Paul and early Christianity

Introduction

In the book of Acts, the gospel was basically confined to the Jews, to Jerusalem. But there came a time when Paul became convinced that the gospel is for the gentiles too and that it had a universal purpose. His entire life became dedicated to the expansion of the gospel.

Romans 1:16-17 “…to the Jews first and then to the Greeks.”

Paul and his environment

He was a Pharisee. He studied the rudiments of the law from Gamaliel, the famous Rabbi (Phil. 3:4-6). He was a citizen of Tarsus (Acts 21:39), a Roman citizen (Acts 21:28), born as a free Roman citizen. There were certain privileges for free Roman citizens:

1.      They can travel in any place within the Empire without restriction.

2.      No Roman citizen can be punished until his case is brought to trial and found guilty.

3.      A Roman citizen can appeal to the Emperor.

Paul’s environment was that

1.      The religion to which he was born provided him with a religious environment – Judaism.

2.      The city of Tarsus was a big centre of education. It provided him with intellectual environment.

3.      The Roman Empire provided him with the political environment.

Political scene during the time of Paul

The political scene was not very encouraging. The glory of the Roman Empire was declining because of weak emperors. Emperors like Caligula (37-41), Claudius (41-54) were weak. Paul lived mostly during the rule of Claudius. Nero (54-65) was a very strange character and a notorious ruler. From his time, Christians became persecuted (Imperial persecution). Cruel and bloodthirsty, he killed many of his own family members. Paul and Peter became martyrs during the time of Nero.

But why were Christians persecuted?

A large fire in Rome where some people died… Some said Nero wanted to rebuild the city and started the fire. Incidentally, a part of the city where the Christians lived was not affected. Nero put the blame on Christians. Persecution began…

Moral and social institution

Class distinction, slavery, oppression and looting of poor people existed.

The upper class after some time became Christians (Phil 1:13). Even in the palace of Caesar, many became Christians. The Romans believed in religious pluralism. “Truth cannot be exhausted by one religion.” …unknown God.

Philosophical situation

Stoics, Epicurean philosophers and Pythagoreanism were some of the philosophers that existed during the time of Paul. The Stoics have a pantheistic idea of God, the idea that God is in everything. They also taught –

Ø  That human reason can discover certain natural and ethical laws.

Ø  That there is good morality. They were disciplined.

Ø  The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of all men.

This philosophy attracted a large number of people during the time of Paul.

The Epicureans believed that there is nothing beyond the grave. Therefore, “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

Pythagoreanism taught philosophical contemplation as the way of salvation.

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) was attracted to these philosophies, particularly Pythagoreanism.

Paul’s Activities

Paul says, “I am one of the high ranking apostles of Jesus Christ.” We have sufficient records that Paul contributed to the expansion of Christianity during the first century, more than any one. He was known for contributing in every way. His missionary contribution was very great.He was the devoted propagator, a missionary of the gospel, from a persecutor to a propagator. He was a fruitful missionary. Why?

1.      The selection of strategic centres. A definite plan is seen if we look carefully at his activities. The cities were cosmopolitan, important trade centres. In some, he stayed for longer periods.

2.      His practice of preaching the gospel to the Jews first. They were his own people with whom he could communicate well. He also had burden on his people.

3.      His was of organizing the Church. Through his ministry, Paul started a nucleus, a small group/Church. He would go back to/revisit them, appoint elders for them. That group would then grow.

4.      His principle of self-support. He made his own living. He worked because he would support his ministry and not merely make money.

 “Money is a good servant but a bad master.”

5.      Paul was always sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

6.      His way of consolidating his ministry.

Paul’s literary contribution

Paul kept in touch with the local situation. Sometimes, some believers came to him with reports. Sometimes, he sent friends to visit them. Sometimes, certain situations demanded that Paul himself visit them. But one of the most important way in which he kept in touch was through his letters.

-          Corinth, endowed with spiritual gifts, also had many problems

-          Galatia, the relationship between Mosaic law and Christianity was a problem

-          To the Roman, Paul wrote about ‘what is the Gospel?’ How one can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

-          Philemon. A problem was addressed – a certain Christian master & a slave.

Paul’s Theology

Every letter of Paul starts with a greeting, with a prayer offered for the believers, names so some individuals, something about him. Take these things out of his letters and you get the basic doctrines of the Church.

Relation between Jesus and Paul’s writings: All the doctrines of the NT find the nucleus in the teachings of Christ. Paul developed it. The basis of Paul’s theology is the word of God. There is no contradiction between Jesus and Paul. The basic contents of Paul’s theology:

1.      Righteousness by faith. Salvation by faith.

2.      Justification by faith (Rom. 1:16-18) – “It is not faith & work. It is a faith works.”

Martin Luther’s basis for Protestant Reformation

Ø  Sola-fide – Faith alone

Ø  Sola-scriptura – Scripture alone

Ø  Sola-gracia – Grace alone

3.      Relation with God and with men

4.      Some philosophy

Paul’s Ethical Teachings

1.      Relationship with God

2.      Relationship with others

3.      Philosophical teachings – It is from Paul’s teachings that we get an idea of history. Paul has a linear move of history (from Eternity past to Eternity Future) unlike Hindus who have a cyclical view.

Paul as a polemicist.
A polemicist is one who defends his faith against wrong doctrines. Polemicists wrote to wrong teachings while apologists defended faith against accusers of the Roman Empire.