Paul, Apostle of Christ
The Gospels are certainly the most important of the New Testament writings, but they were not the first to be composed. As early as the year A.D. 50, some young communities of former Gentiles were receiving Letters from an “apostle,” namely, Paul, who had not belonged to the Twelve or to the circle around Jesus. Of the great figures of newborn Christianity, this “first Christian author” is the most remarkable one known to us, and he remains such through the testimony he has left us in his writings.
Chronological Order of the Letters
Modern criticism has come to the following conclusions in this area.
A first series of Letters was written at intervals during the fifties and sixties; there is practically no one who doubts that Paul was their author.
—1 and 2Thessalonians: The first two Christian writings that have come down to us. They were surely written in Corinth between A.D. 50 and 52, in order to encourage a recently founded community and to clarify some points of doctrine (although some scholars have questioned the authorship of 2Thessalonians).
—1 and 2Corinthians: Two Letters written in A.D. 56, during Paul’s time in Ephesus. They contain rather spirited interventions occasioned by disorders and divisions in the community.
—Philippians: A Letter that is especially cordial in tone. It is the first Letter that Paul wrote from prison and can be dated to A.D. 56, although others place it with the Letters of Paul’s Roman captivity between A.D. 61 and 63. We know that Paul was imprisoned more than once.
—Galatians: A fiery Letter to a Church in full crisis; probably written in A.D. 56 or 57.
—Romans: A lengthy theological writing, covering at greater length, and in a more serene tone, the same themes the writer had dealt with in the Letter to the Galatians. It may date from A.D. 57 or 58.
A second and later series of texts is known as the Captivity Letters (which may include the Letter to the Philippians, as noted a moment ago). They can be attributed to Paul, although a bit tentatively, and dated from A.D. 61 to 63, the period of his imprisonment in Rome.
—Colossians: A Letter that encourages authentic faith and authentic Christian life in face of the commingling of religions and new ideas.
—Philemon: A short note of recommendation for a fugitive slave.
—Ephesians: A circular Letter inspired by a profound theology and mysticism.
A third series of Letters is addressed no longer to communities but to individuals, pastors of souls, and is lavish with recommendations and guidelines for the exercise of their responsibilities. These are known as the Pastoral Letters and must be dated to A.D. 66 or 67 at the latest, if they are to be attributed to Paul. Some exegetes think the Letters may be the work of disciples and written around the eighties.
—1 and 2Timothy: Two Letters.
—Titus: One Letter.
Toward the end of the 1st century a final writing supposedly by Paul was in circulation, but the attribution is most uncertain. It was written by someone else who remains anonymous.
—Hebrews: A lengthy piece of theology and exhortation, written either just before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or much later, between A.D. 80 and 90.
Who Was Paul?
Until His Conversion
Saul was born around the beginning of the century, in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia in Asia Minor, a little city but open to cultural influences and commercial exchanges between East and West. He was from a family of Diaspora Jews who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and were intent on a strict observance of the religion of their forebears. They did not, however, reject all contact with the life and culture of the Empire; in fact, they had acquired Roman citizenship and thereby become the Paulus family.
In about A.D 36/37 a mysterious event changed the course of Saul’s life in an instant. The persecutor of Christians became the most ardent missionary of the Gospel.
On the road to Damascus, he had a vision that changed his life. He saw Christ, who revealed that he was totally one with all who believed in him: “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4).
After His Conversion
Paul underwent a radical turnaround. From then on, he did nothing but put into practice the unshakable certitude that he received on that day. His Letters set forth this conviction: Christ is living and reconciles human beings in his Spirit; salvation is given by him to the Gentile world and indeed to all peoples. His entire existence was henceforth seized by this mission. His life and thought were animated by an unconquerable love for Jesus.
Allowing Gentiles to become part of the Christian communities posed theoretical problems. Paul was present at the Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 48/49, which rendered liberating decisions on this point (Acts 15; Gal 2:1-10).
Thereupon Paul traveled to the great urban centers of the Mediterranean world, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and establishing churches, i.e., small groups of men and women, free people and slaves, Jews and Greeks, who believed in Christ. His plan was to go to the ends of the known world, possibly as far as the Spanish coast, by way of Rome. All the while, he nurtured the young Churches by his Letters and delegates, recalling the main lines of the Gospel—Jesus Christ is the only Savior.
