Introducing Paul and Pauline Literature HFCBS Keynote Address 26 April 2006

Physical Description: Acts of Paul and Thecla (Asia Minor, ca. 175 C.E.)  1:7—At length they saw a man coming (namely Paul), of low stature, bald on the head, crooked thighs, handsome legs, hollow- eyed; had a crooked nose, full of grace, for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel

Sources for Reconstructing Paul  Paul’s Letters  Deutero-Pauline Letters  Apocryphal Acts  The Acts of the Apostles

Paul’s Curriculum Vitae  See Philippians 3:5-6  Name: Paulos = common Greek name  Acts tells us that Paul is called Saul prior to his conversion (Paul never mentions this in his letters)  Paul is born in the city of Tarsus, Cilicia around the turn of the era (contemporary of Jesus but he never met the “earthly Jesus”)

Paul’s Curriculum Vitae  In Acts he is described as having an ideal education. From the Mishnah we learn that this entails: Began to read Torah at 5 years Began to read the Mishnah at 10 Began to fulfill the mandates of Torah at 13 At 20 would begin his career as a Pharisee

Paul’s Curriculum Vitae  Pre-Christian Career: He was a member of the Pharasaic sect; was more zealous for the Law than his peers and actively persecuted Christians (1 Cor15:9; Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:6)

Paul’s Conversion and Claim to Apostleship  Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul’s conversion in his own words  Acts 9:1-19 and 22:6-16 – Paul’s conversion as recounted by “Luke”

Paul and Peter or Paul vs. Peter?  See Galatians 2:11-14  Jewish Christianity vs. Gentile Christianity

Paul’s Letters  Undisputed Letters: (0 Corinthians: see 1 Cor 5:9) 1, 2 Corinthians; 1 Thessalonians; Philemon, Philippians, Galatians, and Romans (consistency in writing style, vocabulary and theology)  Deutero-Paul (disputed/possibly pseudonymous): Ephesians, 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, (3 Corintians) (content slightly different or more developed than traditional Paul)

Paul’s Letters  Pastorals (probably pseudonymous): 1, 2 Timothy, and Titus (highly developed church order; differences in content, language, style—but written by someone who knew Paul’s work)  Hebrews: not written by Paul; attributed to Paul because Hebrews was almost not admitted into the New Testament