Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
Who was the Apostle Paul?
Paul was an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin and an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:1; Php 3:5) He was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. (Ac 21:39; 22:3)
His parents were Hebrews who adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. (Ac 23:6; Php 3:5)
He was a Roman citizen from birth (Ac 22:28)
His profession was a tentmaker (Ac 18:3)
He studied mosaic law as a pupil under the learned Pharisee Gamaliel (Ac 22:3; 5:34) He could speak both Greek and Hebrew. (Ac 21:37-40)
How did Paul convert to Christianity?
Paul is first introduced in the biblical accounts as a 'young man named Saul' who was present at the stoning of the disciple Steven (Ac 6:13; 7:58)
Because of Saul/Pauls strong Pharisaical persuasion he began a campaign of vicious persecution against Christs early followers. When they were to be executed, he voted against them. At the time of their trial in synagogues, he endeavored to force them to recant. He extended his persecution to cities other than Jerusalem and even procured written authorization from the high priest to search out disciples of Christ as far N as Damascus, in Syria, and to bind them and bring them to Jerusalem for trial by the Sanhedrin.Ac 8:1, 3; 9:1, 2; 26:10, 11; Ga 1:13, 14.
During one of Pauls crusades, Christ Jesus revealed himself to Paul in a flashing light. Paul fell to the ground and heard the sound of someone speaking, Paul became blinded and his attendants led him by the hand to Damascus. (Ac 9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18)
For three days he neither ate nor drank. Then, while praying, Paul was given a vision, of the disciple Ananias come in and restore his sight. When the vision became reality, Paul was baptized, received holy spirit, partook of food, and gained strength.Ac 9:9-19.
From this point on, (around 36 C.E.Galatians 1:18 possibly meaning parts of three years) he was known as Paul and he became a devout Christian evangelizer. The christian congregation had a hard time accepting Pauls conversion at first because they were in fear of him. But Paul stayed with Cephas (Peter) for 2 weeks while at Jerusalem, and was fully instructed by him personally. (Ac 9:26-30; Ga 1:18-21)
From that point on Paul was led by holy spirit into the missionary work traveling thousands of miles on sea and land, establishing many congregations in Europe and Asia Minor.
He did not view the congregations as his own, but gave all honor to God as the One responsible for growth (1Co 3:5-9)
Pauls Attitude toward himself
Because Paul formerly persecuted Christians, he did not consider himself fit to be called an apostle but acknowledged that he was such only by Gods undeserved kindness. (1Co 15:9, 10)
Paul gave praise to God for all that he was able to accomplish in his ministry, he said For all things, I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me. (Php 4:13)
It was not an easy road for Paul. He had much to contend with as a christian missionary. When comparing his experiences with those of others, he wrote (c. 55 C.E.): In labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in blows to an excess, in near-deaths often. By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day, the anxiety for all the congregations. (2Co 11:23-28; 6:4-10; 7:5)
Paul was also humble and realistic about his own imperfections. He did not view himself as someone great or better then others. He spoke about the conflict between his mind and the sinful flesh. (Ro 7:21-24) But he fought hard to maintain his righteous standing before God and towards the end of his life, around 65CE, he wrote in his final letter to Timothy: I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.2Ti 4:7, 8.
How the congregations came to feel towards Paul
As an inspired apostle, Paul had authority to command and give orders, and he did so on occasion when it was called for (1Co 14:37; 16:1; Col 4:10; 1Th 4:2, 11), but he preferred to appeal to people on the basis of love, entreating them by the compassions of God and by the mildness and kindness of the Christ. (Ro 12:1; 2Co 6:11-13; 8:8; 10:1; Phm 8, 9) He went from being a religious zealot to a man of gentle and tender affections, who was like a loving father to many. (1Th 2:7, 8, 11, 12)
While he was entitled to receive material support from the brothers, he chose to work with his hands in order not to be an expensive burden. (Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 9:18; 1Th 2:6, 9)
Due to his fine conduct and the love and compassion he showed, the overseers of the Ephesus congregation were greatly pained and moved to tears when they were told they might not see him more. (Ac 20:37, 38) So Paul become greatly loved by the congregations which is a testimony to the fine man he was.
