...The Apostle Paul By: Karie Kauffman The apostle Paul, next to Jesus, is the most interesting and intellectual person in Christianity. There are many astonishing things that happened in his life. His adult life started out very rough, but he managed to move forward from his past and accomplish many things. He healed the sick, raised the dead, spread the gospel, and wrote over half of the New Testament. Paul, was born soon after the birth of Christ, somewhere around 3 AD, and was given the name Saul. He was born in Tarsus, a Roman province south east if the Asia Minor. Tarsus is known for its scholars and great thinkers. Being born in this city to Jewish parents, there is no doubt that Saul would have a good education. It was Jewish tradition to study the Jewish law and traditions. In Acts 22:3 Paul refers to his origin and education, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia...I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.” The rabbi that taught Saul, Gamaliel, is a very famous teacher in Jerusalem. There is no actual records of Saul's birth and childhood, and the first mention of Saul was in Acts 8:1 after the stoning of Stephen. It says, “And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem.” Saul had turned into a very evil man, and was one of the most prominent leader in the persecution against the newly formed Christian church. One of the most important events...
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...Marcionism and its Impact For every story told, multiple interpretations and perceptions are created. Anthology is defined as “a book or other collection of selected writings by various authors, usually in the same literary form”(Dictionary.com). The bible is just this; for every collection of stories told, a collection of interpretations, whether they be right or wrong, are ought to form. Throughout the early centuries many altered interpretations, or heresies, regarding the bible formed. Although the heresy of Marcionism was outlandish and heavily disputed against, it actually aided in the emergence of the Catholic Church. According to John Knox, of the University of Chicago, “Among the creative personalities of early Christianity few are so interesting and important as Marcion, who was expelled from the Roman community… and whose activities gave rise to the most vigorous heretical movement within the ancient church”(p.1). According to the article, Marcion and Scripture: The Impact of a Second Century Heretic on the New Testament, Marcion’s early life was filled with disgrace. “At some point later, however, he was “excommunicated by his own father” for having seduced a consecrated virgin and “degraded both her and himself.” Most modern historians think that the story of Marcion's seduction of a virgin may be a symbolic tale in which the virgin represents the church and Marcion's seduction represents his introduction of heretical teaching”(p.1-3). After being excommunicated from...
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...God’s will is for us all. Throughout the bible you can read that we were put on this earth for the glory of God and strive to give Him glory. God created us all to fulfill his eternal plan and defeat Satan. God created us in His image and He has given us a choice of freedom. We can choose to give into the unearthly things of this world or give glory to the only Holy Spirit which is God. In Romans 12:2 it is said, “do not conform yourselves to this age but transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect”. God put us on this earth so we could follow his will, by putting our faith in God completely and defeating Satan and his lies. BACKGROUND Paul is the author of the book of Romans, and the date of composition was between 57-58 C.E. The book of Romans was one of the most significant and influential theological letters written because of it pertaining to the “righteousness of God”. Although, it is much debate over whether it is righteousness which God bestows on persons on the basis of Christ’s work, or meaning the righteousness of God is the activity of God (Butler 1204). When the righteousness of God is truly understood, it is God setting things right through life, death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. Paul explains to us that God proclaims that the person is righteous and takes all their sins away. The book of Romans was to many a plan of salvation. Paul relayed what God has done in Christ...
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...UNIVERSITY ONLINE THE FORMULATION AND RECOGNITION OF THE CANONICAL BOOKS A PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR C. PAUL KING IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HISTORY OF THE CHURCH I 301 DEPARTMENT OF CHURCH HISTORY BY GLENN ROGERS LYNCHBURG. VIRGINIA 10 NOVEMBER 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Reason or Need for Adoption of a Canon of Scripture 4 Key Events that were Influential in Recognition of the Canon 5 Individuals and Councils that Helped Shape the Canon 6 Conclusion 8 Works Cited 10 Introduction The Bible is one of the most intriguing books ever written. There is no other book in history that covers the same amount of time or the comprehensive aggregation of people and cultures as found in the pages of the Bible. The mysteries and wisdom of the Bible have held the attention of Biblical and non-biblical scholars for centuries. We know from the study of history that not all Jews agreed on which books belonged in the Bible. As a matter of fact Christians also debated what to include and exclude in the New Testament Scriptures. This was a major problem in the first two centuries of Christianity. Biblical historian Paul Johnson wrote in his book entitled History of Christianity, “After more than two centuries since the resurrection...
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...The Council of Trent occurred during the times of 1945-1563, it is known as one of the most influential councils of the 19th century. The council made many decisions for the church during its years in session, it was an effort to inaugurate the doctrines and traditions of the church, as well as to correct the corruption within it. It was in response to issues raised by the Protestant Reformation's, but it was also part of a period of catholic renewal which had begun many years before. The Council hoped to achieve in the three periods to interpret doctrine, correct morals, re-establish peace among Christians and to revoke infidels. The Council was called upon by Pope Paul III. The Council can be branched into 3 periods. It was met after much...