We have no sure information on the subsequent course and end of Paul’s life. He would be executed at Rome on the Ostia Road (Via Ostiensis), probably in A.D. 66/67. Many, especially those who defend the attribution of the Captivity Letters to Paul, think that he had once again regained his freedom, had visited the Churches of Greece and Asia Minor, and perhaps had even gone to Spain. Arrested once again, he endured a harsh imprisonment.
Writings
The traditional order of the Letters, as seen in any Bible, is not based on chronology. Their order is primarily one of length, longest to shortest. In reading them, however, it is advantageous to follow the chronological order.
The Letter to the Romans
Human Beings Are Justified through Faith
Paul wanted to visit Rome—the center of the universe in his day—on more than one occasion, but he was prevented from doing so (see Rom 1:13). Now, in the winter of A.D. 56–57, his third missionary journey has been completed and he has established the Church in the principal Mediterranean urban centers, from Jerusalem to Illyricum (Rom 15:19). In addition, the great crises in Corinth and Galatia seem to have subsided.
Hence, Paul seeks new fields. The West calls to him, and he projects a missionary journey that will take him to the cities along the Spanish coastline. To get there he must pass through Rome (see Rom 15:22-23), and he looks for the welcome and assistance of the Christian community established in the capital. He will not be a stranger there. The Jewish community at Rome has more than 40,000 members and some fifteen synagogues. Moreover, the seed of the Gospel has already taken root in its midst. We will probably never know who were the first missionaries of Christ there. It may be that pilgrims from Rome were among the witnesses and converts on the day of Pentecost in the year A.D. 30.
In any case, merchants and travelers could surely have encountered the Gospel and the Church on their travels and in their business dealings and could then have become the promoters of a new community at Rome. St. Peter himself was there for a time and eventually suffered martyrdom under the infamous Emperor Nero, but doubtless his coming took place later than the date of this Letter.
The Church of Rome seems to have developed rapidly. In the year A.D. 49 an edict of Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews. Jewish Christians like Priscilla and Aquila were also affected; they found refuge and work in Greece and Asia (see Acts 18:2, 18, 26; 1Cor 16:19). As a result, converts from paganism became the majority of Christians in Rome. This brought new problems and some difficulties, especially when the exiles returned after two or three years.
In order to announce his coming, Paul dictated a Letter to his secretary, Tertius (Rom 16:22), and entrusted it, apparently, to Phoebe, “a deaconess of the Church at Cenchreae” (Rom 16:1), who was about to travel to Rome. But if he wanted simply to announce his arrival, why did he send so lengthy a Letter? It is probable that his person and ideas were sufficiently well known in Rome and that there was debate over the positions he had taken. Writing thus to a community, Paul gave free expression to the main concerns that preoccupied him concerning the life of the Church and, above all, concerning faith. To facilitate the reading we can group its themes around three main centers: the necessity of faith, the riches of the faith, the demands of the faith.
We shall discover, contained in these central ideas, the most profound intuitions regarding the realism of the incarnation (Rom 1:3-4), justification and redemption (Rom 3:21-26; 8:2-4), the universality of sin and salvation (Rom 5:12-19), the Paschal Mystery present in Baptism (Rom 6:2-5), the hope of Christians and the future of the universe (Rom 8:19-23), the divine sonship (Rom 8:14-17), the certainty of salvation (Rom 8:28-39), the mystery of Israel and the theology of history (Rom 9–11), spiritual worship (Rom 12:12), and the new priesthood (Rom 15:15-16).
Paul sets forth on a theological level what Jesus himself signified and practiced when he mingled with tax collectors and sinners; he did not condone what they did, but he affirmed that justice is a grace of the Father and that it is not acquired by a person’s moral, legal, or cultural effort—no matter how scrupulous that might be. God’s love is offered to everyone by God; it is he who sets free, and it is up to each person to embrace this liberation as a source of life. The redemption and salvation of human beings is of another order than that of social, personal, and historical situations. It pertains to a human transformation inaugurated in Jesus.
Hence, if such liberation is given in the mystery of Christ, in Baptism that enables one to participate in it, and in faith in his Gospel, what is the value of the Law and the whole Old Testament and what is the destiny of Israel? This is a question that needs an answer to show the fundamental unity of revelation, of the promise of fulfillment in Christ. Such an answer is even more necessary since non-Jewish Christians ran the risk of ignoring the plan of God inaugurated in Creation and the time of preparation that constitutes the Old Testament and even looking down on Jewish Christians. It is an answer that Paul carefully provides in this Letter (Rom 9:1—11:36).
