The "Calling" of Saul of Tarsus

Paul’s letters are more difficult to interpret than they seem because they are occasional documents. They were written for a specific reason to a specific group with specific instruction for their situation. These letters contain valuable instruction for us, but only when we have an understanding of what the occasion was that these letters were written.

The Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, and Martin Luther have been three very important figures in the Christian church. Each went through a unique personal experience that changed the course of their lives. Those experiences were important to them and they should be important to anyone of the Christian faith. In this research paper I will explore these experiences and how they do and do not relate to each other.

For many years the Apostle Paul and his pastoral leadership has given me great insight as to how live life daily. His missionary journey’s as God’s representative has had great influence on my own theological thought and preservation of my faith. The book of Colossians is filled with stories of redemption, knowledge and the power of prayer. The Apostle’s extraordinary life from darkness to light can only be attributed to the Grace of the Lord.

In the first close reading of the text, I discovered Paul articulated his desire for all believers to be of the same attitude or frame of mind as Christ. Creating a sense of relationship with God through the example of the servanthood of Jesus. This study revealed the traits of Christ’s life and character found in verses: “he was formed of God” (2:6), “emptied himself’ (2:7), “in human form” (2:8), “name above every name” (2:9), “every knee should bend” (2:10), and “every tongue confess … glory to God” (2:11). Looking at each verse, challenged me to read between the lines and wonder what might be happening within the church of Philippi. Textual Criticism

From January to April we meticulously analyzed the thirteen letters Paul the Apostle wrote to teach the gospel of the Christ to the first century world. He used these letters to instruct and advise the churches he founded across the Mediterranean. After thoroughly examining these letters through lecture in class and in the readings, I have come to find myself to be much more educated on the scripture than when I first came into the class. Before I took Life and Letters of Paul, I had little to none religious experience or knowledge on the topic of Christianity. This class helped me develop a solid foundation on how Christianity was spread and came about.

The controversial figure of St Paul is credited with writing thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament; thus making him one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age and in the development of the early Christian faith. Paul’s letters are some of the earliest Christian documents discovered dating to approximately 50 AD, whereas the scholarly consensus for the dating of the gospels is between 70 AD and 90 AD. Therefore, Paul’s thirteen letters reveal the earliest teachings about Jesus and the Christian faith; in particular Paul’s letter to the Romans expresses the fullest statement of how salvation in Christ is achieved (Wansbrough, 2011, P247). Thus, this essay will primarily focus on Romans and the extent it concurs with the Gospel according to Luke. In doing this, the essay will also analyse whether Paul’s letters rely on the narrative of Luke’s gospel. The overall message Paul preaches in his thirteen letters is we can be saved through Jesus’ actions, but only if we follow his teachings. However, the argument is can this message be fully understood by Christians without Luke’s gospel? Additionally, this paper will attempt to show how Paul’s preaching has altered or remained the same throughout time.

Ralston, Timothy J. “The Theological Significance of Paul’s Conversion.” Bibliotheca Sacra 147, no. 586 (April 1990): 198–215.

In the numerous printed documents discussing Paul and his life and ministry, most of these intellectual writings mainly deal with the theological and historical aspects. However, very few writings have been done on the spiritual characteristics of Paul. “Perhaps it is time to approach Paul as a disciple of Jesus, as a Spirit-filled man” (pp. 12). Throughout his teaching, he emphasized the importance of following the Spirit and being molded into its likeness. Over the later duration of his life, Paul boldly attempted at to become “Christ-like.”

Paul's ministry to Gentiles brought controversy over who could be saved and how to be saved. Between his first and second missionary journeys,

Paul, having figuratively died and rose again with Christ, demonstrates a profound change in his outlook. Armed with a transformed mindset, the once vitriolic man who had been possessed by the demonic “Us vs. Them” mentality, goes on to champion unity and equality -- “In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal” (Gal. 3:28; The Message). He then implores fellow Christians to defy conformity, exhorting them to be transformed by gauging their values against the credo that holds ultimate significance -- the will of God, which Micah defines as acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Rom 12:2; Micah 6:8).

Paul’s preaching, caused by the provocation we just discussed, afforded him incredible opportunities. He discussed Christ with the Jews, the Gentile worshipers, the frequenters of the marketplace, and even some philosophers (Acts 17:17-18). Though many of the individuals in the last group labeled

I Corinthians offers the reader an insight into the early beginnings of the New Testament church, its structure, methods, and message. I Corinthians is Paul’s answer to a previous letter he has written to the Corinthians regarding the conditions in the Corinthian church. The picture Paul painted of the early church also includes a problematic, non-typical congregation (Utley 18). Paul is not questioning their salvation per say but challenging their sanctification (Wallace). The goal of this paper is to communicate Paul’s dilemma of how a Christian is supposed to conduct himself and live in an appallingly

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.

Chapter 4: How did Paul and his coworkers wish to be known by? Chapter 5: How was Paul's way of discipline designed to bring good spiritual health to the church and the individual? Chapter 6: What guidelines did Paul give for settling problems between Christians?

The Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, is a central figure within both Christian tradition and New Testament thought and writing. With such a crucial place, it is vital that we come to understand more of his life and thinking, as well as the world in which he and, more specifically, his theology were shaped. With this in mind, this essay will seek to explore Paul’s conversion and call experience as understood from Acts, and his personal references to it, drawing from them the ways in which this time was significant for Paul’s theological thinking, as expressed in his letters and work. To achieve this we will begin by addressing the call and/or conversion debate, arguing that the term ‘conversion and call’ best encapsulates