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...of the Bible The purpose of this paper is to share some thoughts of what we learned over this semester. Many thoughts will come from what I have written during the class and from the Core of Christianity, Elmer Towns. The topics I chosen to discuss is Does the Bible have authority, Did Jesus claim to be God and How can we be confident that Jesus is returning. Let us first look at the word authority. Authority means “the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.” ("authority.") This authority can come from a teacher, pastor, principle or anyone else that has the ability to control or command someone or something. The Biblical definition, states that authority is “the legal and/or moral right to exercise power, or power that is rightly possessed. We recognize the Bible is the most significant book in the history of civilization. In the context of Jewish history, the Bible’s impact on politics, history, and religion is without comparison. Along with establishing the covenant-based legitimacy of the Jewish people and their history, the Bible’s political impact is exemplified through prophetic politics, the power of kings, and the effects of political authority. Biblical archeology has discovered biblical structures which supports the historical validity of the Bible. The Bible’s effect on history, politics, and religion has shaped the world we live in today. The fact that the Bible has stood...
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...INTRO : Topologists have debated the doctrine of original sin for centuries, but the one who stated it more clearly was Apostle Paul in Romans 5:12 Paul makes it known that sin entered through Adam and then spread to all of humanity. It is based on Paul’s writing that Saint Augustine expanded his theory on the notion of original sin and its relationship with the human free will. This essay will discuss these two views concerning original sin and free will, by first providing a brief description of Augustine of Hippo and his origins. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO : Augustine of Hippo or Saint Augustine ( 354- 430) bishop of Hippo, was one of the most important figures in the development of Christianity.. However this influential person was not born a Christian. As a young man, Augustine pursued a secular career as a teacher of rhetoric and philosophy while living a dissolute lifestyle. For nine years he was a follower of Manichaeism. In Milan he studied Neoplatonism and his conversion to Christianity took place in 386. As a theologian, he was called to write against the many heresies of the period Manichaeanism, Donatism, and Pelagianism, and in so doing he defined the shape of orthodox doctrine. ORIGINAL SIN AND FREE WILL “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do. this I keep on doing” Roman 7:19 In this quote , Pau shows that mankind can tell the difference between wright and wrong. However, despite our intellect something influences us to...
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... I have asked myself many times the question of where the bible came from. Was it divine prophesies, or was it simply a mish mash of letters, writings, and books all crammed together into one volume. How and when it was decided which books and letters was would be included, and who decided that? In this paper we will discuss how the New Testament was put together and the origins of the New Testament Canon. The New Testament is a very young document that dates from around 1,900 to 2000 years old. This may seem like a long time ago, but compared to the age of the Old Testament, and other recorded ancient writing it is really pretty recent. It is commonly accepted by most rational thinking people that the Bible as we currently have it today, didn’t just appear one day, but was put together by many different writers, and by many different scholars. So this begs the real question how did the current New Testament come to being and who besides God was behind the publication of the New Testament Canon. I will try in this research paper to paint a picture of how the New Testament Canon came to be, who was involved and what the process was that was used to select the books that were ultimately used. Most scholars agree that the early writers were not aware, or even intended to have books or letters published in the New Testament, they were simply writing to a specific audience. As an example when Paul wrote the numerous letters that were written to the various fledgling...
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...is any evil action or motive that is in opposition to God. Sin has very serious consequences when it comes to relationships between the sinner and God. Sin also has severe consequences that affect the individual sinner, causing the individual to have social implications. It is evident from both the Old Testament and the New Testament descriptions of sin, that sin is universal. Both testaments describe the extent and intensiveness of sin. Obtaining a contemporary view of the magnitude of sin incorporates a biblical perspective and the best elements of traditional view. Philosophical Foundation or Presupposition When studying the doctrine of sin, one should examine the material through a biblical view. If someone does not believe in the bible, explaining sin may sound like nonsense. Holding a certain philosophical viewpoint can cause tension when theologically analyzing in this area. Specifically, secular psychology clashes with the idea of sin. Psychology often teaches individuals to blame others for their failures in life. They teach that pressure from society, spouses, parents, and environments are the reason for life difficulties. Sure, other people can contribute to our errors and tempt us, or mistreat up, but they are not the cause of the issue itself. No matter how other people act, you can still do what is right and that is exactly what God wants you do to. Psychology often urges people to accept themselves as they are without changing their sinful conduct. Psychologist...
