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Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-14, 13:1-3
Philippians 2:1-5, 3:12-14, 4:6-9

World in front of the text activities - Moodle
- 11 lessons we can learn from Paul the apostle
KWL: https://app.kwl.com.au/year/8/6/8/KWL-8-6-8
https://moodle.mta.qld.edu.au/course/view.php?id=870

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1 Corinthians 7:19
Romans 2:28-29
Galatians 5:6 and 6:15
Colossians 3:11

World of the text - Moodle
- Getting a handle on Paul's thoughts and related documents
https://moodle.mta.qld.edu.au/course/view.php?id=870

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Acts 7:54-8:3
Acts 21:37-22:21
Galatians 1:15-16
Galatians 3:15-29

World of the text activities - Moodle
- