Deck 18: Paul the Apostle: the Man and His Mission

Question 1

Why would Paul's assertion that salvation was available to Gentiles seem counterintuitive to Jews of his day?

Answer 1

Paul was a Pharisee and admitted that he was an active persecutor of Christians. After he converted, however, he became the most important figure in the spread of early Christianity. His importance was due not only to his missionary zeal, but also to his mission to the Gentiles. According to Paul, the salvation that came through faith in Jesus was available to all people, not just to Jews. Paul, moreover, taught that Gentiles should not convert to Judaism, because Jesus brought God's promises to all people. This message of universality would sound strange to Jews in antiquity: if Jesus was the Jewish messiah and his coming was in accordance with God's plan, then this salvation should have been brought to God's chosen people, the people with whom he had made a covenant. Paul, though, spent his missionary life arguing vehemently against the exclusivity of salvation.

Question 2

Scholars divide Paul's letters into three groups. What are these three categories, what books do they contain, and how does this categorization relate to the concept of pseudepigraphy in antiquity?

Answer 2

Writings under a false name are called pseudepigrapha. There are a number of writings attributed to Paul that are certainly pseudepigraphic (e.g., 3 Corinthians and the correspondence of Seneca and Paul). It is likely, however, that the New Testament also contains pseudepigraphic writings. Scholars divide Paul's letters into three groups on the basis of authorship. First are the seven undisputed Pauline letters (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon). All scholars agree that Paul wrote these letters. Second are the Deutero-Pauline letters (2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians). Most scholars agree that Paul did not write these letters, although there is some debate. Third are the Pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus). With very few exceptions, scholars agree that Paul did not write these epistles.

Question 3

In general terms, what was Paul's modus operandi? How, in other words, did Paul spread the gospel to Gentiles? What purpose did his letters serve in his ministry?

Answer 3

After his conversion, Paul's missionary activity focused on the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul traveled to cities without churches and preached about God, Jesus, and salvation. He stayed with the new church for some time and left only when he felt it was stable and able to sustain itself. After he left, though, Paul did not abandon these churches. When he heard of problems within a church, he wrote a letter of instruction to it. He reminded the community of his teachings, elaborated on issues of faith, and demanded certain ethical and moral behaviors.

Question 4

Most scholars believe Paul wrote thirteen New Testament letters.

Question 5

Paul was a Pharisee.

Question 6

Paul taught that Gentiles did not need to convert to Judaism to become followers of Christ.

Question 7

Before his encounter with Christ, Paul struggled with guilt as a result of his inability to keep the Jewish Law.

Question 8

Paul emphasizes the covenant with Abraham as being for all people, not only for the Jews.

Question 9

Paul wrote his letters around:

A) 10 B.C.E.
B) 15 C.E.
C) 35 C.E.
D) 50 C.E.

Question 10

Acts and Paul's genuine letters disagree on all of the following except:

A) Paul's itinerary
B) Whether Paul went straight to Jerusalem after his conversion
C) That Paul referred to himself as a Jew
D) Whether Paul always tried to minister to Jews in the synagogues before preaching to Gentiles

Question 11

Paul referred to Jesus as:

A) The second member of the Trinity
B) The Lamb of God
C) The firstfruits of the resurrection
D) The Word

Question 12

Which of the following do most scholars believe was written by Paul?

A) First Timothy
B) Second Timothy
C) First Thessalonians
D) Titus

Question 13

Another term for "pseudepigrapha" is:

A) Forgery
B) Pen name
C) Apocrypha
D) Apocalypse

Question 14

Paul taught that the Jewish Law:

A) Was impossible to keep
B) Shows that everyone is alienated from God
C) Was abolished by Christ
D) Was unnecessary

Question 15

Paul's usual practice seems to have been to:

A) Focus on cities with no previous Christian presence
B) Focus on cities where Judaism was widespread
C) Avoid visiting the synagogue at all costs
D) Augment Christian communities established by other missionaries