Letters from Paul, Introduction

I have greatly enjoyed reflecting and writing about the words of Jesus from the Bible.  If you don't mind, I'd like to continue with another project, and then perhaps come back to the four Gospels. This time, I would like to reflect on and write about excerpts from the Letters from Paul.  It helps me to better understand what I'm reading in the Bible if I know who wrote it and why they wrote it.  So I'm doing a little preliminary reading about Paul.  This entry might be a little long... If you don't already know, Paul was not one of the 12 apostles. He was in no way a follower of Jesus during the life of Jesus.  Rather, he was a persecutor of the followers of Jesus.  Paul (known then as Saul) was born in Antioch (in modern-day Turkey) but raised in Jerusalem.  He was a Roman citizen, which was fairly unique back then.  He was also part of the ruling class of the Jewish tradition -- a leading authority in the Sanhedrin.

Somewhere between a year and four years after the crucifixion of Jesus, while on the road to Damascus, Paul had a life-changing vision of the Risen Christ.  I will let Acts 9 (Acts tells the story of Paul, but is not told by Paul) explain what happened:

"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.


Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened."


So much took place for Paul in this time of his life.  Consider the DRAMATIC changes in his perspective.  He lived about 35 years of his life as a devout follower of Jewish Law, and in vehement opposition to Jesus as the Messiah.  To him, the idea that Jesus was the Messiah was insane, let alone the fact that such a Messiah of the Jewish people would allow himself to be crucified.

I look at the three days mentioned, where he was "without sight, and neither ate nor drank".  Honestly, I don't blame him.  Who could eat or drink?  If your life was just turned completely upside down, if everything you've been living your life for was wrong, wouldn't you be in shock?  Not to mention the fact that the Risen Jesus had appeared to his eyes.  What would that do to you?

After his conversion, Paul began traveling around the Mediterranean, helping to set up the early churches.  That would be a seemingly impossible task.  First of all, Paul did not travel with Jesus or his apostles.  Everything he knew about Jesus and what he means came from his vision and prayers.  However, many stories of Jesus' teachings had traveled via word-of-mouth around the area.  Ever play Telephone?  Notice how stories change with their telling?  The early church had many many stories about Jesus and the Way (name of the early Church), and many conflicted.  Paul had to attempt to unify these people and keep them focused.

So as he traveled, he wrote letters to the churches he established, trying to address their issues, unify their understanding and goals, and keep them motivated.  In these letters, he established what we now know to be more of the structure of the Christian faith.  As you read them you may notice how much he tries to resolve three elements:  his Jewish tradition, his new faith in the Risen Christ, and the need to include the Gentile people.

I am looking forward to this series because I am always interested in reading between the Gospels and Paul.  Paul is cited with being the founder of modern-day Christianity.  That sounds weird, doesn't it?  Although Jesus told us how to live, love, forgive, etc., Paul helped to write and create Christian doctrine, as in "this is what we as Christians believe".  There is a term, "Pauline Christianity", that describes the difference between Paul's version of Christianity and what was originally put forth by the early Jerusalem Church (which was started by the Apostles and led by James for a time).  One example of difference between the two is that the Jerusalem Church believed that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah in fulfillment of the scriptures, and that those who would follow the Way try to live according to Jewish Tradition and Law.  Paul's church asserted that Jesus was a Messiah for all people including Gentiles.  I suppose we can count ourselves particularly fortunate that Paul's ideas took hold in this case.

I certainly am not a biblical scholar so, as I write these, I encourage you to look things up and make decisions for yourself.  I am learning a lot as I go as well.

I think I'll end today's post with a prayer:
Holy One, on this Sunday morning or afternoon, open our hearts and minds to you.  Fill us with a hunger to know you and hear your voice for us.  We don't all have visions like Paul did, but we certainly know you speak to us through those in this world who love us, through those whom we serve, the passions and talents you instill in us, and through the enormous beauty of your creation.  We also know you by the still, clear voice in our selves that is the living Christ within us all.  Thank you for this day, and for every day of this life.  Amen.