Paul: Follower or Founder of Christianity?

Question 1

Who claims that Paul founded Christianity as we know it?

Answer 1

Many liberal scholars claim that Paul is the real founder of Christianity as we know it

Question 2

Was Paul a Follower or Founder?

5 Noteworthy Matters Related with this Topic

Answer 2

1. Paul did not know the historical Jesus (although they were contemporaries)
2. From his letters, we can say that Paul was not concerned too much about the historical Jesus’ teachings and actions (Paul does not describe what Jesus said or did).
3. From his letters, he seems to focus most on the so-called “Paschal Mystery” (Death-Resurrection-Glorification) of Christ. Perhaps Paul was insecure about his lack of knowledge about the real historical Jesus, and he only knew the risen Christ, so he focused on that.
4. Paul emphasized that humans are saved through the sacrifice on the cross
5. (And that) Jesus’ sacrifice and its efficacy for the salvation of humanity has been validated through God’s action of raising Jesus from the dead

Question 3

Paul did not know the historical Jesus (although they were contemporaries). From his letters, we can say that Paul was not concerned too much about the historical Jesus’ teachings and actions (Paul does not describe what Jesus said or did).

Does this really mean that Paul never talked about the teachings and ministry of Jesus?

Answer 3

A letter is like listening to a phone conversation: you only know what that person is telling the other party, and you cannot hear the other party. Paul’s letters are a one-sided conversation in which Paul is responding to certain concrete issues (except in Romans). If Paul was really into Jesus’ teaching and acts, he most likely would have quoted Jesus in his letters (Jesus taught this, so let’s practice it!) His concern for Jesus’ teaching would have spilled into his letters, but it does not.

HOWEVER, in actually preaching, we cannot rule out that Paul was not concerned with Jesus’ teaching.

From his letters, he seems to focus most on the so-called “Paschal Mystery” (Death-Resurrection-Glorification) of Christ. Perhaps Paul was insecure about his lack of knowledge about the real historical Jesus, and he only knew the risen Christ, so he focused on that.

Paul was most likely not invested in what Jesus said and did, and instead, he was focused with Jesus’ resurrection and its significance. This was the focus of many early Christian disciples; their proclamations were Christocentric.

Question 4

Paul was not invested in what Jesus said and did. He was focused with Jesus’ resurrection and its significance. Where else do we find this?

Answer 4

The Nicene Creed

The “Empty-Centre”: Incarnation → Death & Resurrection
The Creed is not interested in what Jesus taught and did

Question 5

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Born around 4 CE

Answer 5

Paul was more or less a contemporary of Jesus, but never met him.

Question 6

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Grew up in Nazareth of Galilee

Answer 6

Jesus grew up in a rural area, but only 5km from an urban city centre. Though it appears that Jesus did not go to Cepherus to preach very often

Paul grew up in Tarsus, a major urban city centre, a cosmopolitan town.

Question 7

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus spoke Aramaic, perhaps Hebrew, and probably some Greek

Answer 7

How would Jesus have known Greek?

1. Nazareth is just 5 km from Cepherus, the biggest and most cosmopolitan town in Galilee, but the NT does not mention that Jesus went there.
2. Jesus helped Joseph in the carpentry business, and they had to go to Sepherus, which was involved in a huge reconstruction after the revolution and subsequent destruction of the town, so they would have had to know some Greek in that case

Greek was a mother language for Paul, he was well-educated in Tarsus.

Question 8

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Was initially associated with John the Baptist, but emerged as a public figure in his own right around 28 CE

Answer 8

This was considered old at the time.

Question 9

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus announced the imminent coming of the Reign of God and, in preparation for that, summoned people to repent (Apocalyptic Thought)

Answer 9

Paul was apocalyptic in thought too. Both were influenced by apocalyptic thinking.

Question 10

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus used parables to announce the reign of Israel’s God

Answer 10

Paul did not use parables; or at least we do not know of any parables used by Paul. The parables of Jesus are a dominant feature in the Synoptic Gospels. Paul does not make any mention of Jesus’ parables.

Question 11

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Conducted itinerant ministry throughout villages of Galilee

Answer 11

Jesus’ ministry was directed to rural areas. Paul’s ministry was directed to urban areas
Luke is in some way connected with Paul; Luke does not mention Galilee in his Acts of the Apostles or Resurrection story
Paul did not even go to Sepherus, which was 5km from Nazareth

Question 12

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus effected remarkable cures, including exorcisms, as enactments of his message

Answer 12

Paul did this too, these ministries were shared by both Jesus and Paul.

Question 13

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus shared in table fellowship with a socioculturally diverse group.

