Paul's Church Without Wrinkle

All Bible scholars agree: without the missionary work of the Apostle Paul, Christianity would not have survived the First Century AD, as Jesus left nothing in writing, and created no churches to carry on his religious ministry.  Thanks to the Apostle Paul's three journeys throughout Asia Minor and southern Europe, early Christian churches were created that kept the infant Christian faith active and alive in the hearts of a few faithful followers.  In the time before the Gospels were written, Paul wrote a number of letters to the infant churches, many of which he helped form.  Until the gospels were written, Paul's letters were read and reread, copied and circulated among the faithful, and helped keep the primitive Christian faith alive.  Paul's goal was to convert gentiles into Christians, and was determined to create a church "without wrinkle."

It should be noted that Paul was a Roman citizen, and well educated in Hebrew Scripture.  He was also a Pharisee, skilled in the art of debate, and a charismatic speaker, who, like Abraham Lincoln, spoke in a high-pitched voice, and, too, like Lincoln, was a persuasive speaker.  As a Christian convert, he also was decidedly against the Jewish rite of circumcision, repeatedly telling Christians that circumcision was unnecessary to becoming a faithful Christian.  On several occasions, Paul was attacked physically, arrested for causing social unrest, and once survived being stoned to death.

Known as "The Missionary to the Gentiles", Paul made three journeys to cities in Asia Minor, and in southern Europe.  His first journey included stops in several cities of Asia Minor: Antioch, Tarsus (Paul's hometown), Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Traveling with Barnabus, the first stage of their journey did not go well, as many of the inhabitants were either hostile Jews, confirmed pagans, or unfriendly Greeks.  Their return journey included stopping and speaking at these very same towns, where they were well received, probably as the result of Paul's healing work, and persistent prayers.

Paul's second journey, included stops in these same cities, but extended far into the western region of Asia Minor, to the coastal cities of Colossae, Ephesus, and Toas.  Everywhere Paul travelled he met with resistance.  However, with determination, healing work, and persistent prayers (and spending several weeks in each city), Paul's effort began resulting in Christian converts, and the creation of new churches.  Paul's third journey brought him as far west as southern Europe, with extended stays in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.  His fourth mission brought him to Rome.  Paul planned to continue his missionary work in Spain; but this was not to be, as he was arrested--and rather than being locked in jail, as a Roman citizen, he was placed under house arrest, which allowed him to send and receive letters, as well as receive guests, perform healings, and to continue preaching the Gospel.

Scholars inform us that Paul wrote thirteen letters to these young Christian churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, Galatia, and Ephesus. These are the letters that have survived, as Scholars believe Paul wrote many more letters, to other cites he had visited and formed Christian churches. Note: it's likely all of Paul's letters were dictated to one of his educated companions, letters that generally ended with Paul's signature and personal salutation. He also wrote letters to a number of his christian collegues, many of which have been lost; what is contained in the New Testament is likely a fraction of what he did write. The letter to "Hebrews", while attributed to him, was, according to Bible scholars, composed by someone else.  These letters, also called epistles, were copied, widely circulated, and eventually compiled into what would become the New Testament.  It should be said, that the roads Paul and his companions traveled, were built by the Roman Empire, were paved with flat stones, and were relatively level and straight, which made walking easier and more convenient.  Apart from being a Christian missionary, Paul earned money as a tent maker, which was a valued and respected profession in his day.   Paul and his missionary companions, were also helped by early Christians who would provide them with food and lodging, as they journeyed throughout Asia Minor and southern Europe.

THE FIELDS WERE READY FOR HARVEST

One of the advantages Paul had while on his three missionary journeys, was that everywhere he traveled, the people to whom he met and preached, being Jews, Greeks, and Romans were mostly educated, and open to learning about new religious ideas; indeed, the Jews were familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, having studied them since the time they could walk, and the Greeks and Romans, were familiar with the concept of God, albeit a mortal, changeable God. Nonetheless, they all were open to what an articulate and well-informed missionary had to say.  If any was sick among them, Paul healed them, which would further convince them of the authority of which he spoke. As Jesus once had said to his disciples, "Behold, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35).  While true in Israel, this was equally true in Asia Minor, and in Greece and Rome.

