Hi folks here is this weeks blog… This weeks blog comes from Noreen, looking at St Paul:
All of you, I’m sure will have some insight into the life of St Paul, and his influence on the early Christian church. Travelling around Europe it’s difficult to avoid him, in the statues and references to his presence there. In Rome his statue stands-together with St Peter-on top of the Vatican, and I remember feeling dizzy attempting to look at it, so high up, and St Peter’s square so vast. On a sea cruise off Malta I thought we were going to replicate St Paul’s shipwreck there! My most memorable ‘encounter’ was at the ancient church of Agia Kyriaki in Paphos which is also known as the place where St Paul was whipped by the Jewish leader Elymas (there is a stone column outside which is supposed to have been used for this). There is an active congregation at the ancient church which is shared by both Greek Orthodox and Catholics for separate services which must make it quite unique. So, I’d found out the times of the services and made my way along the mosaic pathway to the church. The door was open (it was at least 30 degrees outside!) and I went in, to find myself standing in what felt like a cool, dark cavern, lit with candles. Despite the service being in Latin, a language I barely understood (sadly there was no ‘Pentecost fire’ giving me insight into what was being said) it felt a really holy space. There was definitely a spirit moving in that place.
Bio notes
Paul was likely born between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Book of Acts indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth. He was from a devout Jewish family based in the city of Tarsus, one of the largest trade centres on the Mediterranean coast. Tarsus was the most influential city in Asia Minor, renowned for its university.
Modern theologians agree that Paul was educated under the supervision of Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and spoke both Hebrew and Greek. It was reported that he was present at the stoning of St Stephen after his trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin court. Paul (or Saul as he was then) held the coats of Stephen’s executioners. He then went on, as a representative of the Pharisaical community, to be responsible for persecuting ‘Followers of The Way’ as the early Christians were called.
Then everything changed for Saul and according to the book of Acts, Chapter 9 it took place on the road to Damascus, where he reported having experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus. The account says that he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?’ Saul replied, ‘Who art thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom thou persecutes.’
According to the account in Acts he was blinded for three days and had to be led into Damascus by the hand. During these three days, Saul took no food or water and spent his time in prayer to God. When Ananias (a Christian of Damascus who had been led to Saul through a vision) arrived, he laid his hands on him. Saul’s sight was restored. He got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:18). It is often thought that Saul changed his name at that time, but scholars have disputed this. In Acts 13:9, Saul is called ‘Paul’ for the first time on the island of Cyprus—much later than the time of his conversion. Luke indicates that the names were interchangeable, and as Paul was a Roman name he may have chosen to use it when meeting with the Roman leaders. Adopting his Roman name was typical of Paul’s missionary style. His method was to put people at their ease and to approach them with his message in a language and style to which they could relate.
Writing and Influence
Thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to St Paul.
There are many famous quotations attributable to Paul, perhaps the best known is in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4-7 which is often used in Christian marriage services—‘Love is patient, Love is kind. Love is not boastful or envious or arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’
He also wrote about one body having many parts (1 Corinthians12 verses 12-27) saying that in the church everyone-whatever their talents and skills-have a part to play. Also in Corinthians is my own favourite spiritual inspiration verse about running straight for the finishing line (1 Corinthians 9 verses 23 to 27).
Some of Paul’s writings have caused controversy, particularly with regard to the role of women in the church. ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.’ (First letter to Timothy, Chapter 2 verse12,). However supporters of giving women power in the Church most frequently cite the letter to the Romans, Chapter 16 as giving the opposite view. In its list of nearly 30 active early Christians, at least eight are women. Some commentators stress the fact that one, Priscilla (Prisca in the original Greek), is named before her husband Aquila.
Much of Paul’s output in terms of letters to the early church gives very specific advice on how to run it. In the final verse of Timothy 1 Paul says, ‘Timothy keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call ‘knowledge.’ Good advice now as then! Over the past few weeks our understanding of what is church has been upended. I wonder if Paul’s views will be revisited in the near future and his ideas for organising a church community renewed?
Questions
1. Have you ever been handed a daunting task that you felt inadequate about tackling. Did you feel spiritually guided in this task? How did it feel?
2. Over his lifetime Paul wrote letters to many different early Christian communities (‘Followers of The Way’ at that time). What is the most important letter /email/message you’ve ever received? Did it change your life and how do you view that moment you received it in hindsight?
3. Paul travelled widely and met many people, setting up small churches as he went. Is there somewhere special you have travelled to which has influenced your faith?
4. Timothy was ‘mentored’ and befriended by Paul. Have you ever mentored/nurtured another person to encourage them to become a Christian, and how did it go?
St Paul Image – Public Domain – Painting by Diego Velazquez
This post is written by one of our many friends. At BeachcomberFX we love to hear what others have to say and are always on the lookout for people who want to share their thoughts or stories with us.