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Contribution of Paul to Christianity
The ministry of the apostle paul
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In a self-description of Paul, the author uses his own words as an insight to the view of which he held of himself. He referred to himself as a “planter,” a “Master builder,” a “foundation layer” and considered his ministry as primary. (50) She also states that Paul saw himself as an unskilled public speaker and references (2 Cor 11:6). She says that he was often concerned with his message and how it was received also referencing (1 Cor 2:3-4; 2 Cor 10:10) (49) However, the author indicates that in Paul’s time speech was a necessary foundation of civic life. (60) She states that those who taught “religious and philosophical truths” were expected to use rhetorical writing and speak with eloquence.” (60) Some argue that Paul did not have formal
Ruden, Sarah. Paul among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time. New York: Pantheon, 2010. Print.
Paul the Apostle is the central figure in many New Testament writings. Many historians have attributed fourteen New Testament letters to Paul’s writing; seven of these letters are uncontested meaning historians are sure that Paul wrote them, the remaining seven are contested. Paul was not always a Christian; in fact, he persecuted Christians before Christ came and temporarily blinded him. Upon seeing Christ, Paul devoted his life to Christianity and set out to spread the teachings of Christ. Scholars often credit Paul’s leadership to the ability of the Church to become Hellenistic in one generation. Paul also answered specific worries and questions that his converters may have had in many of his writings; one of these writings is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, Paul set out to deal with the many believers in Corinth who are divided into the followings of Paul or Apollos rather than Christianity as a whole. The converts of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14 were divided during times of worship because of jealousy invoked by the spiritual gifts received from the “Spirit”; the worships and the church became a place to boast who is closest to God, instead of a place of worship, interpretation, and love. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, Paul set guidelines in times of worship to heal the divide among his converts present in 1 Corinthians 12-14.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure”- 2 Corinthians 12:7, (KJV). To help get a better understanding of how other translations translate the beginning of this verse, which they say, “To keep me from becoming conceited.” We as Christian’s, human beings living on God’s earth, indeed love attention, accolades’, and praise. In the above-mentioned scripture we have here, Paul has received a special gift in which he can receive revelations from God. In his revelation, Paul receives a thorn in the flesh. There are many speculations on what the thorn was; we will elaborate on that a little later in the paper. The focus as of yet, will be on humbling down of Paul and how this passage of scripture starts out. I think we often miss this point. The point being, we concentrate on the thorn and oh, how we speculate what it was. If you look at the start of the verse “least, I should be exalted or conceited above measure,” clearly displays Paul, in humble adoration. In his writings, he would often make it evidently clear that it was nothing he was doing or could do, but it was always about Christ. What a lesson for Christians today if we could “set our minds that there will be thorns along the way” (Gleanings from the Corinthian Letters), nevertheless it is about Christ. Christ himself was not conceited or prideful and his pattern should be emulated. However, the rhetoric Paul here follows is the pattern of Christ in complete acknowledgement of giving oneself completely.
Aquinas, St. Thomas. COMMENTARY on SAINT PAUL'S EPISTLE to the GALATIANS. Trans. F. R. Larcher. Albany: Magi Books, 1996.
"Without a Hand to Hold" Analysis and Interpretation of "The Preacher Ruminates: Behind the Sermon" Gwendolyn Brooks' "The Preacher Ruminates: Behind the Sermon" gives an eerie look into a minister's mind. Indeed, the poem's premise is made clear from the opening line: "It must be lonely to be God" (1). The poem proceeds to note that while God is a much-revered and respected figure, he has no equal. The preacher's revelation provides the reader with a unique perspective into religion. Brooks points out that due to God's position of omniscience, it is not possible for a figure like Him to have friends.
The Epistle of Paul is the foundation and the most absolute book in the New Testament. Its historical impact is unequaled by any book possibly due to its international appeal. Although it is referred to as a book, Romans was actually an occasional letter. “Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28) and a strict Pharisee, a Hebrew of Hebrews (Acts 23:6); He studied under Gamaliel, one of the most famous Jewish rabbis at Jerusalem” (Towns & Gutierrez, 2012). Paul being educated and intellectual knew how to frame words and speak to his audience in a way that engaged them; causing them to embrace the message of Gods amazing grace.
