Comunicación y Gerencia

St Paul’s
Epistles
© J. Davies 2011

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Letters to
the Early
Christian
churches
St Paul is one of a
handful of truly great
figures that have
transformed European
history.
 Paul’s life
• The one thing most people do know
about St Paul is that he started life as
Saul, an enemy of Jesus and a hit
man for the Jewish authorities. he
underwent a dramatic conversion on the road to
Damascus.

• In the book, ‘Acts of the Apostles’, we learn that

Saul was born in Tarsus, in modern day Eastern
Turkey, he was a tent maker by trade, was an
avid student under the top Jewish teacher in
Jerusalem and was also a Roman citizen.
Saul changed his name to Paul
and travelled tens of thousands
of miles around the
Mediterranean spreading the
word of Jesus and it was Paul
who came up with the doctrine
that would turn Christianity from
a small sect of Judaism into a
worldwide faith that was open
to all.
“I have been constantly on the road," Paul
wrote. "I have met dangers from rivers,
dangers from robbers, dangers from my
fellow countrymen, dangers from
foreigners, dangers in towns, dangers in
the country, dangers at sea, dangers from
false friends. I have toiled and drudged, I
have often gone without sleep; hungry and
thirsty, I have often gone fasting; and I have
suffered from cold and exposure."
Saint Paul Preaching at Athens
Paul’s First Journey
Second Journey
Third Journey
Final Journey to Rome
 Paul’s Journeys…
• The First Journey was led
by Barnabas from Antioch
to Cyprus to Anatolia and
back to Antioch. They then
go back to Jerusalem.
Antioch today.
• Paul soon becomes the
leader of the group.
 Paul’s Journeys..
• His Second Journey from Jerusalem
was in 49 AD.
• After a dispute, Paul and Barnabas
decided to separate;
• Barnabas travels with John Mark and
Silas joins Paul.
• They travelled through Syria and
Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
• Then they went to Philippi, the chief
city in that part of Macedonia.
• They were given a severe beating and
thrown in prison, then were released The ruins of
and told to leave the city. Caesarea Philippi
 Paul’s Journeys
• Paul’s Third Journey was around the
region of Galatia and Phrygia to teach.

• He, then went to Ephesus and stayed

there for almost three years. Virgin Mary’s
house in
• He performed miracles, did healing Ephesus.
people and organized churches.

• While in Ephesus, he wrote four

letters to the Corinthians.

• Paul left Ephesus to go back to

Jerusalem.
Ruins of
Ephesus
 Paul’s Journeys
• Paul’s Third Journey was around the
region of Galatia and Phrygia to teach.

• He, then went to Ephesus and stayed

there for almost three years. Virgin Mary’s
house in
• He performed miracles, did healing Ephesus.
people and organized churches.

• While in Ephesus, he wrote four

letters to the Corinthians.

• Paul left Ephesus to go back to

Jerusalem.
Ruins of
Ephesus
 Quiz
Fill in the blanks. The answers are on
the next slide.
1. Paul was a -------------- citizen.
2. Paul died by ------------------.
3. Paul made ------------ important
missionary journeys.
4. The original name of Paul was ------
.
5. Paul spent a lot of time being put in
------------.
 And…
Answers: Discuss St. Paul
1. Roman and how he
2. beheading helped the
3. three (4th not expansion of the
a lot of early church, in a
missionary
work) small group.
4. Saul
Look at a map
5. prison
and trace the
travels of St.
Paul.
In his letters, we also
discover that Paul
worries about how the
members of his
churches are coping
without him.
 Pagan converts
Many people had
converted from other
religions to Christianity
and simply didn’t know
how to behave. In
Pagan society all
kinds of immorality
were permissible.
 Living the Christian Life
Paul gave some advice to the new churches

• Respect the elders in the church.

• Live in an attitude of prayer.
• Men should marry to avoid lust.
• Divorce is forbidden unless a ‘heathen’ partner deserts
a Christian.
• Women should keep their heads covered in church.
• All people are equal.
• Encourage one another and help one another.
• Be patient with everyone.
• Pray regularly for people in your church
and community.
• Be thankful in all circumstances.
• Do not conform yourself to the standards
of this world.
• Help to carry one another’s burdens.
But like all great and
charismatic figures there
is another side; the Paul
who tells off his
followers for backsliding
and doubting their faith;
the Paul who tells
women to keep silent
and condemns
homosexuality.
Paul wrote some
of the most
beautiful and
important
passages in the
whole of the
Bible.
• 1 Thessalonians
• Galatians
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Philippians
• Philemon
• Romans
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Ephesians
• Colossians
• 2 Thessalonians.
"The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ and the love
of God and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with
us all, ever more, Amen. "