How Did Paul Contribute To The Spread Of Christianity
Christianity
REL/134
February 6, 2013
Roy Whitaker
Christianity
After Jesus’ death, and the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., the Jewish-Christian Church weakened to the point that it all but disappeared over the next 100 years. According to the text (Malloy 2010) the non-Jewish, Greek speaking branch of early Christianity, led by Paul and others like him spread the word throughout the Roman Empire. Paul’s efforts to spread his beliefs about Jesus signaled a turning point in Christianity. Paul’s opinions on the meaning of Jesus, morality, and Christian practices set the foundation in modern Christian world. To understand all of this we must first look at Paul himself. Paul who’s original name was Saul was born in Tarsus. Paul studied Judaism in Jerusalem this is where he saw Jesus as a dangerous messianic cult leader who might divide Judaism. Paul was energetic in his travels and wrote powerful letters, which spread his form of belief of Jesus. Paul eventually changed his mind after receiving several visions will traveling to stop the spread of Christianity. Paul came to believe that the life and death of Jesus were big events in a divine plan. Paul saw Jesus as more of celestial figure and less of a historical figure. Paul realized his mission was to …show more content…
spread the belief of Jesus among non-Jews. Paul would visit the synagogues and tried to convince the Jewish leaders that he believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish Messiah and the son of God that the Jews had been long waiting for. Paul tried change Jewish laws about diet and circumcision for non-Jewish converts to Christianity, which angered Jewish leaders. The efforts to make changes met with a great deal of resistance in the Jewish communities he visited. Paul eventually broke through to the non-Jews and through his missionary activities and writings; he eventually changed the religious beliefs of many. It was on this trip that turned from persecutor to the greatest of all Christian missionaries. Paul traveled over 800 miles teaching and preaching. He established Christian communities in all the important cities of eastern Rome. Paul instructed these communities or church’s, through visits or letters in the basic beliefs of Christianity. Paul’s leadership, influence and legacy led to the Christian communities worshiping the God of Israel that kept the “Jewish Moral Code” but eased on the ritual teachings of the Law of Moses. Paul taught that the life of Christ fulfilled the laws and rituals. Paul tried change Jewish laws about diet and circumcision for non-Jewish converts to Christianity, which angered Jewish leaders. The efforts to make changes met with a great deal of resistance in the Jewish communities he visited. Paul eventually broke through to the non-Jews and through his missionary activities and writings; he eventually changed the religious beliefs of many. It was on this trip that turned from persecutor to the greatest of all Christian missionaries. Paul taught of the life and works of Jesus Christ and his teaching of a “New Testament” Paul’s teachings are the bulk of the New Testament.
Paul believed that Christ would break the law or Jewish Torah, which kept people, enslaved in sin a power. Paul gave Christianity a new attitude and system. Paul believed that man could not join together with God directly but could join together with Christ who is both man and God. Paul had a sense that a believer who is set free from sin and Law would possess the spirit of Christ and would be assured to rise again. This was his theory of the resurrection. Paul also believed that spiritual growth was ongoing. Paul himself
wrote; "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14)
He served as a consultant by which control of belief is achieved. Paul was a rebel with a cause. No matter what faith or demonization or belief system you have the significant achievements of Paul no doubt had some type of effect. Paul’s efforts to spread his beliefs about Jesus signaled a turning point in Christianity. Paul’s opinions on the meaning of Jesus, morality, and Christian practices set the foundation in modern Christian world. The believe in something so great that one had never seen, touched or felt and to believe so strongly say’s a lot about the character of Paul.
References
Malloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the World’s Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change (5th ed). New York, NY. McGraw-Hill
The Holy Bible: (Philippians 3:12-14)
REL/134
February 6, 2013
Roy Whitaker
Christianity
After Jesus’ death, and the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E., the Jewish-Christian Church weakened to the point that it all but disappeared over the next 100 years. According to the text (Malloy 2010) the non-Jewish, Greek speaking branch of early Christianity, led by Paul and others like him spread the word throughout the Roman Empire. Paul’s efforts to spread his beliefs about Jesus signaled a turning point in Christianity. Paul’s opinions on the meaning of Jesus, morality, and Christian practices set the foundation in modern Christian world. To understand all of this we must first look at Paul himself. Paul who’s original name was Saul was born in Tarsus. Paul studied Judaism in Jerusalem this is where he saw Jesus as a dangerous messianic cult leader who might divide Judaism. Paul was energetic in his travels and wrote powerful letters, which spread his form of belief of Jesus. Paul eventually changed his mind after receiving several visions will traveling to stop the spread of Christianity. Paul came to believe that the life and death of Jesus were big events in a divine plan. Paul saw Jesus as more of celestial figure and less of a historical figure. Paul realized his mission was to …show more content…
spread the belief of Jesus among non-Jews. Paul would visit the synagogues and tried to convince the Jewish leaders that he believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish Messiah and the son of God that the Jews had been long waiting for. Paul tried change Jewish laws about diet and circumcision for non-Jewish converts to Christianity, which angered Jewish leaders. The efforts to make changes met with a great deal of resistance in the Jewish communities he visited. Paul eventually broke through to the non-Jews and through his missionary activities and writings; he eventually changed the religious beliefs of many. It was on this trip that turned from persecutor to the greatest of all Christian missionaries. Paul traveled over 800 miles teaching and preaching. He established Christian communities in all the important cities of eastern Rome. Paul instructed these communities or church’s, through visits or letters in the basic beliefs of Christianity. Paul’s leadership, influence and legacy led to the Christian communities worshiping the God of Israel that kept the “Jewish Moral Code” but eased on the ritual teachings of the Law of Moses. Paul taught that the life of Christ fulfilled the laws and rituals. Paul tried change Jewish laws about diet and circumcision for non-Jewish converts to Christianity, which angered Jewish leaders. The efforts to make changes met with a great deal of resistance in the Jewish communities he visited. Paul eventually broke through to the non-Jews and through his missionary activities and writings; he eventually changed the religious beliefs of many. It was on this trip that turned from persecutor to the greatest of all Christian missionaries. Paul taught of the life and works of Jesus Christ and his teaching of a “New Testament” Paul’s teachings are the bulk of the New Testament.
Paul believed that Christ would break the law or Jewish Torah, which kept people, enslaved in sin a power. Paul gave Christianity a new attitude and system. Paul believed that man could not join together with God directly but could join together with Christ who is both man and God. Paul had a sense that a believer who is set free from sin and Law would possess the spirit of Christ and would be assured to rise again. This was his theory of the resurrection. Paul also believed that spiritual growth was ongoing. Paul himself
wrote; "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14)
He served as a consultant by which control of belief is achieved. Paul was a rebel with a cause. No matter what faith or demonization or belief system you have the significant achievements of Paul no doubt had some type of effect. Paul’s efforts to spread his beliefs about Jesus signaled a turning point in Christianity. Paul’s opinions on the meaning of Jesus, morality, and Christian practices set the foundation in modern Christian world. The believe in something so great that one had never seen, touched or felt and to believe so strongly say’s a lot about the character of Paul.
References
Malloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the World’s Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change (5th ed). New York, NY. McGraw-Hill
The Holy Bible: (Philippians 3:12-14)