Paul

1. Paul's Zealous Jewish Roots Shaped His Destiny

That is why Saul of Tarsus persecuted Jesus’s early followers.

Deeply rooted. Saul of Tarsus grew up in a devout, strict Jewish family in the cosmopolitan city of Tarsus. He was steeped in the scriptures, particularly the stories of Israel's history, the Exodus, and the hope for a coming divine deliverance. This background instilled in him a fierce loyalty to the One God and a "zeal" for the ancestral traditions, seeing them as the path to God's promised kingdom.

Zeal for the law. This zeal was not just abstract piety; it was an active commitment to propagating and defending the Jewish way of life against perceived threats. Figures like Phinehas and Elijah, who acted violently to purify Israel, were role models. This motivated Saul to see the early followers of Jesus as a dangerous deviation that needed to be stamped out, believing they threatened Israel's relationship with God and the coming fulfillment of prophecy.

Preparation for purpose. His rigorous education in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, combined with his deep knowledge of scripture and exposure to Greco-Roman culture in Tarsus, equipped him intellectually and culturally. Though his initial zeal was misdirected towards persecution, this intense devotion and intellectual capacity were foundational for the relentless energy and profound understanding he would later bring to his apostolic mission.

2. Damascus: A Reorientation, Not a Religious Switch

But if we approach matters in that way we will, quite simply, never understand either Saul of Tarsus or Paul the Apostle.

Not a conversion of religion. The event on the road to Damascus was not Saul converting from "Judaism" to "Christianity" in the modern sense. He remained a devout believer in the One God of Israel. Instead, it was a radical reorientation of his understanding of who that God was and how His ancient promises were being fulfilled.

Encountering Jesus. Saul, perhaps meditating on visions of God's glory like Ezekiel's, encountered the risen Jesus. This was a shattering revelation:

• Jesus, whom he persecuted, was alive.
• Jesus was Israel's Messiah.
• Jesus embodied the glory of the One God.

Loyalty redefined. His lifelong loyalty to God was not abandoned, but redirected. He realized his zeal had been based on a misunderstanding of God's plan. The event was a divine commissioning, placing him in the line of prophets like Jeremiah and Elijah, tasked with announcing that Israel's hope had been fulfilled in Jesus, even if in an unexpected way.

3. Jesus as Messiah Launched New Creation for All

This was not a new religion. This was a new world—and it was the new world that the One God had always promised...

Cosmic fulfillment. Paul believed that in Jesus, particularly through his death and resurrection, the One God had acted decisively to launch a new creation. This wasn't just about individual salvation; it was about God's plan to put the entire cosmos right, uniting heaven and earth.

Jesus's central role:

• He is the true "Image" of God, embodying genuine humanity.
• He is the ultimate Temple, where heaven and earth meet.
• He is the Messiah, fulfilling the promises to Abraham and David.
• His death defeated the powers of darkness that enslaved the world.
• His resurrection inaugurated the new age.

Hope for the world. This vision meant the gospel was not just for Jews, but for all nations. The ancient hope for God's kingdom to come "on earth as in heaven" was now being realized through Jesus. Paul's mission was to announce this new reality and invite everyone to become part of it.

4. The Gospel United Jews and Gentiles in One Family

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no ‘male and female’; you are all one in the Messiah, Jesus.

Breaking down barriers. A core implication of the gospel for Paul was the creation of a single, unified family of God's people, transcending traditional social and ethnic divisions. This was particularly revolutionary regarding the ancient wall between Jews and Gentiles.

Theological basis:

• Jesus's death dealt with the sin and idolatry that separated Gentiles from God and Jews.
• Jesus's resurrection launched a new creation where old distinctions were obsolete.
• The Holy Spirit was given to all believers, regardless of background.

Controversy over practice. This unity was fiercely contested, especially regarding table fellowship and circumcision. Paul argued that insisting Gentiles be circumcised to be fully included denied the sufficiency of Jesus's work and the power of the Spirit. The Jerusalem Conference affirmed that Gentile believers were full members without circumcision, though practical guidelines were given to maintain peace.

5. Suffering Defined Paul's Apostolic Ministry

When I’m weak, you see, then I am strong.

Embodying the cross. Paul's ministry was marked by constant suffering, persecution, and hardship. He saw this not as a failure, but as an essential part of being an apostle of the crucified Messiah. His weakness became a channel for God's power.

Experiences of suffering:

• Beatings and stonings (left him physically marked)
• Imprisonments (tested his faith and hope)
• Shipwrecks and dangers (constant threats of travel)
• Opposition from Jews and Gentiles (misunderstood and rejected)
• Internal anxieties and despair (emotional and spiritual lows)

Paradox of power. This suffering mirrored the path of Jesus, who achieved victory through the cross. Paul learned that God's power was perfected in weakness, and his own vulnerability demonstrated that the gospel's effectiveness came from God, not from his own strength or social standing.

6. Paul's Theology: Messiah, Resurrection, and Divine Power

If the Messiah wasn’t raised,” he declares, “your faith is pointless, and you are still in your sins.”

Resurrection as foundation. The bodily resurrection of Jesus was the absolute core of Paul's theology. It validated Jesus's claims, demonstrated God's power over death and the dark forces, and inaugurated the new creation. Without it, the gospel was meaningless.

