PAUL

SCRIPTURE - Acts, Epistles.

BIOGRAPHY

Paul, whose name means "little", was born Saul ("asked for") in Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 9:1 1; 21:39; 22:3). His family probably was fairly wealthy and influential as this was a requirement for Roman citizenship of foreigners (Acts 16:37). Jewish law required a boy to start studying the scriptures at five years of age, with him taking on the full obligation of the law at 13. Paul had a married sister (Acts 23:16), with whom he may have stayed during his studies in Jerusalem under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He was one of the chief persecutors of the early church and was responsible for the martyrdom of Stephen and the movement of Philip to Samaria. Converted on the road to Damascus, Paul, who is the greatest sinner who ever lived (1 Timothy 1:15) spent many years preparing himself for his ministry. He was unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:8) and was the apostle to the Gentiles. He was the last apostle. Famous for his four missionary journeys and responsible for the writing of much of the New Testament, Saul the persecutor became Paul the great believer. Paul was not a striking person to look upon, being reported as "a man of small stature with a bald head and crooked legs with eyebrows meeting, and nose somewhat hooked but full of friendliness". Paul eventually was imprisoned for a final time in Rome where he was beheaded by Nero in AD 6 7.

EVALUATION

Testing and pressure is seen throughout Paul's ministry:

a) Persecuted in Damascus, he escaped in a basket (Acts 9:20-25).

b) Driven out of Jerusalem and sent to Tarsus (Acts 9:28-30).

c) He was stoned at Lystra and thought to have died (Acts 14:19).

d) Paul whipped and imprisoned at Phillipi (Acts 16:16-24).

e) Paul received five Jewish and three Roman scourgings (2 Corinthians 1 1:16-33).

f) Disputed with Peter (Galatians 2:14).

g) He was subject to a great tumult by Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-29).

h) Seized by the Jews and beaten (Acts 21:27-32).

i) Paul bound with chains (Acts 21:33).

j) He was persecuted for his mission to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-23).

k) The Jews conspired to kill him (Acts 23:12-14).

l) The high priest conspired to kill Paul (Acts 25:1-3).

m) Paul is shipwrecked but all hands are saved (Acts 27:41-44).

n) Paul is bitten on the hand by a viper in Malta but survives (Acts 28:1-6).

o) He becomes a martyr in Rome by beheading.

PRINCIPLES

a) Pressure can come from your closest colleagues (such as Peter), your family or countrymen (the Jews), religious or political leaders (the high priest) (Matthew 10:35,36).

b) Pressure can be applied by circumstances (Psalm 46:1-5).

c) We are in Satan's world. If we are effective we will be opposed (Ephesians 6:12).

d) Religion is antagonistic to Christianity (Romans 3:27,28).

e) You will be attacked if you downgrade people's idols, be they physical or mental (Judges 6:30).

f) The Lord can divinely protect believers (Psalm 124:1-5).

g) The purpose of testing or pressure is to build up faith and to keep down pride (Romans 5:3,4).

h) There is inner happiness for those who are persecuted for the Lord's sake (Luke 6:22,23).

i) All things work together for good to the believer (Romans 8:28).

DOCTRINE

AMBASSADORSHIP

1. An Ambassador does not appoint himself, he is appointed by the nation he represents, the king he represents, the person he represents. We are appointed by God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

2. An Ambassador does not support himself. We are sustained and protected by God (Philippians 4:19).

3. An Ambassador does not represent himself. We represent God on earth (Matthew 28:19-20).

4. An Ambassador does not belong to the nation to which he is sent. Positionally we are in heaven, experientially we are in the world (Philippians 3:20, John 15:19).

5. All Ambassadors have instructions in written form. We have the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2).

6. An Ambassador representing his country does not treat any insult as personal (Matthew 5:11-12).

7. When an Ambassador is recalled from a country it is tantamount to declaration of war. After the Rapture there will be massive warfare on earth. All Christians will be recalled at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

APOSTLE

1. Apostleship is the highest spiritual gift in the Church. - Like all other spiritual gifts it was sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit to certain individuals (1 Corinthians 12:11,28, Ephesians 4:11)

2. Apostleship was a temporary gift. It was designed to establish and direct the early church until the canon of scripture was completed.

3. The apostles to the church were appointed after the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:8). Hence, they must be distinguished from the "Apostles to Israel" in (Matthew 10:2ff).

4. This spiritual gift exercised authority over all local churches. Once the canon of scripture was complete the gift was removed (1 Corinthians 13:10). Today all local churches are autonomous with authority vested in the canon of scripture and the local pastor

5. The qualification of apostles:- Apostles had to be eye witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. This qualified the eleven, Paul being qualified on the Damascus Road (Acts 1:22, 1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:8,9).

6. The authority of the apostles was established by the possession of certain temporary gifts that went with this gift. Apostles also had the gifts of miracles, healing and tongues (Acts 5:15, 16:16-18, 28:8-9).

7. There are twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14). We have the eleven (excluding Judas). Mathias was elected by men, but not appointed by God (Acts 1:26). The twelfth apostle was Paul (1 Corinthians 15:7-10). Paul was appointed by God on the road to Damascus.

8. The word "apostle" means "one sent". Hence, some believers are called apostles in this sense. They include Barnabbas (Acts 1 4:14, Galatians 2:9), James (half brother of Jesus) (1 Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 1:19), Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6), Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1).