Major Themes Of The Apostle Paul

Major Themes of Paul

The Apostle Paul is known to be one of the most significant influences in modern Christianity. His conversion, church-building and encouragement from his letters has been the cause of widespread faith known today. Though there are many translations and versions of the original text, there are core themes Paul stood for that are fundamental to Christianity. Some of these major themes include: righteousness, reconciliation, grace, justification, sanctification, redemption, cosmos, and the cross. This paper will take an inductive approach at two of those themes; righteousness and justification.

What does the term justification mean? Dr. Charles Stanley explains, "The Greek verb tense used in this verse means a once-and for-all

The Greek word dikaiósis (justification) means divinely approved, divinely pardoned, acquitted, the process of absolution. Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosuné which means, justice, justness, divine approval (Strong 's Greek,

Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Here Paul appears to reiterate that believers are justified, not under the penalty of death due to sin, but he also clarifies that does not mean freedom to continue to sin. Within those passages, he is saying that we are slaves to the one we obey. Becoming slaves to obedience leads to righteousness, which according to the Greek definition, we gain divine approval. Paul also points out that righteousness is not exclusive to Jews or Gentiles. Romans 3:21-23 English Standard Version (ESV), “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Once again, he is reinforcing the point that righteousness is