Read complete books and articles on: Epistles of Paul

Paul, Saint - d. a.d. 64? or 67?, the apostle to the Gentiles, b. Tarsus, Asia Minor. He was a Jew. His father was a Roman citizen, probably of some means, and Paul was a tentmaker by trade. His Jewish name was Saul. He was educated in Jerusalem, where he studied under Gamaliel and became a zealous nationalist; he was probably a Pharisee. The chronology of St. Paul's life is difficult, but there

The sources for St. Paul's life are the Acts of the Apostles, in which he is the dominant figure, and the Pauline Epistles. The value of the latter depends on the extent to which they are accepted as genuinely written by the apostle. Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, and Philemon are undoubted; Ephesians and Second Thessalonians are rejected by most critics; First and Second Timothy and Titus are generally considered to be in their present form later and non-Pauline; finally, Hebrews was not written by St. Paul himself.

Paul's first known contact with Christianity is his presence at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Soon after this he got a commission from the chief priest to go to Damascus to help suppress Christianity there (a.d. 33). As he approached Damascus he suddenly saw a blinding light and heard Jesus ask, "Why persecutest thou me?" Paul was temporarily blinded and was led into Damascus, where he was found (on the Lord's direction) by the disciple Ananias. On regaining his sight, Paul was baptized and immediately began preaching. (Acts 8.1–3; 9.1–30; 22.3–21; 26.9–23; Gal. 1.12–15.)

Paul spent the next 13 years learning the faith, part of the time living in seclusion in the Arabian desert. He visited Jerusalem probably twice (a.d. 37, 44) and dwelt at Tarsus and Antioch for some time. (Acts 11.) From Antioch, Paul set out on his first missionary journey (Acts 13–14.27; a.d. 47–49), on which he was accompanied by St. Barnabas and for a time by St. Mark. In general the method was to go from city to city preaching in synagogues and in marketplaces. Among the stops on this first mission were Cyprus, Antioch, and Derbe. Churches were set up, and as soon as the little Christian groups seemed strong enough the apostle and his companions would move on. Among their stops were Cyprus, Pamphylia, and Derbe. About a.d. 50 there was a council of the apostles at Jerusalem to discuss whether Gentile Christians should be circumcised, i.e., whether Christianity was to be a Jewish sect. St. Paul opposed the Judaistic group vigorously, and the council decided against them. (Acts 15; Gal. 2.)

On his second mission (Acts 15.36–18.22; a.d. 50–53) Paul, having quarreled with Barnabas, was accompanied by Silas. During visits to Philippi and Salonica they founded two churches that were to become great. They later sailed to Athens where Paul delivered his famous address on the "unknown god" in the market. (Acts 17.16–34.) From Athens, Paul went to Corinth. In the course of a long stay there he wrote First and Second Thessalonians (a.d. 52). Possibly about this time he also wrote his letter to the Galatians, although some scholars think this was the earliest of the epistles (written from Antioch), while others believe it was written later from Ephesus. At length Paul sailed to Caesarea in Palestine and visited Jerusalem again. He spent some time in Antioch.

The third missionary journey of St. Paul (Acts 18.23–21.26; a.d. 53–57) took him to Galatia, then Phrygia, and over to Ephesus. His two-and-a-half-year stay in Ephesus was one of the most fruitful periods of his life; in this time he wrote his two letters to the Corinthians (c.a.d. 56). He went to Corinth to help the Christians there, and he probably wrote the Epistle to the Romans there. Thence he returned to Ephesus and finally to Jerusalem. This was his last visit to the Holy City (a.d. 57–59), for soon after he arrived he was arrested for provoking a riot.

After being held prisoner for two years and after hearings before the council of priests, before the Roman procurator Felix and his successor Festus, before Herod Agrippa II, and again before Festus, he appealed to Rome on his citizen's right. So he was sent to Rome under guard. (Acts 21.27–28.31.) On the way they were shipwrecked on Malta but finally landed at Puteoli (Puzzuoli). Paul was imprisoned (a.d. 60) in Rome but was allowed to conduct his ministry among the Roman Christians and Jews who visited him. Of his final fate tradition says that he was beheaded south of the city, near the Ostian Way, probably during the persecution of Nero. A lesser tradition claims that Paul was released after his first imprisonment and that he went East again, and perhaps also to Spain, before his martyrdom. Some scholars believe that Paul was executed after his initial imprisonment, probably a.d. 62. St. Paul's tomb and shrine are at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Without the Walls.