Answer 13

Jesus opened his table to anyone who wanted to join. He was not exclusive of anyone (unclean, impure, etc.). This is very similar to Paul, who accepted anyone
Both Jesus and Paul crossed boundaries.

Both Jesus and Paul broke the boundaries through inclusion. Paul was very much like Jesus, in this way..

Question 14

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Called a close group of disciples and gave 12 of them a special status.

Answer 14

Paul did not call together a special group of disciples, but he had collaborators. He had a network of collaborators who lived out the way of Jesus in the style of Paul.

Question 15

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus performed a dramatic action in the Temple

Answer 15

Acts says that Paul was arrested in the Temple when he brought the collection for his radical messages. Paul stood in trial before Caesar.

Question 16

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Jesus was handed over by this powerful Jewish element to the Romans to be crucified as an insurrectionist

Answer 16

Paul was handed over to Roman officials to be executed

Question 17

N.T. Wright: What can we say about the historical Jesus?

Was reported by his followers to have been raised from the dead

Answer 17

Jesus appeared to Paul.

Question 18

70 CE: Temple Destroyed and Second Temple Judaism came to a close.

Second Temple Judaism has “two children”…

Answer 18

1. Rabbinic Judaism
   - The emphasis on the law and the writings because the Temple is no longer there
   - More recognizable child
2. Christianity

Question 19

The Parting of the Ways

When did these two siblings (cousins?) part ways?

Answer 19

• It did not occur immediately after the Temple was destroyed
• For some time, Christianity was considered a Jewish sect
• Only from the turn from the first century to the second, can we identify when the ways parted

What was the place of Paul in all of this?

• James, Peter, John did not want Paul’s renewal
• Paul is HEAVILY influential in the parting of the ways
• Paul is foundational in Christianity coming to its own

Did Jesus, of Rabbinic Judaism, expect the parting of the ways to happen?
- The Historical Jesus did not want to start his own religion, he wanted to renew Israel

Question 20

What scholar holds that Pau was a faithful Follower f Jesus? What theory do they use?

Answer 20

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

Question 21

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

Answer 21

1. Jesus was (something like) a first-century Jewish prophet
2. Announced and inaugurating the Kingdom of God
3. Believed that the kingdom was breaking in to Israel’s history in and through his own presence and work
4. Summoned other Jews to abandon alternative kingdom visions and join him in is
5. Warning of dire consequences for the nation, for Jerusalem, and for the temple if his summons were ignored
6. His agendas led him into a symbolic led him into a symbolic clash with those who embraced other ones, and this, together with the positive symbols of his own kingdom agenda, point to the way in which he saw his inaugurated kingdom moving toward accomplishment

Question 22

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

Answer 22

1. Jesus was (something like) a first-century Jewish prophet

Question 23

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

1.

Answer 23

1. Jesus was (something like) a first-century Jewish prophet

Perhaps Paul was someone like a Prophet: he had a message that was unpopular and suffered for it.

Question 24

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

2.

Answer 24

2. Announced and inaugurating the Kingdom of God

This was Jesus’ main concern, but not Paul’s concern
Paul proclaimed Jesus, the person
Jesus was Regiocentric (Jesus proclaimed the reign of God, Kingdom of God)
Disciples became Christocentric (after him, the disciples proclaimed Jesus Christ).

Question 25

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

3.

Answer 25

3. Believed that the kingdom was breaking in to Israel’s history in and through his own presence and work

Jesus, himself, was convinced that through his teaching he was inaugurated the Kingdom of God in his own context.

Matthew, Mark and Luke’s portrayal of Jesus is much more historical than John’s though most people love the Jesus in John’ gospel.

Question 26

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

4.

Answer 26

4. Summoned other Jews to abandon alternative kingdom visions and join him in is

Jesus had his own message: be compassionate, be loving, love your enemies, forgive, work for a fair distribution of goods.

Question 27

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

4.

Answer 27

5. Warning of dire consequences for the nation, for Jerusalem, and for the temple if his summons were ignored

Jesus was an apocalyptic figure with an apocalyptic message
There would be negative consequences upon the establishment of God’s reign for those who did not accept his message.

Question 28

Paul: The Follower

N.T. Wright’s “Six Strikes” to Describe Jesus

6.

Answer 28

6. His agendas led him into a symbolic led him into a symbolic clash with those who embraced other ones, and this, together with the positive symbols of his own kingdom agenda, point to the way in which he saw his inaugurated kingdom moving toward accomplishment

Question 29

Jesus’ Agenda

Answer 29

Jesus’ agenda was a VERY (2nd Temple) Jewish Agenda

• It concerned Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish people
• He was not explicitly concerned with non-Jews (Gentiles)
• It was directed at his own country, his own people, his own faithful community

Question 30

Did Jesus think he was supposed to die?

