Who was Apostle Paul and what was he known for in the Bible? What was God’s purpose for Apostle Paul and how far did he comprehend or accomplish it?
Although by his own admission, Paul was not an eloquent man, he was an erudite man when it comes to his writings. So it is not a mistake when he chooses some words to describe himself or any other person or matter.
Paul’s divine calling was spectacular and the purpose of his calling was very clear.
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An Apostle of Jesus Christ
In Paul’s First Epistle to Timothy, we read the following words,
This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.
1 Timothy 1:1, NLT
Paul started his letter to Timothy, his protegee by introducing himself as the Apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul was not a self-appointed apostle and he knew it.
As someone who was guided and supported by him, Paul didn’t want Timothy to be in doubt as to his identity, title, authority and command. So he had to spell out everything right from the word go.
When you take a look at those carefully chosen words of Paul’s, you can see the points he made by the way he started the letter:
- This letter is from Paul, not from any other person.
- This Paul is an Apostle, not a lesser title.
- The Apostleship was authorised by God, not by man.
- This God is Jesus Christ our Saviour. Make no mistake about it.
- The Saviour is the one who gives us hope. No other person.
Paul said the same thing in his letter to the Gentiles:
This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
Galations 1:1
Apostle Paul’s identity – knowing who you are
“This letter is from Paul,” – not from any other person. He didn’t even say from “Saul of Tarsus.” He said Paul!
He was once popularly referred to as Saul of Tarsus, but not any more. He now preferred to be known by his other name Paul, his Roman identity.
As Saul, he was “…breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” (Acts 9:1).
He was a killer of those who believe in the Lord. But as Paul, his mission has changed from killing believers in Christ to discipling and building them up.
As Saul, he was a ruthless persecutor who was bent on destroying the early believers in Christ. He supervised the killing of deacon Stephen, a man who left for us one of the greatest examples of forgiveness in the Bible.
Do you know who you are? I hope you are not suffering from an identity crisis? That happens when you don’t fully embrace who you are in Christ.
As a believer in Christ, you are no longer who you used to be. Instead of a wicked nature, you have been imbued with a loving nature from God.
Apostle Paul: His title – knowing what you are called to do
Paul didn’t have the privilege of being one of the twelve disciples that directly walked with Jesus Christ on the streets of Jerusalem, but he was no less a disciple.
He was as an apostle. An apostle is a sent one” or a “messenger.”
Jesus had called his disciples to work with Him while he was on earth. But He called Paul from Heaven after His resurrection and sent him as a special messenger to the Gentiles.
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
Acts 4:9
Paul’s divine calling was spectacular and the purpose of his calling was very clear – to “take my message [the Gospel of Christ] to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”
Have you found your calling? If yes, have you answered the call?
Apostle Paul: His authority – knowing Who sent you
Yes, Paul was an Apostle, a sent one. But he didn’t send himself. Jesus did.
He was “an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.”
Paul’s divine calling was spectacular and the purpose of his calling was very clear. Have you found your calling? If yes, have you answered the call?
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Many people call themselves Apostles but Jesus did not appoint them to be so. Unfortunately if Jesus did not appoint you as an Apostle, you will not have his authority.
The authority of apostleship is given to those who are called as apostles.
Just like Paul, an apostle appointed “by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope” is a man of authority. He is a true apostle; not a pretender or an impostor.
Conclusion
Apostle Paul was no ordinary person. He was a man divinely called as an Apostle to the Gentiles. He understood his calling and the authority behind him.
You can learn from him not to take any title on you except to the extent that you have the command of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
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Paul didn’t write 1 Timothy. This letter is considered to be pseudonymous by most biblical scholars. Bart believes that pseudonymous writings are forgeries. So some guy forged this letter and claimed it was written by Paul.
Bart Ehrman believes that pseudonymous writings are forgeries.
Fortunately, First Timothy is not a ‘pseudonymous writing,’ using your words. So it’s very authentic.
You claim is unfounded. Paul wrote First Timothy, as clearly shown. It is a huge deception to believe otherwise.
If Paul wrote 1st Timothy why is the style of writing so different from the 7 genuine letters of Paul (Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, Romans, Philippians and Philemon)? Why are church structures so different from those given in the 7 genuine letters of Paul? (Note that the other 6 letters attributed to Paul are regarded by biblical scholars as pseudonymous).
Except you are one of those who are bent on discrediting the Bible, I will suggest you stop saying that the epistles were written by pseudonymous writers because you know that’s incorrect.
Paul wrote letters to Timothy just as he did the other epistles. If you claimed the style is different, then be reminded that the way you write to a group of people is not the same way you write to an individual.
You are basing your views of Pauline authorship of the Pastorals on Fundamentalism which takes the claim that Paul wrote 1 Timothy literally. The overwhelming bulk of modern biblical scholarship claims that the letters, known as the pastorals, are pseudonymous. And if you pick up any commentary produced by modern scholars, you will find the reasons for their view that such letters are pseudonymous. Bart Ehrman argues that pseudonymous letters are forgeries.
Every one knows that Apostle Paul wrote First Timothy.
When you turn your eyes to the truth and believe in deliberate lies, I am sorry I am no longer obliged to respond to you. Thanks for your understanding.
Well done, Victor. Paul, the Apostle called by God, was by all means the author of 1 Timothy, and every other biblical book attributed to him.
Thanks David. I agree with you completely.