Paul's background history, origins, and upbringing.
Paul famously referred to as Saint Paul the Apostle was considered one of the essential figures of the apostolic age. He is believed to be born in the years 4 AC – 5 AC from a devout family of Jews in the city of Taurus in the province of Cilicia and was well-identified by the Jewish Name, Saul of Taurus. He is also believed to be a Roman citizen who was intensely affected by the Roman Empire Greek culture. Following the diversity of his background that he was brought up, he developed the ability to relate with a vast of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Paul got converted to Christianity, but before his conversion, he was a staunch Christian persecutor who was dedicated to oppressing the early Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem including Martyr Stephen who was stoned to death.
How Paul went from being a Christian persecutor to Christian preacher and author.
Paul was Saul before conversion to being an enthusiastic Man of Christ. He was ‘Pharisee of Pharisees' who was in a constant rebellion of the followers of Jesus Christ and was devoted to persecuting them intensely. He believed by doing so he was defending the traditions of his fathers and was then advancing to Judaism. Paul's conversion happened on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission of arresting and returning them to Jerusalem when the resurrected Christ appeared to him in inordinate light, struck to blindness and restored the sight three days later with Prophet Ananias of Damascus. Paul then began to preach and write to people about the message of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the son of God and the Messiah of Jews and the world.
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Importance of Paul's letters to the development of Christianity and how Paul's writings made their way into the Christian church .
Importance to Christianity
Paul's writing encompasses the clarifications of the Christian basis and in-depth explanations of the theology of Christians since he was taught by one of the oldest Rabbis of the history. The writings entail the Old Testament scriptures and teaching that deepens and shapes the spirituality of Christians enabling them to define their origin clearly. More so, Paul's letters described his hard life and persecutions he was going through during his mission to propagate the message of Christ. That encouraged the Christians to persevere the problematic moments of persecutions they go through and remain focused to the Jesus of Nazareth that Paul preached to them.
Paul’s Letters to the church
Paul wrote most letters during his two-year Roman imprisonment, and the letters made their way to the churches through the leaders of the churches visiting him in the prison since he was involved in the spiritual development of those churches.
The Judaizers and why Paul was so concerned about them in his letter to the Galatians
Judaizers were a specific group Christians who became Jewish through proselyte rituals of being circumcised first before becoming Jews per the teachings by the Judaizing teachers. Paul was concerned about them in his letter to Galatians because He felt they concentrated on physical circumcision and observation of the Mosaic Law than Spiritual one. He even confronted Peter, the disciple of Jesus of Nazareth about the act of forcing the Gentiles to Judaize.
The "Three-Pronged" attack that the Judaizers used against Paul.
Mandatory circumcision for gaining salvation:
Certain Judaizing teachers who came from Judea to Antioch for formed a council at Jerusalem that preached the message of compulsory circumcision of them to be saved. The news was to limit Paul’s strong opposition to gentiles observing the Law of Moses but the law of Christ and circumcision of the heart. (Acts 15:1)
Observance of the Law of Moses in details for righteousness and God’s Acceptance
The Judaizers focused on strict adherence to the Law of Moses to obtain the required righteousness and acceptance from God. They maintained the physical practices to cleanse themselves for righteousness before God which was an attack to the message of Christ’s spiritual blood cleansing for righteousness and being accepted by God. (Galatians. 4:10; Acts 15:5; Colossians. 2:16 – 17).
Rejecting the authority of Paul.
Judaizers constantly questioned the authority that Paul claimed to have or have been sent. That led to the rejection of the authority Paul had and preached. The only power they believed was the authority from God himself and did not regard Jesus as the authority.