Key theological concepts:

• Justification: Not just individual salvation, but being declared a member of God's covenant family through faith in Jesus, not by adherence to the law.
• Spirit: The presence and power of God in believers, enabling new life, unity, and embodying the new creation.
• Powers: The spiritual forces of evil that enslaved the world, defeated by Jesus's death and resurrection.

Integrated vision. These concepts were not abstract doctrines but interconnected realities flowing from the person and work of Jesus. Paul's theology was deeply practical, explaining how believers could live in the already/not-yet reality of God's kingdom, empowered by the Spirit and anticipating the final resurrection.

7. Contested Loyalty: Paul Remained a Faithful Jew

Paul had always been, and still remained, a loyal Jew.

Redefined identity. Despite accusations of abandoning his heritage, Paul consistently saw himself as a loyal Jew whose identity was now fulfilled and transformed in the Messiah. His zeal for God was now directed towards announcing Jesus as the true hope of Israel.

Evidence of Jewish identity:

• Continued use of Jewish scriptures as the basis for his message.
• Prayer life rooted in Jewish tradition, reoriented around Jesus.
• Practice of starting his mission in synagogues.
• Willingness to observe Jewish customs for the sake of reaching Jews (e.g., circumcising Timothy).

Theological basis for redefinition. Paul argued that the Torah itself pointed forward to the Messiah as its goal. Following Jesus was not a rejection of the law, but its ultimate fulfillment. This contested loyalty was a source of constant tension with both non-believing Jews and some Jewish Christians.

8. The Gospel Challenged Worldly Power Structures

Paul’s “missionary” journeys were not simply aimed at telling people about Jesus in order to generate inner personal transformation and a new sense of ultimate hope... They were aimed at the establishment of a new kind of kingdom on earth as in heaven.

Alternative allegiance. In a world dominated by the Roman Empire and its claims of "gospel," "lordship," and "salvation" under Caesar, Paul's message was inherently political. Announcing Jesus as Kyrios (Lord) directly challenged Caesar's authority.

Confronting powers:

• Denouncing idols and pagan cults (seen as disloyalty to civic gods).
• Forming communities loyal to Jesus (a new polis within the empire).
• Facing charges of sedition and disturbing the peace.
• Paul's "course of shame" (suffering, weakness) contrasted with Roman "course of honor."

Divine authority. Paul believed earthly rulers held authority from God, but were accountable to Him. The gospel revealed that Jesus was the ultimate authority, having defeated the spiritual powers behind worldly corruption. This gave believers a basis for both respecting earthly rule and recognizing a higher allegiance.

9. Love and Koinōnia Sustained Paul's Mission

"Sharing not only the gospel of God but our own lives”—that line tells its own story.

Deep relationships. Beyond his intellectual prowess and theological arguments, Paul's ministry was characterized by deep personal bonds with the people in his churches and with his fellow workers. This mutual love and trust, or koinōnia (fellowship/partnership), was vital for his endurance.

Expressions of koinōnia:

• Referring to believers as "brothers and sisters," a new family.
• Sharing life, not just teaching, with his churches.
• Experiencing mutual comfort and support in times of trouble.
• Organizing the collection for Jerusalem as a sign of unity and love.
• Relying on friends like Timothy, Silas, Priscilla, Aquila, and Titus.

Love as destiny. Paul's famous hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13 wasn't just an ethical ideal; it was the very nature of God and the ultimate destiny of believers in the new creation. This love, rooted in God's love for him, motivated his relentless work and sustained him through despair.

10. Romans: Paul's Vision for a United, World-Changing Church

Romans, then, is a many-sided letter, but with a single line of thought.

Strategic masterpiece. Written from Corinth before heading to Rome, Romans is Paul's most sustained and carefully structured exposition of the gospel. It wasn't just a theological summary, but a strategic document aimed at preparing the Roman churches for his arrival and gaining their support for his mission to the West.

Addressing Roman context:

• Countering potential Gentile Christian anti-Jewish sentiment.
• Promoting unity among diverse house-churches (Jew/Gentile, strong/weak).
• Articulating the gospel's challenge to Roman imperial claims.

Core argument: God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus, creating a single family of believers (Jew and Gentile) through faith, not law. This family embodies God's justice and is empowered by the Spirit to live as new creation, anticipating the final renewal of all things.

11. Paul's Enduring Legacy: A New Way to Be Human

God has made us what we are. God has created us in King Jesus for the good works that he prepared, ahead of time, as the road we must travel.

God's artwork. Paul saw believers as God's "poetry" or "artwork," created anew in Jesus to embody God's purposes in the world. The gospel wasn't just about escaping the world, but about being transformed to live within it as agents of God's coming kingdom.

Key aspects of this new humanity:

• Reflecting God's image, as originally intended.
• Living by love, the defining characteristic of God and the new creation.
• Exercising spiritual gifts for the building up of the community.
• Engaging in spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness.
• Anticipating the bodily resurrection and the renewal of creation.

Lasting impact. Paul's vision of a diverse, united, Spirit-empowered community embodying God's love and challenging worldly powers proved remarkably resilient. Despite internal struggles and external persecution, the movement he championed grew, offering a compelling and transformative way of being human that ultimately reshaped the world.

Last updated: May 5, 2025