 2
A
the world “behind” the text (the historical circumstances in which the author and subject are situated in)
16
Q
World 3
A
the world “in front” of the text (the way in which we interpret the text)
17
Q
Examples of the 3 Worlds using Paul: World 1
A
What Paul’s Letters are about
18
Q
Examples of the 3 Worlds using Paul: World 2
A
Paul’s Letters are about him and his early Christian communities
19
Q
Examples of the 3 Worlds using Paul: World 3
A
We the readers of Paul’s Letters (e.g. Lutheran and Protestant denominations of Christianity)
20
Q
Excursus: Bible Study as CSI
Studying a text can be compared to crime study/CSI drama…
A
When a crime happens and is done, what remains? Only the crime scene remains.
The investigator comes in and must study, examine and analyze the crime scene really well, to try to reconstruct exactly what had happened. If the investigator does not examine the crime scene well, the reconstruction will be flawed. These reconstructions can be very mistaken at first.
World 1: Crime Scene (all that remains)
World 2: Investigator’s reconstruction based on analytical examination
The Bible is our crime scene. The events it reports are in the past and there is nothing we can do to know what happened for certain.
The Biblical student/scholar reads the Bible and studies/examines/analyzes it closely, and makes a reconstruction of what may have happened.
Depending on our quality of reading, we can have very mistaken or very good ideas of what happened in the world of Paul.
21
Q
Discuss Paul’s background as a diasporic Jew, that is, one living in two worlds - the world of the Jew and the world of the Greek
A
Diaspora refers to the community of Jews who lived outside of Israel/Palestine
Paul was born and raised in Tarsus
Tarsus is found just outside of Palestine, hence Paul was a diaspora Jew influenced by Hellenism
Paul’s life and worldview was shaped by both Jewish and Hellenistic contexts
He was ethnically a Jew, but lived in an area and time that was heavily influenced by Hellenism
He was formed and informed by both Judaism and Hellenism
This is a significant trait of Paul because it is a key reason why Paul made Christianity open to non-Jews
Paul was clearly well-educated because his Greek is good
His message pertained to both the Jewish and the Greco-Roman world and his success is owed in part to his familiarity with both (being a diaspora Jew)
Diaspora Jews were given two names: a Jewish name and a Greco-Roman name (Saul/Paul)
22
Q
Primary Sources for understanding Paul
A
Pieces of literature that came from Paul himself.
Our Primary Source for understanding Paul is his “undisputed letters.”
Undisputed Letters: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon and Philippians
There is no dispute that Paul wrote these letters himself
They are “Authentic Letters” or “Genuine Letters”
23
Q
Secondary Sources for understanding Paul
A
Acts of Apostles
The Acts are a secondary source because Luke tends to embellish stories to further the goals of his writings.
24
Q
Why are Paul’s Letters given priority over Luke’s Acts when their records conflict?
A
Acts should be used with caution because it is hard to know when Luke is reporting history and when he is embellishing history to further his goals for writing Acts…
Luke does not want to show these conflicts, so he writes the Acts of the Apostles to show a smooth transition and relationship and omits things that would not have been good for him to mention, and omits things that he is not interested in
However, it is likely that Paul experienced a lot of conflict, as he was radical about his proclamation, and this is shown through his deeply passionate and emotionally infiltrated letters
25
What are the “fixed or definite (historical) points” in reconstructing a chronology of Paul’s life & ministry? (3)
May scholars cite the following three:
1. Gallio Inscription: An inscription found in Delphi states that Gallio was proconsul in Achaia from 51-52. Acts 18:12 states that Paul was accused and tried before Gallio.
2. Jewish Expulsion: In 49 CE, Claudius expelled the Jews from Italy. Acts 18:12 states that Paul met Priscilla and Aquila who were expelled from Italy at Corinth.
3. Eastern Mediterranean Famine: In 46 CE, there was a famine in eastern Mediterranean. In relation to this, Pauls tartes a c olection for the Jerusalem community in need. Acts 11:28.
26
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts
How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
27
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Stage 1: Pentecost
At Pentecost, Jews from all over the world heard the “good news”
- Luke tells us that lots of people are moved and converted to the message of Jesus
- First conversion and preaching of the apostles moves many
Pentecost: Jewish feast
Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate Pentecost
- The apostles became filled with the Spirit and could speak every mother tongue
- Many Jews from all over the world heard them speaking, and became convinced and believed in jesus and brought the good news of him upon their return to their homeland
28
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Pentecost
At Pentecost, Jews from all over the world heard the “good news”
- Luke tells us that lots of people are moved and converted to the message of Jesus
- First conversion and preaching of the apostles moves many
Pentecost: Jewish feast
Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate Pentecost
- The apostles became filled with the Spirit and could speak every mother tongue
- Many Jews from all over the world heard them speaking, and became convinced and believed in jesus and brought the good news of him upon their return to their homeland
29
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Stage 2: Persecution and Dispersal
- The disciples are persecuted
- As a result of this, they are forced to flee to other areas and this brings about the spread of the good news to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1)
- Luke is obsessed with the idea of showing the way the Gospel was spread
- He describes it here: spread to Judea and Samaria
- Philip (not one of the Twelve) preached in Samaria
- He discovered that he is a charismatic preacher and successful in converting people
- He preaches in Samaria, Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch
- Luke tells us this story because the eunuch is going BACK to Ethiopia, and he will spread the Gospel there! In Ethiopia, there is a firmly established Christian presence in Ethiopia since the first century, and they credit him for bringing it back to them
Luke includes this because it further spreads the message of Jesus
30
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Stage 3: Saul is “Converted” (meets the risen Christ)
- Luke uses his Jewish name. Saul, until he is converted to Jesus, and then Luke uses Paul
Many believe his name was changed, but that is not the case
- Paul was a diaspora Jew (outside the land of Palestine)
Jews in Palestine were Palestinian Jews (Jesus and his apostles), Paul was born what is now modern Turkey
- Diaspora Jews were given two names: a Jewish name and a Greco-Roman name
He was already Paul-Saul
- For stylistic reasons, Luke uses Saul then Paul
Saul (Paul), a persecutor, is converted and receives a mission to be an apostle to the gentiles
31
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Stage 4:
- In Acts 10, Peter also sets a precedent and baptizes a Roman centurion names Cornelius
- Peter knew Jesus in the flesh. - So this is very important
Peter is the main character in the first 12 chapters of Acts, then Paul
- Peter actually did not want to baptize Cornelius, because he was a gentile and Peter did not want to lose his purity
- God appears to Peter in a vision with many animals (including unclean animals) and says to him, “slaughter and eat” → Peter was horrified
The voice says: “Do not consider what is unclean what God made clean”
- Peter understands this as the time to baptize non-Jews
- This is why Christians, at a certain point, gave away with the kosher
- When the other Jews hear what Peter has done, there are horrified and criticize him, so he shares his vision with him
- The covenant for Jews is now open to Gentiles, hence this story is very important
32
Luke’s Main Theme in Acts: How the Gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome
How did the Gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
Stage 5: Paul Begins his Mission
- From Acts 13 onwards, the protagonist becomes Paul who begins his missionary work which will result in the gospel being carried away to Rome
- Paul takes on his role as an important apostle
- For Luke, Paul is a great missionary but Luke hesitates to call him an apostle
- Why didn’t Luke tell us the story of the death of Paul? He wrote after Paul died.
