Essay about Paul: New Testament and Apostle Paul

Submitted By RCarter1
Words: 671
Pages: 3
Open Document
The Apostle Paul, who started as one of Christianity's most zealous enemies, was hand-picked by Jesus Christ to become the gospel's most ardent messenger. Paul traveled tirelessly through the ancient world, taking the message of salvation to the Gentiles. Paul towers as one of the all-time giants of Christianity.
The Apostle Paul's Accomplishments:
When Saul of Tarsus, who was later renamed Paul, saw the resurrected Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road, Saul converted to Christianity. He made three long missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire, planting churches, preaching the gospel, and giving strength and encouragement to early Christians. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, Paul is credited as the author of 13 of them. While he was proud of his Jewish heritage, Paul saw that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well. Paul was martyred for his faith in Christ by the Romans, about 64 or 65 A.D.
The Apostle Paul's Strengths:
Paul had a brilliant mind, a commanding knowledge of philosophy and religion, and could debate with the most educated scholars of his day. At the same time, his clear, understandable explanation of the gospel made his letters to early churches the foundation of Christian theology. Tradition portrays Paul as a physically small man, but he endured enormous physical hardships on his missionary journeys. His perseverance in the face of danger and persecution has inspired countless missionaries since.
The Apostle Paul's Weaknesses:
Before his conversion, Paul approved of the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58), and was a merciless persecutor of the early church.
Life Lessons:
God can change anyone. God gave Paul the strength, wisdom, and endurance to carry out the mission Jesus entrusted Paul with. One of Paul's most famous statements is: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13, NKJV), reminding us that our power to live the Christian life comes from God, not ourselves.
Paul also recounted a "thorn in his flesh" that kept him from becoming conceited over the priceless privilege God had entrusted to him. In saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:2, NIV), Paul was sharing one of the greatest secrets of staying faithful: absolute dependence on God.
Much of the Protestant Reformation was based on Paul's teaching that people are saved bygrace, not works: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-" (Ephesians 2:8, NIV) This truth frees us to stop striving to be good enough and to instead rejoice in our salvation, gained
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Paul: New Testament and Apostle Paul

Paul and His Theology Essays

Many scholars believe that Paul’s theology is at the heart of the New Testament witness and Christian faith. It represents the oldest detailed statement of a coherent Christian theology available to us. As “apostle of the nations” he understood that all people are called by God to a very great glory. Paul’s whole teaching in Romans is captured in the following words. “I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek…

Words 2731 - Pages 11

Book Of Ephesians Research Paper

Name: Katherine Irizarry Student ID: L26697751 Course: BIBL104 Date: 2/23/15 New Testament Bible Dictionary Project: IrizarryKNTBDP.doc Book: Ephesians The book of Ephesians is a prison Epistle which includes the literary genre of a homily enclosed in a general letter of exhortation. The Epistles were letters of instruction and doctrine to the churches. Its authorship has been credited to Paul the Apostle. However in 1792, historians challenge the authorship, saying that although written in Paul’s…

Words 943 - Pages 4

The Charismatic Gifts Essay

cessation of the spiritual gifts, the meaning of which we will clarify in a moment, is a relatively modern one. Although we read about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the early church of the New Testament, history is more or less silent on this issue. It was not until the early…

Words 3470 - Pages 14

How Did Paul Write The Letter To Galatians

Book of Galatians Summary The book of Acts talk about Paul going on his first missionary journey into southern Galatia. This time frame was about 48 or 49 AD. After Paul left the city, he returned back to Antioch and heard about how people (outside preachers) were coming back into town and discrediting Paul. Things like, he is not a true apostle and not to listen to him. So why did Paul write this letter to the Galatians? After Paul got word of how the Galatians were acting, he decided to write…

Words 465 - Pages 2

Essay on The foundation of the Orthodoxy church

literally used to measure “straightness,” but the term was used to denote the rules and norms of the Christian faith” (Duvall and Hays). Before the early church had the assemblage of the New Testament scriptures, the apostles were functioning with traditional verbal methods of passing on the rule of faith. The apostle Paul clearly done this through his teaching he received the word from God and he passed it along to everyone that wanted to hear. There are many doubters that wonder why there are no…

Words 1485 - Pages 6

The New Testament: Closed Canon

is not". To present day, there has only been consensus of what is, or is not, canonical. To this end, I struggle with the notion of "hidden gospels". The New Testament "closed canon" was not recorded in its entirety until 367 CE when Athanasius published his Festal Letter. And his letter was really more of a recommendation list, akin to the New York Time's best seller list, and includes books which are profitable or beneficial to…

Words 334 - Pages 2

Essay on Paul and His Epistles

University This paper discusses the doctrines and theology that Paul includes in the epistles Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians. In this paper, I will address what makes Romans such a powerful exposition of Christian doctrine. Paul’s purpose in writing any of the epistles was to proclaim the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching doctrine, edify, and encourage the believers who would receive his letters. Of particular concern to Paul were those to whom this letter was written—those in Rome…

Words 1257 - Pages 6

Irving L Jensen's Survey Of The New Testament

In Irving L Jensen book Jensen's Survey of The New Testament He states that Timothy was a native of Derbe and was the son of a Gentile father and Jewish mother. As a child he had been instructed by his mother of the Old Testament Scriptures. His mother named him Timothy which meant "honoring God" or "honored by God" because she had faith in God According to Jensen, Timothy .was possibly converted in Paul's first journey to Derbe. Timothy was in his late teens when he was saved. On Paul's second…

Words 493 - Pages 2

Cousar's Rhetoric Essay

intended audience were the Jews Although Paul associates primarily as an apostle to the Gentiles, his indirect purpose in his composition of Romans, as Cousar remarks, was to “theologically engage in the aggressive evangelism of Jews” (Cousar 29). Paul employs a provocative remark, “You foolish Galatians!” (Gal 3:1), setting the essence for his apologetic rhetoric throughout the letter. It is appreciative that Cousar persuades a reader to not judge Paul as “rigid and insensitive”, but understand…

Words 1635 - Pages 7

Final Lesson In Life Essay

Author Note Final was prepared for “Early Christian Literature” HUM-114A-ON152; Professor Carol Forseth Abstract “The New Testament is a lesson in life. Learn from their mistakes. Model their successes. Listen to their instruction. Follow the Jesus who called both them and you.” A Survey of the New Testament, Gundry, Robert H., defines that The New Testament is worthy of a lifetime of study, as it answers the most significant questions people have asked. What is the purpose of life? Is…

Words 4190 - Pages 17