Topic 8 Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles

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Topic 8 Paul Apostle to the Gentiles

• Significance of Paul
• Quantity of material in NT about 1/3
• Scope of his missionary work
• Depth and influence of his theology
• Sources
• Acts (esp. ch. 13-28) secondary source
• Letters primary source
• Occasional in nature written in response to
  particular problems in particular churches.
• Typical Hellenistic letter form Five regular
  parts
• Salutation Sender to Recipient Greeting
  (grace and peace)
• Thanksgiving
• Body
• Parenesis (general ethical admonitions)
• Closing (peace wish final greetings grace
  benediction)

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• Sources cont.
• 2. Letters cont.
• Authenticity
• 13 letters attributed to Paul.
• Some may be pseudonymous written later in
  Pauls name (Deutero-Pauline).
• Evidence differences in writing style,
  vocabulary, theology, etc.

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• Pauls background
• Diaspora Jew from Tarsus dual culture
• Hellenistic culture Greek language, culture,
  customs
• Jewish culture Scripture, Torah, Pharisee
• Double name Saul (Jewish) and Paul (Roman)
• No evidence he changed name at conversion.
• Had two names all along (cf. Acts 139).
• Pauls persecution of the Christian church.
• Stephen Hellenists Damascus (Acts 758 83
  91-2).
• Motivated by zeal for Jewish law (Gal. 113-14
  Phil. 36).
• Pauls conversion/call (c. 32/35 AD)
• Appearance of Christ on road to Damascus (Ac. 9).
• Call to be apostle to Gentiles (Gal. 113-17
  Phil. 34-9 Rom. 1113).
• Disappears for more than a decade.

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• D. Pauls Missionary Journeys
• First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)
• Barnabas and Saul sent out by Antioch church.
• Cyprus and central Asia Minor.
• Rejection by Jews acceptance among Gentiles.
• Antioch controversy over circumcision of
  Gentiles.
• Jerusalem Conference (Apostolic Council Acts
  15 Gal. 2)
• Summit to resolve circumcision issue.
• Must Gentiles be circumcised (i.e., convert to
  Judaism and observe Jewish law)?
• Agreement not to require circumcision.
• Significance
• Preserved unity between Paul and Jerusalem
  leaders.
• Opened door to wider Gentile mission.
• Paved way for eventual separation of Judaism and
  Christianity.

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• Pauls Missionary Journeys cont.
• Second Missionary Journey (Acts 1536-1822)
• Split with Barnabas accompanied by Silas and
  Timothy.
• Antioch through Asia Minor to Macedonia and
  Greece.
• Corinth 18 months wrote 1 Thess. (c. 50).
• Brought before proconsul Gallio inscription
  allows dating.
• Third Missionary Journey (Acts 1823-2116)
• Antioch to Ephesus 2-3 years longest stay on
  any journey.
• Through Macedonia and Greece to Jerusalem.
• Pauls collection for Jerusalem.
• Relief for poor in Jerusalem.
• Symbolic of unity of church Jewish and Gentile
  Christians in one church.

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• Pauls Missionary Journeys cont.
• Arrest and journey to Rome (Acts 2117-2831)
• a. Jerusalem arrested over disturbance in
  Temple.
• b. Caesarea held 2 years appealed to Caesar.
• c. Rome a prisoner awaiting trial preaching
  gospel.
• d. Likely executed by Nero (60-65).

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