33
How is Luke's depiction of the transition to Christianity different from Paul's? Which do we speculate is more historically accurate? Why did Luke depict it differently than Paul?
Luke’s story tells of a peaceful, smooth transition to Christianity
Though we see through Paul, that it was not like this...
- Paul was the opposite, he was a very passionate individual who was not afraid to explain internal conflicts and arguments
- Paul was often at the end of (and arguably the cause of) many conflicts, so he experienced them differently
- Was Luke “sweeping dirt under the rug?"
- Luke seemingly tries his best to avoid or minimize the conflicts that occurred between the different factions/groups in Early Christianity - especially between Paul and the group loyal to James in Jerusalem
- James: seemingly thought that if you wanted to become a Christian, first you had to become a Jew
- Paul comes in and says that gentiles do no need to be circumcised anymore
- Luke does not want to show these conflicts, so he writes the Acts of the Apostles to show a smooth transition and relationship
34
The only writings we have about Paul are
pro-Paul
35
Why don't we have any writings that are anti-Paul? Why is this problematic
We don’t have any writings from people who thought Paul was a disturbance.
Luke: For Luke, Paul is a hero. They were good friends.
Mark: Paul was disappointed in Mark, but they reconciled later on and Mark wrote with Paul.
Matthew: We are not sure about Matthew.
John: John does not seem to be concerned at all with Paul.
James: The Letter of James is the closest thing we have to an anti-Paul writing.
We only see Paul from half of a perspective. It is likely that he was a disturbance to many, so hearing from those who felt that way would help us further contextualize history and attitudes towards the early Christian movement.
36
What do we know about Paul’s Lifespan? Birth & Death? Where can we find it?
Acts 7 states that Paul was a “young man” at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom
In his letter to Philemon, Paul says that he is “an old man”
What did “old man” really mean at the time? Some suggest ‘over 60 years old’ (not a consensus though)
If Philemon was written around 53 CE (according to scholarly opinion, from that we can deduce that Paul was more or less a contemporary of Jesus, born around 4 BCE
Paul was born around 8 CE and in his mid-60s when he died.
37
Where is Paul from?
Tarsus
38
Where is Paul's place of origin and where is it found now?
Paul’s place of origin (now found in South Eastern Turkey)
39
Background information on Tarsus
In Acts 9, 21, 22: references to Paul being from “Tarsus” (in the province of Sicilia)
- Paul was born and raised in Tarsus
- At that time in Tarsus, there was a fairly large Jewish community
- Besides, Tarsus was famed for its high level of culture and education.
- This matches what we know about Paul. From Paul’s writings, we know that he was well-educated man. His Greek is good. He knew the Septuagint well. He was familiar with Hellenistic structures and practices.
- He is mentioned to be a tentmaker
40
How does Paul being from Tarsus affect his education and culture?
Tarsus is found just outside of Palestine, thus Paul is a diaspora Jew (Jew living outside of Palestine) and is influenced by both the Hellenistic (Greek) world and the Jewish world.
41
Where is the term “Thorn in the Flesh” mentioned? What does it exemplify?
Mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 (Example of Paul as a Jewish “Jesus-Christ-Mystic”)
42
“Thorn in the Flesh”
Mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 (Example of Paul as a Jewish “Jesus-Christ-Mystic”)
First, “thorn” means more than a minor prick. It is, as standard Greek lexicon explains, “something pointed, such as a stake, then something that causes serious annoyances, thorn, splinter, etc., specifically of an injurious foreign body”
Second, Paul makes a connection between his ecstatic (out of body) experiences of that thron/stake in the flesh.
He describes visions and revelations of the Lord when he was caught up in the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body and was permitted to hear things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
43
Was Paul an apostle? What would Luke say?
For Luke, Paul is a great missionary but Luke hesitates to call him an apostle...
Luke does not agree that Paul was an apostle, because an apostle was someone who knew Jesus before he died and followed him and then experienced the risen Jesus after the death
Paul persecuted Jesus’ followers, never knew real Jesus, therefore is not an apostle
44
Was Paul an apostle? What would Paul say?
Paul is adamant about his status as an apostle...
Paul explains that Jesus himself revealed the good news to him to emphasize that he is an apostle. It gave him a right to be considered an “apostle,” that is, a WITNESS and PROCLAIMER of the risen Jesus
45
Luke's Definition of Apostle:
someone who knew Jesus before he died and followed him and then experienced the risen Jesus after the death
46
Paul's Definition of Apostle:
a witness and proclaimer of the risen Jesus
47
Define “Apocalyptic” (noun: Apocalypse)
Pertaining to revelations from God containing words, visions, symbols, etc. - often cryptic nature - which give an idea of how, when and under what circumstances God would intervene in human history to establish God’s ideal world (i.e. the Kingdom of God; God’s Reign)
48
Origins of Apocalyptic Thought
Apocalyptic Thought begins with the reality of oppression, especially the oppression of people who firmly believe that such an unfortunate state of affairs goes contrary to God’s ideal plan for them
49
2nd Temple Jewish Apocalyptic Thinking (a contextual factor that we should not forget)
Pax Romana: Peace was founded on blood of others and fear of Rome’s order, but Jews accepted it.
In Israel, Roman rule meant prosperity for the ruling elite (which collaborated with the Romans) but poverty and oppression for most of the populations (especially Jews).
This lead to “Apocalyptic Thought”
50
Describe 2nd Temple Jewish Apocalyptic Thinking as "Back to the Future"
Throughout their history, when things were rough, the Jewish people looked back to the PAST, in particular, to the event of Exodus, to draw hope for the present.
However, beginning from the Babylonian exile and continuing to the next era, Jews began to look “Back to the Future.”
The oppression became really bad, so looking back to the past was not enough and Jews looked to the future for hope.