St. Paul's figure dominates the apostolic age, and his epistles have left a tremendous impress on Christianity. The first Christian theological writing is found in them, where it is characterized rather by spiritual fervor than by systematic analysis. St. Paul became a fountainhead of Christian doctrine, and countless interpretations have been given of his teachings. Thus, Roman Catholic theology leans upon him at all times, and Martin Luther derived from the Epistle to the Romans his principle of justification by faith alone. There can be no doubt that Paul's interpretation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, his doctrine of the church as the mystical body of Christ, his teaching on law and grace, and his view of justification have been decisive in the formation of the Christian faith. The feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29, is one of the principal days of the church calendar; the conversion of St. Paul is commemorated Jan. 25.

See D. R. McDonald, The Legend and the Apostle (1983); J. A. Ziesler, Pauline Christianity (1990); and E. P. Sanders, Paul (1991).

Show Excerpt Only

16 of the Best Books and Articles on: Epistles of Paul

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

A Preface to Romans: Notes on the Epistle in Its Literary and Cultural Setting » Read Now
by Christopher Bryan. 278 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Literature, Entire Library

Bryan approaches St. Paul's letter to the Romans with a number of aims in view. First, he wants to show which literary type or genre would have been seen by Paul's contemporaries as being exemplified in the letter. He also attempts to determine what we can surmise of Paul's attitude and approach to...
Read More

Bryan approaches St. Paul's letter to the Romans with a number of aims in view. First, he wants to show which literary type or genre would have been seen by Paul's contemporaries as being exemplified in the letter. He also attempts to determine what we can surmise of Paul's attitude and approach to the Jewish bible. The study involves discussion of and comparison with other literature from Paul's time, place and milieu --- including other writings attributed to Paul.
Show less
2.

Belly and Body in the Pauline Epistles » Read Now
by Richard Bauckham, Karl Olav Sandnesn. 318 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Philosophy, Entire Library

Throughout history, the human belly has been regarded as both a source of shame and pride. Modern cultures, particularly in the West, have developed means to cultivate this part of the body through corsets, exercises, and revealing fashions. Does St. Paul address a culture in which the stomach ranks...
Read More

Throughout history, the human belly has been regarded as both a source of shame and pride. Modern cultures, particularly in the West, have developed means to cultivate this part of the body through corsets, exercises, and revealing fashions. Does St. Paul address a culture in which the stomach ranks high? This study aims to answer the question and the results may be surprising.
Show less
3.

Holy Scripture in the Qumran: Commentaries and Pauline Letters » Read Now
by Timothy H. Lim. 221 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

Lim examines scriptural interpretations found in the scrolls excavated from the caves of Qumran, arguably the greatest manuscript discovery in Palestine of the twentieth century. What was the ancient interpreters' attitude to the biblical texts? Did they consider them "sacred" in the sense that the...
Read More

Lim examines scriptural interpretations found in the scrolls excavated from the caves of Qumran, arguably the greatest manuscript discovery in Palestine of the twentieth century. What was the ancient interpreters' attitude to the biblical texts? Did they consider them "sacred" in the sense that the words were the inviolable utterances of God? Or did they modify and adapt them for their own purposes? After fifty years of intensive research it must be asked just how these scrolls shaped the study of Bible interpretation in the Second Temple Period.
Show less
4.

The Commentaries of Origen and Jerome on St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians » Read Now
by Ronald E. Heine. 297 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
5.

St. Paul and Epicurus » Read Now
by Norman Wentworth DeWitt. 201 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
6.

Saint Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture » Read Now
by Robert Jewett. 186 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

"Robert Jewett presents an original and fascinating entry into Pauline theology through the use of contemporary classics. Each major Pauline theme is paired with a companion film. By pointing out both similarities and divergences between the two, Jewett adds to the understanding and appreciation of...
Read More

"Robert Jewett presents an original and fascinating entry into Pauline theology through the use of contemporary classics. Each major Pauline theme is paired with a companion film. By pointing out both similarities and divergences between the two, Jewett adds to the understanding and appreciation of both media".--Richard A. Blake, S.J., teacher and film reviewer.
Show less
7.

New Creation in Paul's Letters and Thought » Read Now
by Moyer V. Hubbard. 293 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

M.V. Hubbard offers a full investigation of St. Paul's understanding of "new life" and "new creation", working closely with the language of his letters to unpack, in socio-anthropological context, the images and metaphors he uses. Professor Hubbard examines other approaches and literature on the...
Read More

M.V. Hubbard offers a full investigation of St. Paul's understanding of "new life" and "new creation", working closely with the language of his letters to unpack, in socio-anthropological context, the images and metaphors he uses. Professor Hubbard examines other approaches and literature on the topic, providing an important new perspective on the Pauline oeuvre and its meaning.
Show less
8.

A Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians Romans, Ephesians » Read Now
by John Locke, Arthur W. Wainwright. 479 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Philosophy, Entire Library

Locke's posthumously published work on Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians, provides important evidence of his thought during the final years of his life, ad gives insights into his theology which are not available in his other writings. This critical edition of the work is based as...
Read More

Locke's posthumously published work on Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians, provides important evidence of his thought during the final years of his life, ad gives insights into his theology which are not available in his other writings. This critical edition of the work is based as far as possible on Locke's manuscript, and includes an editorial introduction, textual, manuscript, and explanatory notes, as well as transcriptions of hitherto unpublished papers by Locke.
Show less
9.

