Bible Study of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament

The spirituality of Saint Paul is wide and deep. His ministry and outreach are appreciated because of Paul's extensive travels and writings. I personally like his theological approach which is academic and philosophical. He also confesses he was probably the most long-suffering servant of the Lord which may account for his ministry full of salvation references and the grace of God.

Unlike the original 12 apostles of the New Testament who had first-hand knowledge of Jesus, Paul's faith rests primarily on the resurrected Lord. Spiritual renewal by grace and understanding forgiveness are imperative to the success of Paul's ministry and Christian walk.

BIOGRAPHY:

Paul's father was Roman, making Paul a citizen of that city. He lived in Tarsus which is southeast of Asia Minor in what is now modern-day Turkey. He was Jewish (2 Cor 11:22) of the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5) and educated as a Pharisee by the well-known Gamaliel, so he was familiar with Hebrew and Greek languages.

Gal. 1:11 tells us that as a Pharisee he formerly persecuted the Christians and was among those who stoned Saint Stephen to death. He experienced a mystical meeting with the Lord Jesus where with the power of the Holy Spirit, he went on to preach the Gospel message. He calls himself an "apostle" (Rom 1:1; 11:13), a "freeman" of the Lord (1 Cor. 7:22), a minister (1 Tim 1:12) and professes he is not sent "by human commission nor by human authorities" because he "did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal 1:11).

Paul tells us also "my message and preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." "By the grace of God, I am what I am." (1 Cor 2:4-13; 1 Cor 15:10).