51
Apocalyptic Thought
a heightened desire and expectation among many Jews for a direct intervention of God in history to drive out the invaders and liberate Israel. Jesus will come and do away with all the immoral people and establish purity and peace.
52
What is the key question of Second Temple Period Jewish Apocalyptic Thinking?
Instead of the Romans (or whoever was in power at the time), if God himself were the real boss (absolute authority) around here, how would the world be?
In other words: If God’s reign would be definitively established here on earth, what kind of “world order” would we have?
53
Apocalyptic visions were created to
give people hope in a means of despair
54
Apocalyptic visions consisted of It consisted a creative imagination - answers were very different, detailed and creative. There were 4 forms of Apocalyptic Thinking
1. Dualistic
2. Pessimistic
3. Convinced about Vindication
4. Imminent
55
4 forms of Apocalyptic Thinking: Dualistic
Since Jews were persecuted for being Jewish, many came to believe that these sufferings were caused by God’s cosmic enemies (the powers of evil) who had been given change over the Earth for some time.
56
4 forms of Apocalyptic Thinking: Pessimistic
Things can only get worse before they get better (a coping device).
57
4 forms of Apocalyptic Thinking: Convinced about Vindication
God was going to be ultimately triumphant. God would punish Israel’s enemies and make Israel glorious once gain.
58
4 forms of Apocalyptic Thinking: Imminent
God’s victory through a messiah was going to happen soon (different people had different expectations of "soon")
59
Apocalyptic Thought and Messianism
- In the apocalyptic thought of late 2nd Temple Judaism, it was thought that God would establish God’s reign through a messianic figure
- Such a figure in the gospels is often referred to as “Son of Man,” “Son of David,” or other expressions
- There are many other figures from the time who claimed to be the Messiah
- Jesus is the most famous, the only who is remembered today
60
Ideas of Afterlife at 2nd TP
- Not all jews at this time believed in heaven (example: Sadducees), so do not equate apocalyptic thought with heaven
- Death was like a pause, waiting for God to establish His reign on Earth
- The reign of God would be established here, on Earth, with the living and the dead
- Heaven became dominant when Christians and Jews began believing that the Apocalypse would not come in the immediate future
61
Early Christian Apocalyptic Thought
- The earliest Christians (among them, Paul) were deeply apocalyptic
- They believed that Jesus’ resurrection initiated a new age
- This age was, in a sense, the “beginning of the end”
- Jesus will return and establish the reign of God and those who live righteously will be saved
62
The Early Christians thought they were living in the "end times." What does this mean? Define it.
“The End Times”: this present age will end with the return of Christ (the Parousia)
The Early Christians believed they were living in the end times
- They believed that Jesus’ Second Coming (the Parousia) would occur soon
Jesus would come and establish in a perfect way the reign of God
- Since Jesus had not come yet, Christians spent their time preparing for his imminent return and coming of Christ
- They should do their best to establish communities which would be harbingers or precursors of the reign of God
- Paul’s missions were not easy and extremely time-consuming, they required a lot of effort; what drove him was Jesus’ return (look Jesus, look what I did)
63
God-Fearers
People (gentiles) who were interested in the Jewish religion, so they would go to the synagogue but did not want to make the final step of becoming a Jew (circumcision) thus could not become adherents of Judaism in the strict sense of the term because circumcision is the absolute condition of the covenant
64
What drove Paul to stay dedicated to his missions?
Jesus' second coming: "look what I did, Jesus" would ensure that he would be saved by God.
65
Upon reaching a location, he visits the Jewish synagogue (outside of Palestine).
There he would find fellow Jews and _______
“God-fearers” (gentiles attracted to Israel’s faith)
66
Compare & contrast the account of Paul’s conversion found in Gal 1 and that found in Acts 9.
Paul's Conversion in Gal 1
Paul’s Words (Galatians 1:11): Paul is not dramatic about his conversion experience, rather is quite ambiguous
Paul describes his conversion as God revealing his Son to Paul, so that Paul will proclaim him among the Gentiles...
- So, this mission part of his life is extremely important
Paul interpreted his experience as a God-given mission
- Paul did not confer with the apostles about his experience, rather he went away to Arabia (present-day Jordan). He returned to Damascus (likely because he had problems with the people there; Paul tended to have problems with the people everywhere he went then had to leave)
- Paul explains that Jesus himself revealed the good news to him to emphasize that he is an apostle
Paul’s explanation of his conversion emphasizes his apostleship
- It gave him a right to be considered an “apostle,” that is, a witness and proclaimer of the risen Jesus
67
Compare & contrast the account of Paul’s conversion found in Gal 1 and that found in Acts 9.
Paul's Conversion in Acts 9
Luke’s Words (Acts 9): dramatic, many motifs, detailed, thematic
- All except the apostles were scattered throughout the country of Judea and Samaria
- Saul was ravaging the church, persecuting Christians by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison
- Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them
Paul was a persecutor and Paul confirms this in his letter
Early Christians: Jews who believed in Christ, believed Christ was the Messiah (Christians are not known yet as “Christians” but are “followers of the way” / those who belong to “the way”)
- Paul was on his way to arrest people in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem
- On his way, he heard a voice that identified itself as Jesus, asking why Paul was persecuting Jesus
- This experience marks him so much, that Paul believes that when you persecute the community of Jesus, you are persecuting Jesus
- Paul was “blinded by the light” (art shows him falling off of a horse, being blinded)
- He was baptized and spent time in Damascus with disciples and immediately begins to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God
Paul develops a thought that he will later call “the Body of Christ” is the Church (Jesus’ community is the body of Christ)
Luke does not agree that Paul was an apostle, because an apostle was someone who knew Jesus before he died and followed him and then experienced the risen Jesus after the death
68
Why is Paul’s “Conversion” a problematic term to use?
- Christianity did not even exist yet (there are no Christians yet)
- All we have is a sect of Jews who follow Jesus and share his message
- There was nothing for Paul to convert to
- When you call it a “conversion” you are committing an anachronism
- Anachronism: applying something that came up later on in time to an earlier time when it did not even exist (a wrong use of a category of anything because you are unfairly applying something to it)
Instead of conversion, there are other terms to use...
69
Anachronism
applying something that came up later on in time to an earlier time when it did not even exist (a wrong use of a category of anything because you are unfairly applying something to it)
70
Alternative expressions to Paul's "conversion"
1. Encounter with Christ
2. Resurrection Experience
3. Paradigm Shift
71
1. Encounter with Christ
Paul claimed he encountered the Jesus.
