Discussion Board Forum 2

Describe Paul’s background.  Discuss the issues in determining a chronology of Paul’s life.  Be sure to list any data that can be used for this purpose.  How important is the book of Acts in this procedure?  Offer a brief overview of Paul’s life and missionary activities

Paul was born an Israelite in Tarsus, part of Cilicia located in SE Asia Minor.  Even though Paul's origin is a Jewish family with full citizen rights in Roman Empire, the fact that his family was a strict adherer of Jewish culture would have provided him with little chance to adapt to Tarsus culture while young.  His background was, therefore, largely influenced by the Jewish culture and religion[1].    The book of Acts 22.3 indicates that Paul underwent education in Gamaliel's School and his attitude towards Christians before his conversion was largely distinct from that of his mentor's attitude.  It is not likely that Paul would have agreed with his mentor's attitude towards Christ followers, which is shown in Acts5: 38. In various cases, Paul indicates that his initial contact with the Church was when he was a prosecutor.  Paul's case seemed clear-cut after the crucifixion of Jesus as a crucified Messiah greatly contradicted Jew's idea of Messiah[2]. During the persecution, many disciples were driven out of Judea and Paul's crusading zeal was informed by the notion that a high priest had the right to bring back fugitives to Jerusalem[3].  This led him to Damascus where he would meet his conversion.  The conversion on the way to Damascus was a great determinant of Christian's history since it is where his commissioning begun.  That he was Hebrew of Hebrew and still a Roman citizen was an important aspect that indicated Paul's ability to confidently speak to confidently speak with Greeks and Jews -Acts 22.28[4]. 

The issues relating to Paul's life helps in determining the Chronology in dating the various events even though.  His birth in Tarsus, schooling in Greco-Roman and his privileged citizenship occurred after around A.D 10[5].  The Jerusalem upbringing and rabbinic education by Gamaliel also help in this chronology Acts 22:3, 26:4.  Another important issue is his conversion which can be dated around the time Stephen was Stoned, A.D 34, Chapter 7 and 8 of Acts. Another aspect is Paul's life in Syria after fleeing persecution by Jews, Acts 9:30 and the silent years, probably AD 37-46 before Barnabas recalled him to Antioch, Acts 11:25; 12:25[6].  Also, the mission to Gentiles involves three tours beginning with the end at Antioch.  The first includes Missionary tour to Cyprus, A.D 46 and Jerusalem Conference around A.D 48-49, Acts 12, 15.  The second tour involves the Macedonia province, around A.D 50, Achaia province, Corinth, ending at around A.D 52, Acts 15:36–18:22.  The other tour was to Ephesians, A.D. 53-55 and back to Jerusalem A.D .57 and then Greece, Acts 18:23–21:16.  The final factor is Paul's Captivity including Caesarea Captivity, Voyage, and shipwreck, Roman imprisonment at around A.D 60-62 A.D and Martyrdom, around A.D 57-59, Acts 21 -28[7].  These details serve to show the importance of the book of Acts in that through it a fairly logical chronology of the life of the apostle can be constructed.  The book reinforces the perception of Paul that is portrayed in the epistles. Paul's life was largely influenced by the Jewish education as a Pharisee in the earlier days but this was to change drastically after his encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus. The conversion of Paul involved his being commissioned as to preach to the Gentiles on whom most of his epistles focus.

 

Discuss the materials and methods used to produce letters in the first century.  Define the words “pseudonymity” and “pseudepigraphy.”  What was the purpose for pseudonymous writings?  Were any of the NT writings authored pseudonymously?  Give a defense of your answer.

 In the first century, the writing of extended letters became very common, with some of these letters following a similar method of salutations first and then a normal structure.  The writing process required the input of a scribe. The materials used for writing in the first century included papyrus and engraving of text in stones or even metals[8]. Wood was also a useful writing material on which short text could be written. The writing of papyrus was the major material used in the period even the process was expensive because of the cost involved in making them[9]. Most of the letters written by in the New Testament sought the services of scribes, and the papyrus writing materials were important tools for them[10].   The method mostly used involved the writing of a draft from another person's dictation and then the text could be copied carefully from tablets onto a sheet of papyrus. The letters by Paul were mostly written this way, where he would dictate to a scribe who would then copy the writings on longer lasting materials.  The writing of the letters required the scribed to be skilled and such scribed were referred to as amanuensis.  The relationship between the scribe and the author determined the liberty of the amanuensis with the verbiage of the writings[11].  It was therefore, common for various scribes to add some influence to their writings. This aspect can explain the various differences that appear among the different Greek-style employed in Pauline letters. These letters followed a logical structure so that they are occasional and written with particular people in mind at particular places. The letters by Paul were major written on papyrus materials[12].

Related to the methods of letter writing and specifically the scripture include two concepts; the pseudonymity and pseudepigraphy. These aspects refer to the practice of ascribing some written works to another person apart from the real author.  Pseudonymity means that a work has been falsely named while pseudepigraphy means that such work has been falsely attributed.  The use of these practices was done for various reasons including hiding the true identity of an author, making the work more clear, for malicious purpose or for establishment and thus gain wider reading[13].  Most of the New Testament writings have been related to pseudonymous writers, whereby they used famous names so that to achieve the aims of deemed vital by a writer.  Part of the New Testament books that have been treated in this manner includes Pastoral Epistles, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Peter and even James. In case of 1 Peter, the book is doubtlessly a pseudonym[14]. The readers of the letter would recognize it for what the book was, as a literary device that is acceptable and harmless that was employed by a person with great concern for its content in relation to the Christian message other than to assert his own authority.  The writers would in this case, view the letters in same way as the Mathew and Hebrews where authorship remains anonymous[15]. The authors build on the teaching they have inherited and then relate them to their present times.

 

References

Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

Still, Todd D. and Bruce W. Longenecker. Thinking through Paul: a survey of his life, letters, and theology. Zondervan, 2014.

Lea, T. D. "The early Christian view of pseudepigraphic writings." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 27 (1984): 65-75.

 

 

[1] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[2] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[3] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[4] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

[5] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[6] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[7] Bruce, Frederick Fyvie. Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.

 

[8] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

 

[9] Still, Todd D. and Bruce W. Longenecker. Thinking through Paul: a survey of his life, letters, and theology. Zondervan, 2014.

 

[10] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

 

[11] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

 

[12] Still, Todd D. and Bruce W. Longenecker. Thinking through Paul: a survey of his life, letters, and theology. Zondervan, 2014

 

[13] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390

 

[14] Lea, T. D. "The early Christian view of pseudepigraphic writings." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 27 (1984): 65-75.

[15] Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan, 2005. 331-390