The letters Paul wrote to these new Christian churches were models of clarity, logic, and reasoning, letters that were so compelling, they were studied, copied and widely circulated, and eventually would comprise half of the New Testament.

     

Below are noteworthy excerpts from Paul's letters (from the King James Bible), and a few facts about the cities where the churches were located, and when the letters were composed, beginning with Paul's first letter.

GALATIA

The letter to the Galatians, was written in AD48.  Galatia was a region in Asia Minor, where Paul's letter circulated among Christian churches throughout the province.  Below are two excerpts:

Excerpt one:  "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:5–9).

Excerpt Two: "(T)he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22, 23, 25).

THESSALONICA

The first letter to the Thessalonians was written AD49-51.  The city of Thessalonica, was located on a major trade route of Greece, and, as with the church in Galatia, the first church was likely a converted house.  Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians may have been written in Corinth, just a few days after he departed Thessalonica. Below is an except:

Excerpt:  "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:4–9).

SECOND LETTER TO THESSALONICA

The second letter to the church in Thessalonica was written AD51 or 52).

Excerpt:  "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, not by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  We are bound to give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth" (II Thessalonians 2:1, 2, 13).

CORINTH

The first letter to Corinth was written AD53-54.  Corinth was a cosmopolitan city, known for immorality and vice.  Citizens were comprised of Greeks, Romans, Jews, and other people from throughout the Middle East.  As with most churches Paul founded, services were held in a converted house, or in a Jewish Temple.  After establishing a Christian church in Corinth, Paul stayed on for about a year.  Early Church members in Corinth were such an unruly group, that Paul was required to return again, and to insure obediance to Christian doctrine, write two letters.

Below are three excerpts from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (not included is Paul's "Ode to Love" (I Corinthians 13), which was posted in its entirety in a previous blog.

Excerpt One: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Corinthians 2: 4, 5).

Excerpt Two: "(A)s it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Corinthians 2: 9–12).

Excerpt Three: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled" (I Corinthians 8: 5–7).

SECOND LETTER TO CORINTH

It's likely Paul wrote several letters to the church in Corinth, letters that were later compiled into the two letters that are now part of First and Second Corinthians. The second letter to Corinth is believed to have been written in AD55-56.  Below are four excerpts:

Excerpt One: "(W)here the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Corinthians 3: 17).

Excerpt Two: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit" (II Corinthians 5:1–5).

Excerpt Three: "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (II Corinthians 5: 7–10, 17, 18).

Excerpt Four: "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds), and every thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10: 4,5).

COLOSSAE

Colossae was a signifant Greek city, from about the 5th century B.C onward. It had dwindled in importance by the time of Paul's visit, but was notable for the existence of its local angel cult.   Paul wrote his letter to the church in Colossae in AD57 or 59.  Below are two excerpts:

Excerpt One: "(S)eek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye appear with him in glory.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Colossians 3: 1-4, 12, 13).

Excerpt Two: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:2–5).

PHILIPPI

The church in Philippi was the first church Paul founded in Europe.  Philippi was a walled city that, in ancient times, was referred to as "a miniature Rome."  It was in Philippi, that Paul and Silas were arrested and imprisoned. Below is their story, as recorded in Acts:

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.  And this did she many days.

"But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house" (Acts 16:16–34).

Paul wrote only one letter to the church in Philippi, in AD57 or 59.

Excerpt: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9–11).

THE CROWN OF PAUL'S MINISTRY

Ephesus was the main city of the Roman province of Asia.  In New Testament times it was as an important port and trading center.  Because  of its strategic location and easy access by both sea and road, Paul chose it as a center from which to keep in touch with congregations he had already founded, and as a base for opening new churches.  Ephesus was also famous for having the temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  The city had marble-paved streets and enjoyed fine baths and libraries, a market place and theater.

According to Acts, Paul enjoyed hospitality with the Jewish community in Ephesus for several months.  Eventually he was forced to find another accommodation (in the hall of Tyrannus) where Paul would conduct religious services daily from 11:00 to 4:00.  After that he would spend time at his trade as a tent-maker, in order to support himself.  He tells the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:34, "these hands of mine earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions."