72
2. Resurrection Experience
Paul met the risen Jesus. according to Paul, he is an apostle because Jesus appeared to him and gave him a special mission.
73
3. Paradigm Shift
sociological term: Paul has a certain worldview and it was changed
74
What are the three different ways we can express Paul's conversion? (as taken from his own words)
1) Encounter with Christ
(what Paul later on said happened: he encountered the risen Jesus)
2) Resurrection Experience
(according to Paul, he is an apostle because Jesus appeared to him and gave him a special mission)
3) Paradigm Shift
(sociological term: he has a certain worldview and it was changed)
75
(1) Paul’s Conversion:
Encounter with Christ (Galatians)
God-Given Mission
- Paul describes his conversion as God revealing his Son to Paul, so that Paul will proclaim him among the Gentiles
- So, this mission part of his life is extremely important
- Paul interpreted his experience as a God-given mission
- Paul did not confer with the apostles about his experience, rather he went away to Arabia (present-day Jordan)
He returned to Damascus (likely because he had problems with the people there)
- Paul tended to have problems with the people everywhere he went then had to leave
- Paul explains that Jesus himself revealed the good news to him to emphasize that he is an apostle
- Paul’s explanation of his conversion emphasizes his apostleship
76
(2) Paul’s Conversion:
A Resurrection Experience (Corinthians)
Apostolic Authority
- Paul described this conversion experience as an encounter with the risen Christ
- It gave him a right to be considered an “apostle”
- That is, a witness and proclaimer of the risen Christ
- For Paul, James was an apostle (the brother of Jesus, not the two in the group of 12)
- Paul claims he is the least of the apostles, and even unfit to be an apostle, but by the grace of God, Paul says “I am what I am”
77
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(3) Paul’s Conversion:
Paradigm Shift (Phillipians)
```
Change in Worldviews
- Paul explains what he viewed as very important before, he views as garbage now (in order to gain Christ)
- Paradigm shift: dramatic shift from one worldview to another
Before: Paul originally saw Jesus’ way as an aberration: a corruption of the Covenant of God with Israel
After: Paul saw Jesus’ way as the fulfillment: the climax of the Covenant of God and Israel with God opening it up to the Gentiles
Conservative Traditionalist → Opening the Covenant
78
What is Paul's worldview before his conversion?
Paul originally saw Jesus’ way as an aberration:
a corruption of the Covenant of God with Israel
79
What is Paul's worldview after his conversion?
Paul saw Jesus’ way as the fulfillment:
the climax of the Covenant of God and Israel with God opening it up to the Gentiles
80
(4) Paul’s Conversion: Experience of Grace (Romans)
How does Paul's conversion shape his central message that he intends to spread through his missions?
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us."
- Paul explains that despite his persecution of Christians, God still accepted him
- You cannot deserve God’s grace ever, because even as a sinner, God will always offer you his grace and all you need to do is accept it and God will be righteous
- From this he develops his main message that he intends to spread on his missions.
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What is the significance of Paul’s so-called “conversion” (encounter with Christ along the road to Damascus) in the development of early Christianity?
- Paul is second only to Jesus in his contribution to Jesus and his contribution to the development of Christianity
- Although Paul apparently never knew the living Jesus and once persecuted his disciples, he experienced an apokalypsis (revelation) of the risen Christ that transformed his life
- His apokalypsis inspired him to spread the Christian community and thus he commenced on his missionaries and opened churches in numerous locations where Christianity had not yet reached
- From this conversion experience, Paul develops his Gospel: those with faith in God will receive his grace and be justified/saved
- This notion of salvation has been taken on by Christianity and is one of its central beliefs, especially Protestant Christians (e.g. Martin Luther)
- Through his conversion experience of grace (as explained in Romans), Paul developed his central message that has become a central belief in contemporary Christianity
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Paul’s Place in Early Christianity
Paul often seems to us to be the major figure in early Christianity
During his lifetime, one can argue that Paul and his communities were not mainstream, often misunderstood and suspected of being illegitimate compared to communities founded by people who knew the “flesh and blood” Jesus like Peter and James
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How was Paul's conversion a mystical experience and what was the content of it?
Paul’s conversion and mysticism involved experiencing Jesus Christ as the climax and ultimate fulfillment of the covenant which God made with Israel.
Paul was a Jesus-Christ-Mystic because of his apparition with Jesus.
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Why wasn't Paul's conversion from Judaism to some other faith? (i.e. Why was he still a Jew after his so-called "conversion")
Unlike many Christians claim, Paul did not deny or ignore his Jewish roots, he did not give up being a Jews
His conversion was not from Judaism → Christianity
The content of his conversion was that the covenant of Jews has been thrown wide open to also include the non-Jews/Gentiles.
Jesus’ coming as the Messiah opened up the covenant to everyone who accepts Jesus as God’s Messiah/Christ.
Paul is still a Jew and acknowledges that, encouraging Jews to continue practicing their customs but opening up their faith to Gentiles who need not follow the customs.
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Why was Paul a Jesus-Christ Mystic?
Paul was a Jesus-Christ-Mystic because of his apparition with Jesus.
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What was the content of Paul's mystical experience of Christ?
The content of his conversion was that the covenant of Jews has been thrown wide open to also include the non-Jews/Gentiles.
Jesus’ coming as the Messiah opened up the covenant to everyone who accepts Jesus as God’s Messiah/Christ.
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What did the opening of the covenant to Gentiles mean, for Paul?
Opening it up in such a radical way that traditions, such as circumcision and kosher, are not even important anymore...which made Paul very controversial
If you were a Jew, you should keep practicing old Jewish traditions
If you are a Gentile, you need not to adapt the Jewish traditions
He distinguished a Jewish way of being Christian from a Gentile way of being Christian, created a division/separation
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Why was Paul a radical conservative? How did the impact how he viewed the followers of Jesus (pre-conversion)?
- People who are conservatives want to keep and preserve the tradition
- In Paul’s case, he was very jealous and zealous of the tradition, a radical conservative
- He saw the Jesus-followers as breaking the tradition by introducing something new
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Paul went from a conservative traditionalist Jew to opening the covenant to non-Jews. What were the conditions of Gentiles entering the faith? Why was this so controversial amongst Jews?
After his Resurrection Experience, Paul opened up the tradition to Gentiles by making changes in the practice of law (no circumcision or kosher necessary for Gentiles)...