The book of Matthew chapter 5 through 7 was known as, “The Sermon on the Mount”. Which were words spoken by Jesus Christ. The purpose of this Sermon was to show representation of the normative foundation of Christian Morality. For instance, this passage was more so fixated on whole hearted benevolence towards others around you and genuine devotion to God.
...my own hometown, like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid” to show how they both were compelled to carry out a message one being the gospel of Jesus Christ and the latter being human equality (p.61). By comparing himself to historical figures he makes numbers of ethical appeals and he builds up the author’s character. His use of great leaders can have a great influence in the reader and have an effect on the emotions of the reader.
There are always different stories acquainted about the various challenges incurred before settling peacefully, on subjects concerning the existence of a given group of people especially indigenous American. Samson Occom wrote the primary text Sermon on Moses Paul (1772) which addresses the sermon preached about the life of a young Indian man called Moses Paul who faced execution in the year 1772 after allegedly being drunk and killing Moses Cock. The second primary text by Mary Rowlandson is Sovereignty and Goodness of God (1682). It is a religious narration based on Christianity by the writer on her encounter with Native Americans after they attacked Lancaster and took her along
Martin Luther King Jr begins his essay with “My Dear Fellow Clergyman” in an attempt to form a sense of parity between himself and the men being addressed. More ever, he says that he believes that these criticisms are “sincerely set forth” and the men are “of genuine good”. Through this, he applies a Rogerian tactic, where the writer attempts to find a common ground as an alternative to further dividing the sides. His demonstration of equality due to the inter-connectedness of all people is a central idea of the entire letter. He notes that his “secretaries” can’t answer the amount of tedious “criticisms that cross [his] desk” since “constructive work” requires superior attention. In the informational second paragraph, King, “the president
Jesus and Paul are two crucial characters in the New Testament. They both depict the Gospel on which Christianity is based upon, but there is debate about rather these two versions of the Gospel are complementary. Scholars like George Shaw claim that Paul is “anti-Christian,” and he “produced a fantastic theology” (Shaw 415-416). On the other hand, I believe that even though Jesus and Paul may present the Gospel different at times, they are still advocating the same religion. Through the understanding of the Gospels and Paul’s letters it is clear that Jesus and Paul have the same underlining goals and values.
In Beloved, Sethe’s journey from enslavement to freedom is explained. Although she is physically free from the bondage of slavery for 18 years, but is still haunted by the terrible recollections of it as it is clear when one day, after many years , Paul D, a former and the last of the male slaves to survive after their escape from Sweet Home, the plantation in Kentucky, where Sethe was also a slave 18 years before, comes to visit Sethe and stirs up memories and its effects of her past which have been tried hard to bury and suppress.
As with most other Pauline attributed documents, 1 Corinthians is believed to be a single document that addresses salient topics and rationalizes Paul’s view of faithfulness to Christ with Corinth citizens. The newly founded church of Corinth was in correspondence with Paul requesting his answers to questions they posed on topics ranging from marriage to the resurrection of the dead; the latter being one of the most highlighted in 1 Corinthians. Paul’s assurance of resurrection illustrates a concern for Corinth as he admonishes their disbelief in resurrection of the dead with a series of explanations as to why such doubt would render the faith of Christ “in vain”. Given the context of the time, Paul’s correspondence with Corinth clearly had an original intent of educating and admonishing Corinth on their views on resurrection. However, modern Christianity in its many forms has established an interpretation that slightly strays from its original inscription. Regardless, Paul’s letters not only shaped the ideals of Corinthians believers but influenced the Christian ideals of post mortem resurrection or eternal life as well.
The term “hope” appeared many times within the letters of Paul, fifty-four in the NIV Bible to be exact. The Greek term that Paul used for “hope”, “ἐλπίς ”, conveys a sense of trust in a divinely given future. Paul amplified this definition for hope in Romans; he wrote, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?”
Paul summarizes all this preaching in seventeen stanzas by referring to the "Spirit" and the "Flesh." We are first introduced by Paul of these topics/words in his letter to the Galatians. Paul contrasts the two ways of living in a community in chapter five of Galatians. "Spirit" is the caring of others and builds interpersonal relationships within a community. The "Flesh" is a self centeredness and a natural way to live of only caring for oneself. The "works of the flesh" will break apart a community.