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1. An elder from the Second Century gave this description of the Apostle Paul:
“A man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness…”
2. Since the subject is Paul, we need to do a background study on him.
3. Paul the Man.
Romans 1:1-7 (AMP)
1 FROM PAUL, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures—
3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David,
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
5 It is through Him that we have received grace (God's unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name's sake among all the nations,
6 And this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.
7 To [you then] all God's beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life: Grace and spiritual blessing and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. For starters, his Birth.
A. His Century – first century.
Saul/Paul – the name Paul is first used in Ac. 13:9 which reveals that Paul was born with two names – a Hebrew one, Saul; and a Roman one, Paul.
A. T. Robertson, “The ‘also’ does not mean that the name Paul was now given for the first time, rather than, he had always had it. As a Jew and a Roman citizen he undoubtedly had both names all the time.” [Word Pictures in the N.T., Vol. III]
1. Saul means “asked” I Sam. 1:20
2. Paul means “little” perhaps indicating that he was born small in size.
B. His Family.
1. Father was Jewish.
a. Of the tribe of Benjamin. Phil. 3:5
b. A Pharisee, the largest and most influential religious-political party during the N.T. times. Ac. 15:5; 23:6
c. A Roman Citizen. Ac. 22:25-28
Thieme, “A Roman colony was a living extension of Rome itself. A Roman citizen residing anywhere enjoyed the same status held by a citizen within the walls of Rome. The rights, privileges, and protection guaranteed by Roman law elevated Roman citizens far above their neighbors. Roman citizens were exempt from local taxes, given special treatment, spared beatings, given hearings and granted access to Caesar himself.”
1. His mother was Jewish but we know nothing about her.
2. His sister. Ac. 23:16
C. His City – Tarsus. Ac. 22:3
It was a capital of a Roman province of Cilicia in Asia Minor [Modern Turkey].
D. His Difficulty.
Swindoll, “In my mind Paul was the blend of a Christian John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and the Hulk. I mean, he got things done! But that false impression began to fade when I made an in depth study of Paul.”
I Cor. 2:1-5/ 2 Cor. 10:10
E. On the other hand he was saved not as the Many.
I Cor. 1:26-29
The truth is Paul being of the tribe of Benjamin, a Roman citizen, well-educated, etc., speaks of a noble or privileged birth.
Lady Huntington was an English noblewoman, who had been converted to Christ under the preaching of Roland Hill. She said that “I was saved by the letter ‘m.” She explained, “Paul said not many wise, mighty, noble are saved. But he didn’t say, “Not any wise, mighty, and noble. So I was saved by an “m!”
II. Next, we have Paul’s Youth.
A. His Education.
1. He was Taught at home and in the Synagogue, the O.T. scriptures. He learned Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
2. He was taught a Trade, as were all Jewish boys, his was that of tentmaker. Ac. 18:3
3. He Thrilled at the feet of the famous rabbi, Gamaliel in Jerusalem.
B. His Persecution of the Church. Ac. 7; 8:1-3; 9:1-2
Reflecting upon this, Paul calls himself under divine inspiration, the Chief of sinners (I Tim. 1:12-16)
“Because Paul tried harder than anyone who had ever lived, to be saved by his own works. He was totally dedicated to coming to God by a law system. The principle of law always assumes human merit, that man can do something to be good enough for God to accept. In God’s eyes the person who tries the hardest, is the one who is insulting the spirit of grace the most!
The one who tries to earn God’s forgiveness and acceptance with God by what he does for God is treading underfoot the blood of Christ, because if we could earn it ourselves, then Christ died in vain died in vain, for nothing. But the cross stands as the eternal symbol of rejection of all merit in mankind to be acceptable with God by self-effort. And it took the cross of Calvary, for God to justify unleashing His grace manward.”
III. Third, we have his Rebirth. 9, 22, 26
A. The Revelation was Nothing + Christ = Everything! Phil. 3:5-
One by one He took them from me,
Everything I valued most
Till I walked earth’s highway,
Grieving in my rags and poverty.
Then I heard a voice inviting
“Lift those empty hands to me.”
And He filled them
With His own abundant riches,
Until they could hold no more
Then at last, I contemplated with my stupid mind and soul,
That God could not pour His riches,
Into hands already full!”