- God wants to open up the Covenant for everyone, and to do so, Paul makes it easier for them to convert through drastic changes
Gentiles did not need to partake in Circumcision and Kosher
- As a condition, faith in Jesus was the condition for Gentiles to enter the Covenant
- During the Macab, the Jews died for these traditions (e.g. the Romans were forcing them to eat pork or die)
- So the fact that Paul comes in and claims he met Jesus and relieves Gentiles from observing these laws that Jews died for was absolutely radical and controversial and the beginning of Paul’s downfall
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The Gallio Inscription
What is it? What is its significance to the historicity regarding Paul?
- According to Acts 18, Paul was brought to trial before Lucius Gallio (proconsul of Achaia) sometime during his 18 month stay in Corinth
- The “Gallio Inscription” (an inscription documenting a letter from Emperor Claudius addressed to Gallio’s successore) offers reliable historical evidence that Galileo was in Corinth in the summer of 51 CE
- The fact provides the ONLY verifiable date in the chronology of Paul’s life from which all other dates are calculated backward or forward
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What are the main factors to be considered when studying Paul’s background?
- Paul was a Pharisee before his Conversion
- Paul was a persecutor and Paul confirms this in his letter
- Paul was born in Tarsus
- Paul’s proclamation was intended for Gentiles and Jews
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How do we know Paul was a Pharisee "zealous to the law"?
According to Philippians (Paul’s words)
Circumcised on 8th day, member of people of Israel (a Jew), tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew born of Hebrews, a Pharisee to the law
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How do we know Paul was a persecutor of the Christians?
According to Acts (Luke’s words), he supported Stephen’s martyrdom
"All except the apostles were scattered throughout the country of Judea and Samaria and Saul was ravaging the church, persecuting Christians by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison."
Paul confirms this in his Letters.
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Why is it important to note that Paul was born in Tarsus?
His views were shaped by the heavy influence that Hellenism had on him; he was influenced by both the Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds.
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“5 Quick and Dirty Rules for Interpreting Paul”
1. Set the Acts of the Apostles Aside
2. Paul was not a Christian
We made Paul the champion of Christianity; we think Paul was a Christian but Paul thought of himself first and foremost as a Jew. He realized, with the coming of Jesus, God opened the covenant for everyone, and since not everyone can follow the Jewish laws, they are no longer necessary to be a part of the covenant. So
Paul opened the Jewish covenant to non-Jews, however, he was still a Jew.
3. Paul was addressing the nations (gentiles, non-Jews)
4. An apocalyptic scenario underlies Paul’s understanding
5. Read Paul’s letters in Greek
(translations are imperfect resources; something is always lost in translation)
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“5 Quick and Dirty Rules for Interpreting Paul”
1. Set the Acts of the Apostles Aside
2. Paul was not a Christian
3. Paul was addressing the nations (gentiles, non-Jews)
4. An apocalyptic scenario underlies Paul’s understanding
5. Read Paul’s letters in Greek
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What did Paul probably do in Arabia (Nabatea) after his conversion?
Paul experienced the risen Jesus in Damascus, and went away to Arabia (present-day Jordan in 35-38 CE to perform some missionary activity, but he was expelled under King Aretas. The majority of the people there were already Jewish and his opening of the Covenant did not apply to them, since they were already a part of it.
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What was Paul’s basic proclamation?
Nowhere in Paul’s theology does he offer a systematic accounting of his theology, but scholars have identified the centre of Paul’s thinking from which his theology flows as "justification by faith." Others have argued that it is Jesus Christ himself, and Paul’s Christology. Perhaps he has several motifs, rather than one centre. These are the key proclamations of Paul:
- Paul was convinced that in raising crucified Jesus from the dead, God acted decisively in human history, offering salvation to all who professes faith in this divine act
- This is the fundamental conviction from which Paul lived and proclaimed
- From his letters, he seems to focus most on the so-called “Paschal Mystery” (Death-resurrection-Glorification) of Jesus as the Christ
- Today, Christianity is heavily focused on the Paschal Mystery, thanks to Paul
- Paul emphasized that humans are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
- The second coming of Jesus will establish God's Reign and bring salvation for both the living and dead who have accepted God's grace (and therefore been justified)
- Until then, we must live life "in faith" or "in Christ" and Paul explains how in his letters
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What is the fundamental conviction from which Paul lived and proclaimed?
In raising crucified Jesus from the dead, God acted decisively in human history, offering salvation to all who professes faith in this divine act.
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What was Paul’s basic proclamation?
Nowhere in Paul’s theology does he offer a systematic accounting of his theology, but scholars have identified the centre of Paul’s thinking from which his theology flows as "justification by faith." Others have argued that it is Jesus Christ himself, and Paul’s Christology. Perhaps he has several motifs, rather than one centre. These are the key proclamations of Paul:
Jesus as the Christ/Messiah/Lord
- Paul was convinced that in raising crucified Jesus from the dead, God acted decisively in human history, offering salvation to all who professes faith in this divine act
- This is the fundamental conviction from which Paul lived and proclaimed
Paschal Mystery/Salvation
- From his letters, he seems to focus most on the so-called “Paschal Mystery” (Death-resurrection-Glorification) of Jesus as the Christ
- Today, Christianity is heavily focused on the Paschal Mystery, thanks to Paul
- Paul emphasized that humans are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Parousia
- The second coming of Jesus will establish God's Reign and bring salvation for both the living and dead who have accepted God's grace (and therefore been justified)
Living in Christ
- Until then, we must live life "in faith" or "in Christ" and Paul explains how in his letters
- The Church community is the body of Christ
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Why is Easter Christianity’s most important feast? Where does it come from?
Easter is the highlight of the Christian liturgical year, thanks to Paul. In his letters, Paul was especially focused on the “Paschal Mystery” (Death-resurrection-Glorification) of Jesus as the Christ.
Paul emphasized that humans are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
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What is the Paschal Mystery?
Pascal Mystery: Death-Resurrection-Glorification of Jesus as the Christ.
Paul emphasized that humans are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus’ sacrifice and its efficacy for the salvation of humanity has been validated through God’s action of raising Jesus from the dead.
This comes entirely from Paul, and not at all from Jesus.
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Paul’s Three Missions
1. Antioch to Asia Minor (46-48)
2. Antioch to Greece (49-52)
3. Antioch to communities he founded in 2nd Mission (53-57)
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How many missions did Paul go on? From where to where?