Paul evoked much interest, and some strong opposition, in his evangelism at Ephesus.  After a time his influence was significant enough to arouse the enmity of a guild of silversmiths whose income from making statuettes of Diana for her devotees was being threatened by Paul's message of the one true God.

The tradesman were the sort of people Paul tended to convert to Christianity.  The Churches he founded had a few wealthy people, and some poor people and slaves, but many skilled craftsmen.  These middle-class groups had few political opportunities.  They had formed themselves into guilds, which existed basically to provide social life for their members and which were wary of anything that threatened their economic prospects or interfered with their rights.

It was Demetrius, president of the silversmiths' guild and possibly also one in the goddess' vestrymen, who instigated a riot from which Paul escaped through intervention of the town clerk and local officials.  Although Paul was not captured in this instance, there is good reason to believe he did spend some time in prison in Ephesus.

However, the Ephesus period was the crown of Paul's ministry.  He wrote some of his major letters at this time, perhaps including some of the "captivity" epistles, such as Philippians. Also Paul's theological development was at its peak. This is supported by the fact that he now devoted a lot of his time organizing a collection to be taken by representatives of his gentile churches for the poor in Jerusalem.  He was now confident of his own achievements but longed for full acceptance of this collection as evidence of unity between the Jewish and gentile parts of the Church.

Below are five excerpts from Paul's letters to the Ephesians:

Excerpt One: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved") (Ephesians 2:4, 5).

Excerpt Two: "I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" (Ephesians 3: 14-16).

Excerpt Three: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind . . . Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:17, 19–24).

Excerpt Four: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. That he might sanctify and cleanse if with washing of the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or a wrinkle or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:14–17, 26, 27).

Excerpt Five: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:11).

PHILEMON

Written from Rome in AD57 or 59, and possibly as late as AD62, Paul's letter concerns Philemon's slave, named Onesimus, who had run away after possibly robbing his master. In Rome, Onesimus met Paul, and was converted to Christianity. He then became a great a help to Paul, and the two became close friends. So Paul urges Philemon to accept Onesimus back and to consider him a full-fledged, reformed brother in Christ, rather than inflict the severe punishment that normally would have been done to a runaway slave. As important, perhaps, the letter reveal's Paul's attitude toward slavery, that as Christian, he firmly opposed.

ROME

One of the last cities Paul would visit, was Rome.  The Christian church had already been established. The letter he wrote to the church in Rome (from Corinth) was one of his longest and one of his last; written AD55-57. Below are five excerpts:

Excerpt One: "(W)e have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: And not only so, but we also have joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  (A)s sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5: 11, 21).

Excerpt Two: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 7:18–25).

Excerpt Three: "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-hires with Christ" (Romans 8: 16,17).

Excerpt Four: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 8:38, 39).

Excerpt Five: "Let love be without dissimulation.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Romans 12: 9, 10, 15).

THE PASTORAL LETTERS

Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, both of whom spent time with Paul on his missionary journeys, are known as Paul's "Pastoral Letters". It's likely Paul also wrote letters (now lost) to other fellow missionaries: to Apollos, Barnabas, and Silas, as well as letters to Peter, John, and James (Jesus' brother, and Bishop of the Christian church in Jerusalem).

FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY (AD62 - 64).  Below are two excerpts:

Excerpt One: "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faIth and love which is in Jesus Christ.  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1: 14, 15):

Excerpt Two: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.  These things command and teach" (I Timothy 4:1–11).

SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY (AD62 - 65):

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (II Timothy 1: 7; 4 :7, 8,).

TITUS (66 - 67):

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11–13);

 PAUL'S ADDRESS IN ATHENS (AD52)

On his third missionary journey, Paul visited Athens, where he would address a large crowd.  His friend and traveling companion, Luke recorded his visit, which appears in "The Acts of the Apostles." Very likely, his chilly reception in Athens, gives us some idea of what Paul faced, and his persistent effort to make converts of skeptics. Below is Luke's account, which will close this blog:

"Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.

"And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:16–28).

Note: In writing this piece, I am indebted to the authors of "Great Events of Bible Times", to the editors of J.B. Phillips' "The New Testament in Modern English" and to "A Student's Guide to the New Testament", by Stephen L. Harris.

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