Answer 30

Jesus knew his life was in danger, but in spite of that, he carried on

Minority opinion: Jesus might have, at the end of his ministry, foreseen that his message would carry on better after his death and thus accepted his death.
And THAT HAPPENED, as Jesus thought.
The proof of that?
God raised Jesus from the dead. Early Christians interpreted that the vision of Jesus was approved by God because God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection.

Question 31

What exactly is the climax of the covenant?

Answer 31

God was to eventually come and deliver Israel from its enemies.

Make Israel’s status as chosen people clear in the world (God will glorify Israel by making their status as the chosen ones clear to the world; Israel will be the greatest nation on Earth).

Bring all Israel and, through Israel, the whole world into a state of well-being in YHWH through Christ (addition of “through Christ” is the Christian formula; here is where Paul comes into the picture → he was driven by thinking of “through Christ” as the climax).

Question 32

How did Paul understand the climax of the Covenant?

Answer 32

Paul understood all of the above through his “CONVERSION”

Paul was shocked because his earlier ZEAL to uphold Israel’s traditions by persecuting THE WAY of Jesus led him to a DEAD END - he was actually going against God’s plan!

Negative: Conversion was a shock for him because his zeal for the Jewish traditions lead him to oppose the plan of God.

Positive: As a result of his encounter with Christ, he believed that God/Christ had given him a special mission to apply the climax of the covenant to the Gentiles.

Paul thought it was his mission to bring Gentiles to a state of salvation through Jesus Christ. That is the essential part of Paul.

Question 33

Jesus and Paul: Similarities and Differences

Answer 33

1. The Kingdom of God
2. Revelation
   Jesus felt he had this special revelation from God.
   Paul also felt that he was the recipient of a special revelation, and he claimed that is an apostle.
   Example: Paul gave himself the authority to abandon circumcision and kosher on the basis of his Revelation
3. Grace
   Jesus’ inclusiveness was grace.Paul offered God’s grace to Gentiles.
   Both were inclusive of the marginalized (even if you’re not worthy, God will accept you).
4. “Universalism” “Openness” “Inclusivity”
   Both allowed everyone into the Faith. God’s grace is offered to everyone.
5. Justification on the basis of an unconditional trust (Faith) in God
6. Love and Compassion

Possible Conclusion: Paul; was a faithful follower of Jesus and applied Jesus’ spirit at an international stage (Paul brought Jesus’ concerns to the nations).

Question 34

Jesus and Paul: Continuity and Discontinuity

Answer 34

Jesus main message:
The Reign of God (Regiocentric)

(Post-Easter) Disciples: main message:
Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Lord
(Christocentric)

This is a “discontinuity” in the main message.

However, there is also a “continuity”

Through the resurrection, the disciples became convinced that Jesus was now at the centre of God’s kingdom. It is he who makes God’s reign a reality in this world, not only the Jewish world but also beyond that!

The disciples did not remain at the vague meaning of the “Kingdom of God”, they concretized the “Kingdom of God” and made Jesus the “posterboy”

Question 35

How Paul Might be Considered the Founder of Christianity?

Answer 35

1. The historical Jesus and his immediate circle of Jesus disciples did not seriously consider a mission to the Gentiles. They were concerned with renewing Israel.
2. After the resurrection, the earliest community did not know how to handle the Gentile Question.
   Gentile Question: How do we deal with the gentiles who want to enter our community?
   Jesus’ closest collaborators (James, Peter, John, etc.) seemed to think that gentiles had to become Jews first (through circumcision, law-practice, etc.). Then one had to believe in the messiah “Jesus movement.”
3. Only Paul was radical enough to initiate changes that would make the Jesus-Movement gentile-friendly
   Changes Paul initiated: circumcision, dietary practices, and other typically Jewish practices were not required OF GENTILES (they were still required of Jews!)
   Question: Can one do away with these practices and still retain the link with Israel?
   Paul thought yes, others thought no
   Eventually, this is why Christianity had to separate from Judaism; many thought the link was severed/
4. In effect, according to Paul’s “gospel”, God had effectively changed God’s mind about some factors that were considered “non-negotiable” for the covenant. This time there was a special provision for Gentiles.
   So, in a way, there is a break.
5. It was Paul who actually turned what was originally just a “messianic movement” centred on Jesus, into a religion which could truly become a “world religion” centred on Jesus, but separate from Judaism. This religion came to be known as Christianity.