Paul’s Epistles

1. Paul’sEpistles– 19th
March 2016
“Saul,Saul,whydo you persecute me?”5
“Whoareyou, Lord?” Saul asked.“Iam Jesus, whomyou are
persecuting”(Acts9: 4-6).
Pauline Epistles are the 13 letters written by the apostle Paul that are included in the canon of
Scripture. The Pauline Epistles are Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and
Philemon.
Paul, the apostle, was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul.
He was a native of Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the southeast of Asia
Minor. That city stood on the banks of the river Cydnus, which was navigable thus far; hence it
became a center of extensive commercial traffic with many countries along the shores of the
Mediterranean, as well as with the countries of central Asia Minor. It thus became a city
distinguished for the wealth of its inhabitants. Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university,
higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that
then existed. Here Saul was born, and here he spent his youth, doubtless enjoying the best
education his native city could afford.
His father was of the strictest sect of the Jews, a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and
unmixed Jewish blood. We can learn this in Acts 23:6, “Then Paul, knowing that some of them
were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a
Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of
the dead”. We learn nothing regarding his mother; but there is reason to conclude that she was
a pious woman, and that, like-minded with her husband, she exercised all a mother influence in
mounding the character of her son. There is no indication in the bible that Paul was ever
married. Though a Jew, Paul’s father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this position which
was at that time considered a privilege is not informed in the bible. It was a valuable privilege,
and one that was to prove of great use to Paul when he became an apostle for Christ. Perhaps
the most natural career for the youth to follow at that time was that of a being a merchant. But
it was decided that… he should go to college and become a rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher,
and a lawyer all in one.
During this time Christianity was quietly spreading its influence in Jerusalem. We can learn from
the book of Acts that at length Stephen, gave forth more public and aggressive testimony that
Jesus was the Messiah. In turn this led to much excitement among the Jews and much
disputation in their synagogues. We can learn Persecution arose against Stephen and the
followers of Christ generally, in which Saul of Tarsus took a prominent part. He was at this time
probably a member of the great Sanhedrin, and became the active leader in the furious
persecution by which the rulers then sought to exterminate Christianity and as such they fled
and hid for their protection.
But the object of persecution by the Jews failed. The Christians who were scattered abroad
went everywhere out of Jerusalem preaching the word. This further led to enhance the anger of

2. the persecutors into a fiercer flame. Hearing that some of these Christians had taken refuge in
Damascus, Saul obtained from the chief priest a letters authorizing him to proceed thither on
his persecuting career. This was a long journey of about 130 miles, which would occupy perhaps
six days, during which, with his few attendants, Saul steadily went onward, with the objective of
threatening, attacking and even slaughter Christians. But the crisis of Saul’s life was at hand. He
had reached the last stage of his journey, and was within sight of Damascus. As he and his
companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul was laid
prostrate in terror on the ground: We can learn of this incident in Acts 9: 4-6 , “He fell to the
ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”5 “Who are you,
Lord?” Saul asked.“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
This was the moment of Saul’s conversion, the most solemn event that completely changed his
life. We can read that Saul was, blinded by the dazzling light and his companions had to lead
him into the city as we could not see. He was shocked by what happened and we can learn
from Acts 9:11, “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything”. Then Ananias,
a disciple living in Damascus, was informed by a vision of the change that had happened to Saul,
and was sent to him to open his eyes and admit him by baptism into the Christian. We can learn
from Acts9:15-16, “But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to
proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him
how much he must suffer for my name.”. The whole purpose of his life was now permanently
changed… a mysterious pause, a moment of suspense in the apostle's history, a breathless
calm, which ushers in the tumultuous storm of his active missionary life.”
The Pauline Epistles contain much of the doctrine the Christian faith is built upon, especially in
relationship to salvation. The Pauline Epistles expound on the doctrines of sanctification,
justification, redemption, and reconciliation. The Pauline Epistles contain significant teachings
on difficult theological issues. The Pauline Epistles also get very practical in how the church
should function, containing teaching on spiritual gifts, qualifications of church leaders, the role
of women in ministry, and the relationship between law and grace in the life of a Christ-
follower.
As Christians we need to be mindful NOT to be confused with Pauline Christianity, which is an
un-biblical view of Paul’s teachings. We must know what we find in the Gospel and his Epistles
are unique in Scripture and distinct from the gospel of Jesus. The “Pauline Christians” believe
that what Paul taught differs from what is taught in the Gospels. This belief goes against some
of the most fundamental beliefs of orthodox Christians, including the Scripture, the unity of the
Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We know that “all Scripture is God-breathed,”
inspired by the same Spirit. Therefore, it is a unified whole, preserved forever by God. The
Paul’s Epistles are part of that unity, and the teachings they contain are equally inspired and in
complete harmony with the rest of the Bible.

3. Paul’sEpistles
“Saul,Saul,whydo you persecute me?”5
“Whoare you,Lord?” Saul asked.
“I amJesus,whomyou are persecuting”
(Acts 9: 4-6).