- His home base at the beginning: Antioch (he would go out and return to Antioch)
- Later on, in order to make it easier to remember we divided his missionaries into 3
Paul did not necessarily intent to have 3
1) First Missionary Journey:
Antioch to Asia Minor
2) Second Missionary Journey:
Antioch to Greece
Third Missionary Journey:
Antioch to communities he founded in 2nd missionary, revisits his Churches
Then he goes back to Jerusalem/Rome and is arrested
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Describe Paul’s Missionary Strategy
Upon reaching a location, he visits the Jewish synagogue (outside of Palestine)
There he would find fellow Jews and “God-fearers” (gentiles attracted to Israel’s faith)
If given an opportunity, he would preach about Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenant
The congregation would usually be divided: some opposing Paul, others supporting
They would then complain to the officials and the officials would clamp down on Paul and he would have to escape
From these supporters a Christian community would be born
Of the supporters, Paul would appoint leaders or leave collaborators behind
Paul would move on to another place
Paul did not understand his mission as leading the growth of the community, but appointed others to do it, his mission was to begin the community
He had very little time to spend in a time where he founded a community and would have to guide the community from afar in his letters
Given such circumstances, Paul had to write letters to stay in touch with the communities he had founded, These letters would usually be in response to issues arising in the community
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Why did Paul HAVE to write letters to his communities?
He was kicked out
He had very little time to spend in a time where he founded a community and would have to guide the community from afar in his letters
Given such circumstances, Paul had to write letters to stay in touch with the communities he had founded, These letters would usually be in response to issues arising in the community
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Describe Paul’s Missionary Strategy
Upon reaching a location, he visits the Jewish synagogue (outside of Palestine).
There he would find fellow Jews and “God-fearers” (gentiles attracted to Israel’s faith).
If given an opportunity, he would preach about Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenant.
The congregation would usually be divided: some opposing Paul, others supporting.
The opposers would then complain to the officials and the officials would clamp down on Paul and he would have to escape.
From the supporters a Christian community would be born.
Of the supporters, Paul would appoint leaders or leave collaborators behind
Paul would move on to another place.
Paul did not understand his mission as leading the growth of the community, but appointed others to do it, his mission was to begin the community.
He had very little time to spend in a time where he founded a community and would have to guide the community from afar in his letters.
Given such circumstances, Paul had to write letters to stay in touch with the communities he had founded, These letters would usually be in response to issues arising in the community.
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Proselyte
the Gentiles who were brave enough to undergo circumcision in adulthood to convert to Judaism
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The reason for Paul's Letters?
(1) Given such circumstances, Paul had to write letters to stay in touch with the communities he had founded.
(2) These letters would usually be in response to issues arising in the community.
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1 Thessalonians: Author
Paul, missionary to the Gentiles (and Silvanus and Timothy)
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1 Thessalonians: Date
50 CE
| 20 years after Jesus' death --> GAP
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1 Thessalonians: Place of Composition
Corinth
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1 Thessalonians: Audience
Mostly Gentile Members of a newly founded congregation in Thessalonica, Greece (the congregation who gathered in the house of Jason? As mentioned in Acts 17)
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What is the earliest surviving document of the Early Christian movement?
1 Thessalonians
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Which is Paul's earliest Letter?
1 Thessalonians
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True or False: 1 Thessalonians is Paul's earliest Letter.
True.
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Structure of 1 Thessalonians
1. Greeting and Thanksgiving
2. Paul’s History with the Thessalonians
3. Paul's Advice and Warnings
4. Farewell
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Structure of 1 Thessalonians
1. Greeting and Thanksgiving
Paul opens with customary greeting (co-sent by Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, the letter offers thanksgiving to the Thessalonians)
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Structure of 1 Thessalonians
2. Paul’s History with the Thessalonians
Paul recounts his successful proclamation of the gospel to the Thessalonians, offering additional thanksgiving), explains he is sending Timothy back to strengthen them in faith and encourage them in tribulations
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Structure of 1 Thessalonians
3. Paul's Advice and Warnings
Asks audience to do things in order to please God (refrain froms exual immortality, offer mutual charity in loving one another, and prepare for imminent return of Christ with the wrath of God, admonish the idle, seek good, rejoice always, do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophetic utterances)
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Structure of 1 Thessalonians
4. Farewell
Letter ends with Paul’s directive to greet believers in Thessalonica and read this letter he addressed to them
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How was the Christian community founded in Thessalonica according to Acts?
No internal evidence verifies the date and place of composition for 1 Thessalonians, so we must look to external evidence in Acts...
According to Acts 17, while Paul was on his second missionary journey (with Silas), he established communities on province of Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea)
Paul uses the Scriptures of the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. Some of them persuaded and joined Paul and Silas (probably Jews, some God Fearers) as did a many of the devout Greeks and a few of the leading women.
[Some] Jews became jealous
After some success in proclaiming the crucified and resurrected Messiah, Paul and Silvanus had to quickly flee the city.
SO, Paul must write a letter to the communities (2 Thessalonians).
According to the later witness of Acts 17, Paul established a Christian community in Thessalonica as part of his second missionary journey.
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How is Paul's preaching different from Jesus'? What impacts does this have on the way the messages are received?
Jesus did not like urban areas, in his public ministry he seemed to avoid urban areas in Galilee, his own region (Jesus was a country folk).
Paul is preaching in urban areas (Luke and Paul were city folk) now the message is attracting more sophisticated people of higher class
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Were the Christians predominantly Jews or gentiles?
Gentiles (contrary to Acts 17). Paul makes no reference to a synagogue ministry and implies that his converts were largely Gentile...
- Acts 17 gives us an impression that Paul preached to generally unresponsive Jews in Thessalonica.
- In contrast to Acts 17, the Thessalonians were mostly Gentile converts (1 Thess: 9-10)
- Thessalonica was the capital of Roman province of Macedonia and Paul's Letters preserves our earliest glimpse of how the new religion was established in Gentile territory
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Interpolation
A section of a text, specifically an ancient document, that was added on by someone else later on in time (change in tone, words that have never been used).
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Is 1 Thess 2:13-16 an interpolation?
- 1 Thessalonians (2:13-16): seems to be very anti-Jewish
- Paul accuses Jews of killing Jesus and the prophets
- He calls them displeases of God and opposers of everyone by hindering Paul’s communities of speaking with the Gentiles
HOWEVER, in Romans (9-11): Paul is speaking to the Roman-Christians not to think too highly of themselves, God has not forgotten about His chosen people by opening the Covenant to the Gentiles, one day the Jews and Christians will live in union with God. Paul is being affectionate to the Jews by showing love for his people, as he is a Jew.
Can the same person who wrote this be so venomous and harsh to “the Jews”?