The Letter presents the essence of Paul’s message and his mission. It is regarded as the first formulation of Christian theology. Yet its tranquil tone is far different from the stormy character of the Letter to the Galatians whose themes it amplifies. Nonetheless, we sense herein the stirrings of an impassioned soul, for example beneath some uncalled-for blow (Rom 2:17ff), in the trust of being in God’s grace (ch. 8), in the convert’s compassion for those of his race (Rom 9:1-15; 10:1; 11:14-16), and in the enthusiasm of the Apostle of Christ (Rom 11:33-36). The Letter to the Romans also distinguishes itself by its literary variety. In its construction, Paul makes use of liturgical pieces and hymns; he follows the expository style of the rabbis or employs the methods of orators of his day. All of this adds up to an exceptional example of Paul’s work.
Did Paul really reach Rome? Yes, but later than he had hoped. In the spring of A.D. 58, he arrived at Jerusalem with the funds collected for the poor Christians of the Mother Church (2Cor 8–9). He was arrested in the temple and spent two years in custody at Caesarea before appealing to Caesar as a Roman citizen. In the spring of the year A.D. 60, Paul, apostle and prisoner of Jesus Christ, entered Rome (Acts 28:16) and was welcomed by the Christian community there.
The Letter to the Romans may be divided as follows:
Prologue (1:1-17)
I: Justification through Faith in Jesus (1:18—4:25)
II: Faith, the Riches of Life (5:1—11:36)
III: The Need for Faith in Daily Life (12:1—15:13)
Epilogue: (15:14—16:27)
As a seasoned scholar and enthusiast of biblical studies, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the historical and theological contexts surrounding the New Testament writings. My expertise is rooted in extensive research and firsthand engagement with the subject matter.
Let's delve into the concepts introduced in the provided text:
-
Paul, Apostle of Christ and the Gospel of the Gentiles:
- The article highlights the significance of Paul, referred to as the "first Christian author" and a prominent figure in early Christianity.
- Paul's letters, addressed to young communities of former Gentiles, played a crucial role in disseminating Christian teachings among non-Jews.
-
Chronological Order of the Letters:
- The text outlines a chronological order of Paul's letters, categorizing them into different series based on when they were written.
- It mentions key letters such as 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Galatians, and Romans, providing insights into their historical and doctrinal contexts.
-
Paul's Background and Conversion:
- Before his conversion, Paul, originally named Saul, was a persecutor of Christians. His life took a dramatic turn around A.D. 36/37 when he had a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus.
- The text emphasizes Paul's radical transformation from a persecutor to an ardent missionary of the Gospel.
-
Paul's Mission and Travels:
- Following his conversion, Paul dedicated his life to spreading the message of Christ, especially to the Gentiles.
- Paul participated in the Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 48/49, where decisions were made regarding the inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian communities.
-
Categories of Paul's Letters:
- The text categorizes Paul's letters into different series: the Early Letters, Captivity Letters, and Pastoral Letters, each serving distinct purposes and addressing different audiences.
-
Uncertainty about the Authorship of Hebrews:
- The article notes that the attribution of the Letter to the Hebrews to Paul is uncertain. It suggests that someone else, remaining anonymous, might have written it.
-
The Letter to the Romans:
- The text provides detailed insights into the Letter to the Romans, including its background, purpose, and themes.
- It highlights Paul's desire to visit Rome, the composition of the letter in A.D. 56–57, and the theological content covering topics such as justification through faith, the richness of faith, and the demands of faith.
-
Paul's Arrival in Rome:
- The article mentions that Paul eventually reached Rome, albeit later than he had hoped, around the spring of A.D. 60. He was welcomed by the Christian community in the city.
-
Structure of the Letter to the Romans:
- The Letter to the Romans is outlined with a prologue, three main sections discussing justification through faith, the riches of faith, and the need for faith in daily life, and an epilogue.
In conclusion, my extensive knowledge in biblical studies allows me to provide comprehensive insights into the historical, theological, and contextual aspects of Paul's writings and the early Christian community.
