Introduction
There are many important works in Christian history and are well worth the time to read and digest them. This paper focuses on an excellent contemporary of Christ Himself, the apostle Paul. Paul is one of the most prolific writers of the time and one who chooses to give his readers a vivid and wholesome account of Christ and His love for us. Research into the writings of Paul helps the reader to understand the method of communication that Paul used. Since the writings of Paul are mostly in a letter format, it is worth investigating in the context of letter writing that is done in our contemporary times and comparing it to the format of Paul’s famous Letters.
The story of Paul and his works forms one of the best loved and most well read stories of the Christian faith. Followers of Paul's beliefs are called Pauline converts and to delve into the Letters in general will help to understand the Letter format that he uses.
Initially, Paul was Saul. Saul of Tarsus was born a Jew with a Roman father and as an adult was an avid crusader searching for "those Jesus people" to bring them to the Roman Emperor. He was a loud and articulate person but was determined to capture "Jesus people”. In Paul's own words he says,
"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (Galatians 1:13-14)
The biblical search explains that while Saul was on one of these quests, Jesus appeared to him on the Road to Damascus from Syria. Since Paul did not know Jesus before His death the meeting of Him on the roadside should have been an uneventful meeting, as Saul was an adequate fighter. But there was something different in this meeting. Saul saw a blinding light and heard a voice that was like no other voice that he knew. The prose regarding this meeting is so beautiful:
"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom are you persecuting', he replied."Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." (Acts 9:3-9)
This account from Acts beautifully shows the workings of God. He desired Saul to change his approach in Saul's life. Saul even changed his name to Paul and was so infused with the Spirit that he wrote and preached intensely for God. Many people take inspiration from this story of the Road to Damascus in their own lives. It is from this perspective that the written works of Paul will be examined. Knowing this background helps to understand the strong and emphatic nature of Paul's writings. Evidence of Paul's physical state at the time of the conversion was studied as an ecstatic experience . There were scientific explanations of the vision as having a neurological origin.
Paul's Letters
Paul wrote most of his works that are in the Bible as Letters. These Letters had a specific format and appear in the Bible right after the Acts of the Apostles. These Letters were structured as the written communication of ancient times when they were written. The Letters begin with a heading to indicate who the sender is and then the recipient comes. Similar to current written letter formats except that the sender is first. Then the Letter gives a greeting and then a blessing. This standard format appears in Paul's Letters and helps us the readers to understand who he is writing to and that he gives them a blessing . The beginnings indicate how much he has changed from the person who wanted to kill the followers of Jesus.
After this structure, the body of the Letter is written. Paul discusses with the man people that he knows the conversion that he has gone through and encourages them to believe in Jesus and spread the word of the Kingdom of God . He always tries to tell the people something that Jesus offers to the believers. For an example, Paul teaches that Salvation from sin is only possible through faith. Paul relates the example of Abraham as the Jews of the time knew of Abraham. It was not the blood of Isaac that God was after but the belief of Abraham and his trust. The Jews of the time were always sacrificing animals and Paul helped them to realize that God does not look for the blood of the animals for His chosen people. God wants their hearts and lives as Paul exemplifies. This he convinces the people who receive his letters. Abraham was an example that good living was not enough to guarantee salvation. This man was a leader of the faith community and there was not any evidence that he did not live a life of faith but more was asked of him. The apostle Paul wrote about this in the New Testament
"How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised? "Romans 4:10: (Bible).
In this passage, Paul is showing how Abraham was actually baptized in his faith. Circumcision is the Christian equivalent of baptism in the Old Testament. God offered to seal his sacrifice with a covenant sign which was the custom. This shows that from the Old Testament people were saved by their faith. It shows that it was necessary to live in the faith to be saved.
In the thanksgiving section, Paul writes phrases as "I thank my God every time I remember you"(Phil 1:3) . These phrases indicate a belief in God, a certain type of faithfulness that Paul feels. This faithfulness was designed to remind the readers that they are part of the salvation that Paul is now a part of.
Summary of the Letter to the Romans
The Letter to the Romans has particular features that exemplify the letter writing style of Paul. It is encouraging to view this Letter in regards to the messages of our time conveyed in Letters. For example a typical letter in today’s environment is for admission to Graduate School. This letter is used to convince the committee that you are the person would save the school. Paul managed to convey this message to the Romans. He tried to convince them that the teaching of Jesus was the only way to salvation. Just as the student when Paul wrote this letter, he had never been to Rome. When he finally makes the journey to Rome it is in chains. Hopefully the analogy to graduate school ends before this step.
Paul had a reason to go to Rome so as to complete the missionary trip to Spain. Rome needed to hear of the good news of Jesus. But Paul was warned that the way was treacherous but it was not going to prevent Paul’s mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus . Paul beautifully gives the reason for ignoring the dangers and going to Rome anyway, “To the Greeks and to the barbarians, to the wise and to the unwise, I am a debtor; so I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are at Rome”(Romans 1:14). His humility is over powering in giving thanksgiving for them listening to him a debtor. The quality of humility is so different in the man that all knew as Saul of Tarsus. Paul was very humble and thankful of all that he received from God and had a reason to as for the money from the Romans to go to Spain to spread the message of the Gospel.
Paul gives a theological discussion in this Letter to the Romans. It is a personal communication to a special community and is an attempt to secure the funds to complete his mission .
Paul exercised his message to the Romans in verse Romans 12:20-21 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. This message conveyed to the Romans that they had the power to spread the word of God along with him.
Conclusion
Paul’s Letter to the Romans is impactful for the faithful today. Although today’s typical communication is in texts or tweets, the message is what is important. Paul’s message to the Romans was to live in the greatest commandment of God, to love one another. Paul explains this by telling the Romans to share and feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty. In the end of this discourse he gives a life lesson for all “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Today’s communication can still offer a thanksgiving phrase as the sender begins their message. The ability to wish someone well and to offer to listen rather than talk can be added to any message whether it is a tweet or a text. Many people need to hear the good news of the Gospel in today’s world and using the message of Paul to communicate the gospel is still effective.
As the epistle or letter to the Romans continues, Paul explains his reason for the Letter. He reveals that he is set apart by God to spread the word of God. Paul gives the gift of encouragement to the Romans. God gave them eternal salvation freely. Paul goes on to ask for prayers for the Church of Rome.
God is the most important word in the Letter to the Romans. Romans is a book about God . Everything that Paul touches in this letter is about God. Paul talks about the righteousness of God, Paul talks about the justification of salvation, and his tremendous concentration on God. There is nothing like it elsewhere.
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Works Cited
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