1 Thess 2:13-16 seems to be an interpolation because
1) Paul's tone changes
2) It uses words that Paul never uses elsewhere
3) It is the only mention of the Jews as enemies and contradicts Paul's mention of the Jews in Romans
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"the Jews"
1 Thessalonians 12:13-16
vs. Romans 9-11
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 seems to be very anti-Jewish. Paul accuses Jews of killing Jesus and the prophets. He calls them displeases of God and opposers of everyone by hindering Paul’s communities of speaking with the Gentiles
In Romans 9-11 Paul is speaking to the Roman-Christians not to think too highly of themselves, God has not forgotten about His chosen people by opening the Covenant to the Gentiles, one day the Jews and Christians will live in union with God. Paul is being affectionate to the Jews by showing love for his people, as he is a Jew.
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1 Thessalonians
What was the problem that elicited the letter?
1 Thessalonians is addressed to the congregation of the Thessalonians...
- Paul makes imminence of Jesus’ return his central message
- Urging the Greeks to forsake lifeless idols for the “living God” of Judaism, Paul presents Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as introducing history’s climatic moment: his impending descent from heaven to rescue his followers from catastrophic divine judgement
- To please God, they must abstain from fornication, become holy, live quietly and show love to all
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Who could have been the opponents of Paul in the letter?
Acts 17:1-15 mentions that “the Jews” are enemies of Paul’s
Luke states that some of the Jews became jealous and rioted in mobs in the city, forcing Paul to leave
Paul’s Letter itself also seems to be very anti-Jewish (2:13-16 - though this is an interpolation, as it seems like a much different voice from Paul’s and contrasts what Paul says about Jews in Romans)
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Describe the theological keys to 1 Thessalonians
1. Election: Paul’s claim that the Thessalonians are God’s “chosen”
2. Parousia: the imminent return of Jesus and the accompanying wrath of God from the theological foundation of 1 Thessalonians
3. Wrath of God: God’s wrath at the end-time involves both judgement and mercy
4. Ethics: The call to live a holy life is the ethical imperative: Imitation, Live in Holiness, Love one Another (3 Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love)
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Describe the theological keys to 1 Thessalonians
Election
Paul’s claim that the Thessalonians are God’s “chosen”
He makes a passing reference to Christians as God’s “selection, choice, election”
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Describe the theological keys to 1 Thessalonians
Parousia
The imminent return of Jesus and the accompanying wrath of God from the theological foundation of 1 Thessalonians
Paul’s belief in the imminent return of Jesus is a recurring topic
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Describe the theological keys to 1 Thessalonians
Wrath of God
God’s wrath at the end-time involves both judgement and mercy
God’s wrath at the end-time involves both judgement and mercy
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Describe the theological keys to 1 Thessalonians
Ethics
The call to live a holy life is the ethical imperative: Imitation, Live in Holiness, Love one Another (3 Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love)
For Paul, “imitation” is key to surviving tribulation and distress
Paul holds the Christians in Thessalonica to high ethical standards
3 Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love
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Describe the general contours of Paul’s apocalyptic thought in 1 Thessalonians
1 Thess focuses on:
1. Parousia
2. Salvation God’s Wrath
3. Divine Judgement Day
The basic content of the gospel included belief in the imminent return of Christ and delivery from God’s coming wrath in which the living and the dead would be judged and those who lived in Christ would be saved.
These messages likely created an apocalyptic-eschatological (sudden end-time) expectation among the Thessalonian Christians
Paul was proclaiming his gospel to an audience that was already apocalyptic.
Paul refers to 1 Thessalonians as “the gospel of God” and “the gospel of Christ” (uses both interchangeably). “Our gospel” came not only in word but also “in power and holy Spirit and with much conviction.”
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What are the three apocalyptic themes in Paul's 1 Thessalonians?
1. Parousia (Jesus’ eschatological fulfillment; the 2nd Coming of Christ)
2. Salvation God’s Wrath (from those who live in Christ)
3. Divine Judgement Day: Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead
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1 Thess 4:13-18
| an Apocalyptic Kerygma
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (The Lord’s Coming)
- The Lord’s coming will pertain to both the living and the dead
- Jesus died and rose again
- On divine judgement day, the dead will rise and be viewed as equals to the living (so do not worry about dying before Jesus returns)
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1 Thess 5:1-8
| an Apocalyptic Kerygma
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 (How to live while waiting for the Lord)
- Life life in Christ
- This was the role of prophecy and discernment in early Christian communities
- Prophets are those who are serving the Early Christian Communities; potentially anyone could be a prophet at the time
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Why is the "second coming" of Jesus his second?
There was a First Coming
1st Coming: The Nativity of Jesus
2nd Coming: Returning as Judge and Lord
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Kerygma
a proclamation of faith in Jesus (example: Jesus is Lord)
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What results from a Kerygma?
A proclamation of the truths of faith (kerygma)
→ organized further into a Rule of Faith
→ development of Creeds
(Example: "He will come again to judge the living and the dead" in the Apostle's Creed).
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The “Three” Pauls
1. Paul of the Authentic Letters: The Radical Paul (Philemon)
2. Paul of the Disputed Letters: The Conservative Paul (Colossians, Ephesians)
3. Paul of the: The Reactionary Paul (Titus)
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1. Paul of the Authentic Letters: The Radical Paul (Philemon)
The real, historical Paul.
When we analyze these 7 undisputed letters and come up with a figure of Paul, we have a Paul who is quite radical...
The “radical” Paul: radical about his message and rules; a radical follower of Jesus. Radical in his demands about the consequences of following Jesus Christ.
(Religious Founders were extremely intense and hard to follow. Jesus was put to death after 3 years of ministry because he was so radical.)
Example: Radical Paul of Slavery
In Philemon, Paul is telling Philemon to release his slave, Onesimus.
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2. Paul of the Disputed Letters: The Conservative Paul (Colossians, Ephesians)
Paul is backing off the radicality with an effort to make the message a bit more acceptable in the society
There are some sections in these 3 letters where the author is trying to accomodate the Christian message to Roman patriarchal oppressive practices
Since Paul did not write these letters, but the author was likely a follower of him, the**
After the death of Paul, if you preached his message as it was, the Christian communities would not last; they would be obliterated quickly like Paul SO they tamed his messages
Example: Slaves obey your masters, not just to please them, but wholeheartedly for the Lord (consider slavery service as being done to the Lord)
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3. Paul of the: The Reactionary Paul (Titus)
They are reacting to things happening in the communities that might not have been ever imagined in the time Paul wrote (e.g. female Christian leadership)
Compromising of principles
They intend this to mean that the message of pastoral epistles is a sort of “accommodation of Paul’s thought to the conventional mores of his contemporary time”
They wanted Christianity to be a respectable presence in Greco-Roman society
Even though it went against the vision of the original Paul
Thus they claim that the pastorals are even “anti-Paul”
Example: Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters, show complete and perfect fidelity, and that will please the doctrine of God our Saviour
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What was the view on slavery in the time that Paul wrote?