The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians » Read Now
by P. J. Allcock, A. W. Heathcote, Jean Hering. 190 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
10.

Consolation in Philippians: Philosophical Sources and Rhetorical Strategy » Read Now
by Paul A. Holloway. 208 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Philosophy, Entire Library
11.

The Epistle to the Philippians » Read Now
by Karl Barth. 128 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
12.

The Epistle to the Hebrews » Read Now
by William Manson. 204 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
13.

The Life and Letters of Paul the Apostle » Read Now
by Lyman Abbott. 388 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
14.

The Legend and the Apostle: The Battle for Paul in Story and Canon » Read Now
by Dennis Ronald MacDonald. 144 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

The apostle Paul-- antifeminist conformist, or social radical? Combining New Testament studies with folkloristic methods to search for the true identity of Paul, the author sheds new light on the apocryphal "Acts of Paul" and the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) of the canonical New...
Read More

The apostle Paul-- antifeminist conformist, or social radical? Combining New Testament studies with folkloristic methods to search for the true identity of Paul, the author sheds new light on the apocryphal "Acts of Paul" and the Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) of the canonical New Testament.
Dennis Ronald MacDonald focuses particularly on the legend of Thecla, the virgin and martyr who was converted by Paul and who, with his blessing, became a Christian teacher. Such utilization of women and an affirmation of celibacy and hostility toward the state were attitudes of Paul that were expressed in the legends, transmitted orally, then written into the "Acts of Paul". MacDonald argues that the author of the Pastoral Epistles knew about the legends and wrote under Paul's name to counteract them. The result: a complicated Paul, a still unresolved battle over his message.
With this book, the legends surrounding the apostle have been rescued from near oblivion and properly placed in the Pauline tradition. Formulated in the days of early Christianity and handed down through the centuries, they cast new light on Paul's views about the ordination of women, the forms of Christian community, and the meaning of the gospel for politics, society, and sexuality.
Show less
15.

Reinventing Paul » Read Now
by John G. Gager. 198 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

Throughout the Christian era, Paul has stood at the center of controversy, accused of being the father of Christian anti-Semitism. In this highly accessible book, John Gager challenges this entrenched view of Paul, arguing persuasively that Paul's words have been taken out of their original context...
Read More

Throughout the Christian era, Paul has stood at the center of controversy, accused of being the father of Christian anti-Semitism. In this highly accessible book, John Gager challenges this entrenched view of Paul, arguing persuasively that Paul's words have been taken out of their original context, distorted, and generally misconstrued. Using Paul's own writings, Gager brilliantly sets forth a controversial interpretation of the apostle's teaching as he takes us in search of the "real" Paul. Through an exhaustive analysis of Paul's letters to the Galatians and the Romans, he provides illuminating answers to the key questions: Did Paul repudiate the Law of Moses? Did he believe that Jews had been rejected by God and replaced as His chosen people by Gentiles? Did he consider circumcision to be necessary for salvation? And did he expect Jews to find salvation through Jesus? Gager tells us that Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, not the Jews. His most vehement arguments were directed not against Judaism but against competing apostles in the Jesus movement who demanded that Gentiles be circumcised and conform to Jewish law in order to be saved. Moreover, Paul relied on rhetorical devices that were familiar to his intended audience but opaque to later readers of the letters. As a result, his message has been misunderstood by succeeding generations.
Show less
16.

Pelagius's Commentary on St Paul's Epistle to the Romans: Translated with Introduction and Notes » Read Now
by Theodore De Bruyn. 240 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

The Pelagian controversy has secured an enduring place for Pelagius in the history of Western Christian thought. Few of Pelagius' writings, however, have been preserved, and until recently none was available in English translation. This volume presents Pelagius' commentary on Romans for the first...
Read More

The Pelagian controversy has secured an enduring place for Pelagius in the history of Western Christian thought. Few of Pelagius' writings, however, have been preserved, and until recently none was available in English translation. This volume presents Pelagius' commentary on Romans for the first time in English. The commentary, one of thirteen on the Pauline epistles, dates from the time when Pelagius was active in Rome, before he became embroiled in controversy, but already there are adumbrations of the later debate and signs of different currents of thought in Italy and beyond. In his introduction Theodore de Bruyn discusses the context in which Pelagius wrote the commentary and the issues which shaped his interpretation of Romans. He also takes up questions about the edition of the commentary. The translation is annotated with references to Pelagius' contemporaries, and a new recension of Pelagius' text of Romans is presented in an appendix.
Show less