The document discusses the life, personality, and mission of Paul, a key figure in early Christianity. It details his background as a Jew and Pharisee, his conversion, and his dedication to spreading the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul's mission involved preaching, church planting, and feeding the church, illustrating his adaptability and commitment to Christ despite facing considerable hardships.

1. Lesson 11 for September 12, 2015

2. Background:
• Biography. Who was Paul?
• Personality. What type of person was Paul?
Call:
• Goal. What was the purpose of his call?
• Mission. What was the fruit of his call?
• Diversity. How did he face his mission?
This week we’ll study several aspects
of Paul’s life:

3. “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at
the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law,
and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” (Acts 22:3)
He was born in Tarsus,
Cilicia. He was a Roman
citizen. (Acts 22:3, 28).
He belong to the
tribe of Benjamin
(Phil. 3:5).
He was a Pharisee
like his father
(Acts 23:6).
He grew up in
Jerusalem. He was
disciple of Gamaliel
(Acts 22:3).
He was a member of the Sanhedrin,
so he was married. Nevertheless, he
no longer was when he wrote his
letters (AA, p. 92; 1Co. 7:8).
He had at least a sister
and a nephew who
lived in Jerusalem
(Acts 23:16).
He was a
tentmaker
(Acts 18:3).

4. “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God
I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)
Paul was a person of great convictions and zeal.
Before his conversion:
He supported the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58).
He persecuted the Church (Acts 8:3).
He threatened to kill the disciples (Acts 9:1).
He organized a raid against Christians in
Damascus (Acts 9:2).
After his conversion he
showed he was:
 Just (Phil. 3:6).
 Hard worker (2Ts. 3:7-8).
 Contrite (1Tim. 1:16).
 Tough (2Co. 11:23-33).
 Humble (1Co.15:9).

5. “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are
they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of
Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in
stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three
times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the
deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep
concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?
Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I
must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed
forever, knows that I am not lying.”
(2 Corinthians 11:22-31)
Paul had to defense himself from the Judaizers who tried to slander him
before the church in Corinth. He then described himself this way:

6. “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this
purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you
have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver
you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now
send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of
sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”
(Acts 26:16-18)
Jesus considered Paul a new Moses. Moses
delivered the Hebrew people from the Gentiles so
they could do God’s will. Paul went to the Gentiles
so they could do God’s will too (Romans 15:19).
Jesus called him so His message could reach
everyone. In order to fulfill his call, Paul had to:
 Open their eyes.
 Turn them to light.
 Free them from the power of Satan.
 Tell them how to receive forgiveness.
 Help them to get an eternal inheritance.

7. “For I determined not to know anything among you except
Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Paul’s mission involved three main aspects:
Preaching Jesus Christ.
• Paul always exalted the cross of Christ
above all (1Co. 2:2).
Planting churches.
• He planted a church in every city he
visited (Titus 1:5).
Feeding the Church.
• He nourished the Church and corrected
mistakes with his letters (1Co. 14:37).

8. “And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who
are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under
the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law
toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are
without law.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
Paul’s mission was clearly multicultural. He had to
preach the Gospel to both Jewish and Gentiles.
Therefore, he adapted to the culture around him
when sharing the Truth.
He had to convince the Jews of accepting the
Gentiles in the Church without imposing any cultural
custom. He even reprimanded Peter of putting the
unity of the Church at risk because of cultural
reasons (Galatians 2:11-16).
Paul was a Pharisee; he knew both the Scriptures
and tradition. He could distinguish essential from
subsidiary; eternal truth from cultural and religious
elements.

9. “With decided purpose, he [Paul] turned away from
wealth, from friends and social distinction, from
public honors, and from his kinsmen whom he
loved fervently and earnestly. He chose to link his
name and his destiny with that of a people he had
regarded as low and the offscouring of all things;
but for the sake of Christ he suffered the loss of all
things. His labors were more abundant than any of
the disciples, his stripes above measure. He was
beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in deaths
oft. He was in peril by land and sea, in the city and
in the wilderness, from robbers and from his own
countrymen. He prosecuted his mission under
continual infirmities, in painfulness, in weariness,
in watchings often, in cold, in nakedness…
Paul was a living example of what every true
Christian should be. He lived for God’s glory... ‘For
me to live is Christ.’ Philippians 1:21”
E.G.W. (Our High Calling, December 23)