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...Paul the Apostle (Greek: Παῦλος Paulos; c. 5 – c. 67), original name Saul of Tarsus (Greek: Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς Saulos Tarseus), was an apostle (though not one of the Twelve Apostles) who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul used his status as both a Jew and aRoman citizen to advantage in his ministry to both Jewish and Roman audiences. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul, and approximately half of the Acts of the Apostlesdeals with Paul's life and works. Seven of the epistles are undisputed by scholars as being authentic, with varying degrees of argument about the remainder. The Pauline authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, already doubted in the 2nd and 3rd centuries but almost unquestioningly accepted from the 5th to the 16th centuries, is now almost universally rejected by scholars. The other six are believed by some scholars to have come from followers writing in his name, using material from Paul's surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survive. Other scholars argue that the idea of a pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems. Today, his epistles continue to be vital roots of the theology, worship, and pastoral life in the Roman and Protestant traditions of the West, as well...
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...The Bible The Bible has been called, “The greatest story ever told.” An Episcopal priest I know is fond of saying, “A well told story is a universal story.” It follows, then, that the Bible is universal, with important lessons for us in every human endeavor. As a treatise on power, stewardship and leadership, the Bible is an incredible resource. What better role model could we possibly have for leadership than God? What better perspective could we possibly hope to gain? What was God’s first act of leadership? Creation! Leadership is first and foremost about creation, about building up. That isn’t to say that leadership can’t also be about consequences, even dire ones, but God destroyed the earth once and vowed never to do so again. Leadership is about creation, not destruction. One leadership principle the Bible brings up over, and over, and over again is faith! Have faith in what you’re doing. Nobody thought little David could slew Goliath, nobody, that is, but David. * “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you. (Mark 11:23) * “Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." (2 Chronicles 20:20) * He...
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...techniques they used in order to see how the author is able to efficitvely send their messege to the readers.It was also to then determine who was more effective.To most readers,their effect of allusion towards the bible and complex sentences work more effectively on the audience of Letter to Birmingham,causing the readers to not only feel guilty,but also overwhelmed. Jonathan Edwards was a man of god.Growing up, he was the son of the pasture and he spent his days reading the bible.His belief was pure puritanical.Jonathan...
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...in Beats poems and essays and even protest songs of the middle 1950s. As music progressed through the year’s drug use (by artists and fans) and references became more mainstream. This paper will look at two specific band, The Beatles and the Grateful Dead. Rock and Roll on Drugs Drug use and music have been intertwined for many years. This use whether illegal or legal has had both positive and negative impacts on the artists and their success. While the creative juices may be flowing while under the influence of drugs the final outcome (maybe years down the road) almost always ends on a negative note. Even dating back to 1830 when Hector Berlioz wrote his most famous work “Symphonie Fantastique” he detailed the effects of an opium induced dream, specifically in the fourth movement. In an interview on June 16, 1967, Paul McCartney was asked if he ever took drugs, he said “After I took it (LSD), it opened my eyes. We only use one-tenth of our brain. Just think what we could accomplish if we could only tap that hidden part. It would mean a whole new world." (Spangler, 1967) During the late 1960s there was a counterculture, teens of the day were disillusioned with society, the Vietnam War and the assassinations of John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert F Kennedy. To deal with these realities they turned to drugs that got progressively stronger. This was all...
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...The main ones I will focus on are patience and humility. Jesus expresses patience throughout his whole life. Being the Son of God, He has ultimate knowledge of all yet, carries himself with patience realizing the flaws of humans and waiting for them to understand. One example of Jesus exemplifying patience is when He is taken to Pilate and whipped in front of everyone. Instead of using His powers to His advantage, He patiently takes all the insults, and judgments in and shows no sigh of anger. Jesus truly embodies God in the way He responds so wisely to Pilate, Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above. That’s why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” ( Bible Gateway, John. 19.11) Not only does Jesus reply in a wise manner but gives a friendly reminder to Pilate letting him know who is truly in charge. Jesus shows patience to all his disciples throughout their journey whenever they loose faith or forget about what is truly...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY Pain and Suffering A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. JIM ZABLOSKI SEMI 500- B15 LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY Donald Clark LYNCHBURG, VA February 3, 2015 Contents Title Page……………………………………………………….1 Table of Contents………………………………………………2 Introduction…………………………………………………….3 History and Beliefs……………………………………………..4 The Logical Consistency and Moral Judgment of God………..5 Conclusion……………………………………………………...9 Bibliography……………………………………………………11 Introduction One of the most frequently asked questions in today’s society is “why do bad things happen to good people?” Why does God allow suffering and evil things to happen? These questions are central to a Christian’s faith. These questions have not gone unexplored in the cannon of Christian philosophy. Job, Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and others have all considered and contributed to an ongoing dialogue surrounding these issues. For some, the stories of personal sufferings, persecution, and martyrdom provide them a rallying point and as well as constant reminders of the pain Christ faced at the cross and what it took to pay the price for sin; while others suggest that suffering are character-building endeavors. One thing is sure: suffering is an important and ever present element of the Christian faith. Pain and suffering are controversial subjects encompassing all aspects of their meaning from whether God allows it?1 Does God bring it about? Who and what are the intended recipients...
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