B. The Repetition. Ac. 9/22/26
“One time-honored and effective method of evangelism is the giving of your personal testimony. The skeptic may deny your doctrine or attack your church but he cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been changed.”
Assignment: Write out your testimony – your life Before you were saved; How you were saved; and your life After your salvation.
1. Be Interesting – assume your audience is lost. Do use “religious terms” that they know nothing about.
2. Be logical – don’t jump around! Tell it straightforward – before, how , after…
3. Be realistic – don’t give them the rose colored glasses mentality.
4. Be friendly – it is not the time to preach.
5. Be brief – 10 to 15 minutes will do.
IV. Fourthly, we see his Growth.
A. First Obscurity.
1. Three years in Arabia. Gal. 1:18
2. Eleven years in Tarsus.
That’s some 14 years of obscurity, years of needed preparation…
The Bull Moose struggles for dominance during the breeding season. They go head to head until one gives up, or one looses an antler, the battle is fierce. But the winner’s victory is related to his previous preparation.
During the Fall the Moose eats continually, rests, gains weight, and is continually being strengthened. It is the same with us, we need time of obscurity, isolation, and time to prepare us for the battle.
I remember Francis Shaefer who just showed up out of nowhere and became crucial in giving the Church direction. When asked where he had been, he said, “I was staying home doing my homework for the past 40 years!
B. Therefore obscurity leads to Ministry.
Paul’s three Missionary Journey’s…We all have a ministry related to our spiritual gifts, talents, and opportunities. Eph. 4:11-12
C. Ministry brings Adversity. 2 Cor. 11:22-28
This is unavoidable. Patricia Christy lived through hurricane Andrew. As she waited in a food line, she told a reporter, “I’m getting out of this state on the first plane available.” She went to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, it was not long afterwards that hurricane Aniki hit!
V. Finally, we see his Death.
A. Arrested in Jerusalem…imprisoned at Caesarea.
B. Sent to Rome and imprisoned there.
C. He was Released and rearrested.
D. He was Executed by Nero in 66-67 AD
Paul is now gone to be with the Lord, but Christianity continues on because no one is indispensable but the Lord!
Harvey, “With irresistible, divine energy it, the gospel, is advancing in its career of triumph, even while its defenders suffer imprisonment and martyrdom. Men die, but Christ lives and His gospel lives and triumphs through the ages.”
Con:
1. Paul the Man!
2. We have come a long way from the days of Paul, in fact, if another Paul showed up today…I don’t think he would receive a very warm welcome by the organized Church.
3. Here is an imaginary letter, from a Mission board replying to Paul, for his request to be one of their missionaries:
“Dear Paul,
We recently received an application from you for service under our Board. We have made an exhaustive survey of your case. To be plain, we are surprised that you have been able to “pass” as a bonafide missionary.
We are told that you are afflicted with a severe eye trouble. This is certain to be a hindrance to an effective ministry. We of course, require 20-20 vision.
Is it true that you have a prison record? We have heard a rumor that you actually have spent some time in prison at Caesarea and Rome. How can you possible expect God to bless a jail bird!
We have sources that tell us that your reputation is that of “the man who turned the world upside down.” We feel that sensationalism has no place on the mission field. We are appalled at your lack of political correctness. Men of sensitivity and of an accommodating spirit are not stoned, dragged out of cities, or assaulted by furious mobs, due to a lack of tactful diplomacy! Has it ever occurred to you that you catch more bees with honey than with a stick? I have enclosed a copy of our latest publication, “How to Win Jews and Influence Greeks.
Your ministry has been far too flighty to be called a real success. First you’re in Asia Minor, then Macedonia, then Greece, then Italy, and now talking about a wild-goose chase in Spain.
Your sermons must be too long for, we have a witness that testified that you preached so long, that a man fell asleep and then fell out of a window to his death! You should know that our statistics reveal that nobody is saved, after the first 20 minutes anyway. We suggest you learn the K.I.S.S., standing for Keep It Short Stupid!
We have a copy of a letter you wrote to young Timothy; it speaks of fighting the good fight. Fighting and violence is hardly a recommendation for a dignified missionary. Jesus came to bring peace, not a sword! It hurts me to tell you this, but in all of my 26 years of experience. I have never met a man so unqualified to meet the high standards we have set for our Foreign Mission Board.”
Johnny Palmer Jr
www.strugglingthruscriptues.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