Slavery, according to some scholars, was absolutely necessary to the Roman Empire and if it were to be abolished the economy would be destroyed
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Radical Paul on Slavery
Philemon:
Freedom of Slaves
Paul is publicly urges Philemon to release his slave, Onesimus, in a deeply personal manner and sends him a “brother” of his, named Epaphras
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Conservative Paul on Slavery
Colossians, Ephesians:
Slave Obedience and Just Treatment
Slaves obey your masters, not just to please them, but wholeheartedly for the Lord (consider slavery service as being done to the Lord), Encourages Masters to treat their slaves justly and fairly
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Reactionary Paul on Slavery
Titus:
Slave Submission
Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters, show complete and perfect fidelity, and that will please the doctrine of God our Saviour. Includes nothing about obligating Masters (e.g. to just treatment).
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Radical Paul on Patriarchy
1 Corinthians:
Gender Equality
In Paul’s takes on celibacy, abstinence, virginity and divorce, the same is expected of men and women; balanced expectations of males and females
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Conservative Paul on Patriarchy
Colossians, Ephesians: Gendered Hierarchy
Women are subject to obedience to their husbands, and husbands are expected to provide wealth in return, Women are identified secondary to Men (wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters)
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Reactionary Paul on Patriarchy
Timothy:
Silences Women in the Church
Forbids female leadership in Christian communities because women are to be silent and submissive
(Contradicts 1 Corinthians 2)
(In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul silences women but we think that it is merely interpolation)
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Mystic
They don’t simply believe in God; they HAVE EXPERIENCED God. Mystics have a direct and vivid experience of the Sacred.
Mystics have non-ordinary states of consciousness. “Ecstasy” comes from the Greek “ak” + statis” (“to stand outside” the ordinary dimension)
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Paul as a Jewish Christ-Mystic
Paul has a direct experience of God through Jesus as the Christ.
Paul’s conversion and mysticism involved experiencing Jesus Christ as the climax and ultimate fulfillment of the covenant which God made with Israel
Paul did not cease being Jewish, through his experience he became a mystic, and his mystical experience involved an encounter with the risen Jesus Christ
Example: 2 Corinthians 12 (Paul’s Visions and Revelations, "Thorn in the Flesh")
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The main contours of the popular “Protestant” view of Paul
- In a Lutheran form of Christianity, Paul is more important than Jesus (though no pastor would admit that and would likely be puzzled by such a statement)
- Protestants are taught to see Jesus, God and the Christian gospel through a Pauline lens as mediated by Luther
1. “Justification by grace through faith” (“justification by faith”): one is accepted by God by faith (believing in Jesus and God as understood by Luther and Paul)
2. Life “in Christ” (how one ought to live after accepting Christ as the Messiah) is largely determined by Paul’s letters instructing his communities how to live
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Paul was born in Tarsus around 8 CE which gave him three good gifts and a fourth bad gift:
1. Vista: advantages of a frontier city between the Greek and Semitic worlds
2. Labor: appreciation for what could be accomplished by hard work
3. Education: Jewish synagogue teaching ina Greek university city (tarsus’ university is remarked higher than Athens and Alexandria)
4. Malaria: Tarsus’ rich environment, rivers and agriculture meant marshes and thus mosquitos
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Paul's Religious and Educational Status
Paul was a well-educated Jew
- Paul and Luke agree that Paul was a fervent Pharisaic Jew (though many of his followers doubter that)
- Pharisee: zealous for God
- In Paul’s mind and heart, he lived and died as a Jew (Messianic/Christian Jew)
- Refers to the Jews as “his people” and identifies himself as a Jew many times, even emphasizes it at times (when it is convenient)
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Rabbi Gamaliel
Luke emphasizes Paul’s Jerusalem Connection through Rabbi Gamaliel
Acts 22, Luke speaking: Paul says that he was raised strictly in Jerusalem at the feet of the rabbi Gamaliel in the ancestral tradition and that was very zealous of the ancestral traditions
Gamaliel was a great Rabbi of the first half of the first century CE
Strangely, Paul does not mention this fact about Gamamiel in his own letters...
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Why didn't Paul mention studying under Rabbi Gamaliel?
Luke emphasizes Paul’s Jerusalem Connection by saying that Paul studied under Rabbi Gamaliel
This is a case of “Lucan” Testimony about which we must be cautious...
Many of Paul’s efforts in his letters were dedicated to proving he was a Jew, after many criticized him for not being a Jew. However, he does not mention anything about being educated by rabbi Gamaliel, which would have been very supportive of his position. People would have backed off, so if it were really true, it would have been very useful for him to bring up. And if you knew Paul, you know he would have bragged about being a Roman citizen and studying under Rabbi Gamaliel.
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Roman Citizenship
Acts tell us that Paul had Roman citizenship; he was born with Roman citizenship
Paul’s Roman citizenship most probably was due to the fact that his family had it
Paul was beheaded and not crucified, because it was beyond the dignity of a Roman. Peter was crucified because he was a Jew, Paul was a Jew but also a Roman citizen.
However, Paul never speaks of his Roman citizenship, it only appears in Luke’s Acts...
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Lucan Testimonies (4)
1. Rabbi Gamaliel
2. Roman Citizenship
3. Paul's Conversion
4. Paul's Apostleship
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Lucan Testimonies
| 4 & 3
1. Rabbi Gamaliel
2. Roman Citizenship
3. Paul's Conversion
4. Paul's Apostleship
1. The Nabatean Mission
2. The Cypro-Galatian Mission
3. The Aegean Mission
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The Nabatean Mission
- Paul’s mission in Arabia (Damascus) failed because he was a Jewish preacher among Arab listeners (they were already all circumcised, kosher, etc.)
- For Paul it comes from the civil authorities, but fo Luke it is the religious authorities
The problem is civil and political for Paul, but religious and theological for Luke
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The Cypro-Galatian Mission
- Paul never tells us anything directly about his second mission, but Luke gives it in very full detail in Acts 13-14
- Luke takes what Paul did under Barnabas in his first mission and explains that Paul did that on his own in his independent second mission; he is filling the gap of his lack of knowledge of how Paul acted alone with how Paul acted under Barnabas
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The Aegean Mission
- At the end of Paul’s second mission, there was a major apostolic agreement in Jerusalem and a major apostolic disagreement in Antioch (circumcision, kosher)
- Paul details the disagreement, but Luke details both as agreements to further his intentions of showing a smooth transition