Was Paul one of the 12 apostles?
Paul never included himself among the twelve
Once Paul had converted, he did became very prominent though, and his labors exceeded those of all the other apostles. (1Co 15:9, 10)
But there is no scriptural basis to assume that Paul had been predestinated to be an apostle because he had not followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, so he did not qualify for that special privilege.
Luke, who was the writer of Acts, was also Pauls traveling companion during some of his missionaries. Luke specifically mentions the 'Twelve' years before Paul became a christian, so its not reasonable to assume that Paul became one of the 'twelve apostles' Ac 6:1-6.
Its also noteworthy that by the time of Pauls conversion, the Christian congregation, had already been established, or founded, and had been growing for perhaps a year or even more. Then, too, Pauls first canonical letter was evidently not written until about 50 C.E. so it is not reasonable to include Paul as one of the twelve.
What was the purpose of Pauls apostleship? Jesus himself stated that it was that Paul might serve as an apostle [sent one] to the nations (Ac 9:4-6, 15)
And Paul himself recognized that to be the purpose of his apostleship. (Ga 1:15, 16; 2:7, 8; Ro 1:5; 1Ti 2:7)
So Paul was aware that his apostleship was not as a foundation for Christianity...he knew that foundation already was set and began to exist in 33ce at Pentecost. Pauls role as an apostle was to bring gentiles into the, already existing, congregation and to join the two. He devoted himself to this task and did so with heartfelt love for the gentile believers. He wrote to the Thessalonian congregation We became gentle in the midst of you, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, having a tender affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because you became beloved to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8) These heartfelt words show that Paul truly loved the Gentile believers and he embraced his role as an apostle for the nations.
Paul was an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin and an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:1; Php 3:5) He was born in Tarsus, a prominent city of Cilicia. (Ac 21:39; 22:3)
His parents were Hebrews who adhered to the Pharisaic branch of Judaism. (Ac 23:6; Php 3:5)
He was a Roman citizen from birth (Ac 22:28)
His profession was a tentmaker (Ac 18:3)
He studied mosaic law as a pupil under the learned Pharisee Gamaliel (Ac 22:3; 5:34) He could speak both Greek and Hebrew. (Ac 21:37-40)
How did Paul convert to Christianity?
Paul is first introduced in the biblical accounts as a 'young man named Saul' who was present at the stoning of the disciple Steven (Ac 6:13; 7:58)
Because of Saul/Pauls strong Pharisaical persuasion he began a campaign of vicious persecution against Christs early followers. When they were to be executed, he voted against them. At the time of their trial in synagogues, he endeavored to force them to recant. He extended his persecution to cities other than Jerusalem and even procured written authorization from the high priest to search out disciples of Christ as far N as Damascus, in Syria, and to bind them and bring them to Jerusalem for trial by the Sanhedrin.Ac 8:1, 3; 9:1, 2; 26:10, 11; Ga 1:13, 14.
During one of Pauls crusades, Christ Jesus revealed himself to Paul in a flashing light. Paul fell to the ground and heard the sound of someone speaking, Paul became blinded and his attendants led him by the hand to Damascus. (Ac 9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18)
For three days he neither ate nor drank. Then, while praying, Paul was given a vision, of the disciple Ananias come in and restore his sight. When the vision became reality, Paul was baptized, received holy spirit, partook of food, and gained strength.Ac 9:9-19.
From this point on, (around 36 C.E.Galatians 1:18 possibly meaning parts of three years) he was known as Paul and he became a devout Christian evangelizer. The christian congregation had a hard time accepting Pauls conversion at first because they were in fear of him. But Paul stayed with Cephas (Peter) for 2 weeks while at Jerusalem, and was fully instructed by him personally. (Ac 9:26-30; Ga 1:18-21)
From that point on Paul was led by holy spirit into the missionary work traveling thousands of miles on sea and land, establishing many congregations in Europe and Asia Minor.
