PAUL 'S THEOLOGY ON THE CHURCH __________________ A Paper Presented to Dr. Presley Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for NTS 3213 __________________ by Jin Hyun July 27, 2015 PAULS VIEW ON THE CHURCH Apostle Paul is one of the most beloved follower and author of 14 books in the New Testament. One of the most prominent teachings of Paul is regarding on the subject of the church. Not only did he write letters to church but in many occasion talked about what the church is. But the question that often brings up is “What is the church?” In the following paper I will lay out what Paul believes and describes of what the church is, and what the church does. What is the Church? There are key references in the Bible that Paul talks about regard the church: Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:11-22; 3:3-9, Colossians 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-28, Romans 16:25-27. Church is also commonly known as the Temple of God. In Ephesians 2:21-22 refers that in Christ is made a new man that brings in Gentiles to be grafted in and be fellow heirs with the Body of Christ. In Christ all differences such as color, ethnicity, sex or status becomes molded into on under Christ. Simply put, it erased the line of Jew and Gentiles. Paul in the Bible mostly uses the word “ekklesia” in Greek to describe the church. Ekklesia means an assembly or called out ones which draws conclusion to say that it is not referring to a
Putting pen to paper, Paul pleas with the Corinthians to better themselves through Christ Jesus. While in discourse with the Corinthians, the polemic language of Paul becomes, at times, difficult to digest. While pursuing a better relationship with the believers in Corinth, the apostle often used terms such as ‘we,’ ‘our,’ and ‘us.’ These pronouns can be understood in multiple ways; however, the manner in which they are comprehended sheds light on Paul’s agenda. In the analysis of 2 Corinthians 4: 8-18, the pronouns are best understood as being inclusive in terms of Paul, his followers, and the believers in Corinth.
Analyse the contribution that Paul of Tarsus had on the development and expression of Christianity.
Paul's letters to the church, also known as epistles, are considered some of the most important documents in the New Testament. Paul's writings continue to shape and forge church even today. His letters were written in some of the darkest, most intense moments of Paul's life, but they also celebrate the grace, love, and life changing power of Jesus. Paul's journey in faith is shown in raw, unapologetic honesty, and inspires Christians to maintain a forward momentum, and to run the race Paul speaks so passionately about in Hebrews 12:1. Paul is able to write with both confidence and humility as he writes about the Christian journey.
E. Harrison (p. 275) summarizes the message of the Epistle in these words: The greatest single overall emphasis seems to be on the unity of the local church as the body of Christ, which is brought out not only in connection with the discussion of the groups (i.e.; the factions within the church), but also in relation to the Lord’s Supper and spiritual gifts. A corollary is the sanctity of the church as members of Christ, both corporately and individually, (note, especially, such passages as 1 Cor. 3:16-17 and 6:15-20.) We may add, it is in this Epistle that the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul most eloquently sets forth the supremacy of love as “the most excellent way,” which the Christian is called to follow (1 Cor. 12:31b-13:13
Jesus is the center of Christianity, but without Paul, Christianity would never exist. Paul organized Jesus’s disciples after Jesus’s death. Paul introduced Christianity to Non-Jewish people. He was extremely talented at converting others. The New Testament is largely based off Paul’s teachings. Paul also shaped the way Christianity thinks, he was the man who took a small cult and shaped it so that it would become a world religion; Paul was the most important figure to the growth of Christianity, even more than Jesus of Nazareth.
Paul’s experiences guarding over the Russian prisoners demonstrate the unwavering tendency of war to create suffering and sorrow. In the prison camp, the Russians are malnourished and starving. Paul sees their suffering, yet he is unable to truly understand them because he knows none of their history. As Paul describes, “their life is obscure and guiltless.” In this sense, Paul feels the pitilessness that is expressed to a greater degree in the other guards, whom Paul watches as they beat and mistreat the prisoners. The behavior of these soldiers highlights the tendency of war to dehumanize people - both prisoners, who are often horribly subjugated, and soldiers, who have their emotions completely destroyed, suffer the negative effects of wars.
As long as Paul could remember he had his giant glasses on and was told he couldn’t see without them. But even though Paul can see fine without them. Paul, unfortunately, deals with this on a day to day basis. We discover who Paul is and how significant events changed him. Paul also experiences switching schools. We see how Paul sees the world and his perspective on certain events.
Harris calls Paul “the most influential apostle and missionary of the mid-first-century CE church and author of seven to nine New Testament letters” (H G-33). It would be quite an accolade to receive such recognition, but what makes it even more remarkable is that Paul, or Saul, (Saul was his Judean name and Paul was his Roman name (footnotes B 1943)) originally persecuted the ekklesia or “church”. Paul went from persecuting the ekklesia or “church” to being its “most influential apostle and missionary”. Why and how did Paul make such a drastic change? The answer to the question can be found in various books of the New Testament including some of the letters that Paul wrote. This answer also aids in the explanation of how and why Paul
Introduction Romans is a letter that was written by Paul in order to provide common ground for the Jews and gentiles present in the early church. Through Romans, Paul provides a framework for the Christian faith by telling the people about foundational truths relating to the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture. In doing this, he sets up the foundation for a biblical worldview in accordance with the Christian faith. ("Romans: Paul's Christian Worldview", 2014) The Natural World
When the church was first started there were many disciples and apostles who helped build up the church. One of these disciples was St. Paul who is arguably one of the most important saints. St Peter was also very important to the church blue he was the first leader. The third major influence on the church's early decisions was the Council of Jerusalem.
Being in this course the History of Ecclesiology and Polity, it has taught me many things about the difference in denominations of the church. In the Pauline letters Paul who was a minister of Christ Jesus wanted us to know what were the structures and order of the Gentile churches of his day.
What is the church? Many Christians today think of the church as the building where they go to worship and to only be thought about on Sundays; however, this is an all too common misperception. In actuality the church is the whole body of believers whose main purpose is to grow in their walk with Jesus Christ. The early church, the church of the first century, lived this out in the most literal sense. While both the early church and the modern American church share the same core beliefs, the way people lived, dealt with each other, and viewed the Holy Spirit then, was significantly different than the way many people do now.
Christianity over the course of history has a vast influence on individuals, society and the way believers conduct themselves. It provides morals, practices and ethics that every Christian attempts to live by. Throughout the many denominations in the Christian church, Paul of Tarsus had a significant influence on the faith. His contribution to the development and expression of Christianity is immense and can be seen to stem from his writing and missionary journeys which have implemented his ideas and interpretations onto the development of Christianity. After Jesus, Paul was arguably the most significant figure in Christianity as his teachings form a significant part of the New Testament. Like may other Pharisees of that time in history, Paul sought to suppress the early Christian movement. He accused early Christians of blaspheming against God and breaking Mosaic Law. However, Paul had a life-changing experience when he had a vision of Jesus, and he spent the remainder of his life as a missionary for the early church. Centuries after his ministry, his teachings still influence Christian theology.
It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.
Paul is developing and spreading the doctrine of the Church in his letters. The body of Christ (the Church) is being revealed in his letters to the seven churches. Paul’s revelations about the Church concerned its heavenly calling, promise and destiny. The administration and organization of the Church was revealed to us through the apostle Paul.