He did not view the congregations as his own, but gave all honor to God as the One responsible for growth (1Co 3:5-9)
Pauls Attitude toward himself
Because Paul formerly persecuted Christians, he did not consider himself fit to be called an apostle but acknowledged that he was such only by Gods undeserved kindness. (1Co 15:9, 10)
Paul gave praise to God for all that he was able to accomplish in his ministry, he said For all things, I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me. (Php 4:13)
It was not an easy road for Paul. He had much to contend with as a christian missionary. When comparing his experiences with those of others, he wrote (c. 55 C.E.): In labors more plentifully, in prisons more plentifully, in blows to an excess, in near-deaths often. By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day, the anxiety for all the congregations. (2Co 11:23-28; 6:4-10; 7:5)
Paul was also humble and realistic about his own imperfections. He did not view himself as someone great or better then others. He spoke about the conflict between his mind and the sinful flesh. (Ro 7:21-24) But he fought hard to maintain his righteous standing before God and towards the end of his life, around 65CE, he wrote in his final letter to Timothy: I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.2Ti 4:7, 8.
How the congregations came to feel towards Paul
As an inspired apostle, Paul had authority to command and give orders, and he did so on occasion when it was called for (1Co 14:37; 16:1; Col 4:10; 1Th 4:2, 11), but he preferred to appeal to people on the basis of love, entreating them by the compassions of God and by the mildness and kindness of the Christ. (Ro 12:1; 2Co 6:11-13; 8:8; 10:1; Phm 8, 9) He went from being a religious zealot to a man of gentle and tender affections, who was like a loving father to many. (1Th 2:7, 8, 11, 12)
While he was entitled to receive material support from the brothers, he chose to work with his hands in order not to be an expensive burden. (Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 9:18; 1Th 2:6, 9)
Due to his fine conduct and the love and compassion he showed, the overseers of the Ephesus congregation were greatly pained and moved to tears when they were told they might not see him more. (Ac 20:37, 38) So Paul become greatly loved by the congregations which is a testimony to the fine man he was.
Was Paul one of the 12 apostles?
Paul never included himself among the twelve
Once Paul had converted, he did became very prominent though, and his labors exceeded those of all the other apostles. (1Co 15:9, 10)
But there is no scriptural basis to assume that Paul had been predestinated to be an apostle because he had not followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, so he did not qualify for that special privilege.
Luke, who was the writer of Acts, was also Pauls traveling companion during some of his missionaries. Luke specifically mentions the 'Twelve' years before Paul became a christian, so its not reasonable to assume that Paul became one of the 'twelve apostles' Ac 6:1-6.
Its also noteworthy that by the time of Pauls conversion, the Christian congregation, had already been established, or founded, and had been growing for perhaps a year or even more. Then, too, Pauls first canonical letter was evidently not written until about 50 C.E. so it is not reasonable to include Paul as one of the twelve.
What was the purpose of Pauls apostleship? Jesus himself stated that it was that Paul might serve as an apostle [sent one] to the nations (Ac 9:4-6, 15)
And Paul himself recognized that to be the purpose of his apostleship. (Ga 1:15, 16; 2:7, 8; Ro 1:5; 1Ti 2:7)
So Paul was aware that his apostleship was not as a foundation for Christianity...he knew that foundation already was set and began to exist in 33ce at Pentecost. Pauls role as an apostle was to bring gentiles into the, already existing, congregation and to join the two. He devoted himself to this task and did so with heartfelt love for the gentile believers. He wrote to the Thessalonian congregation We became gentle in the midst of you, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, having a tender affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because you became beloved to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8) These heartfelt words show that Paul truly loved the Gentile believers and he embraced his role as an apostle for the nations.
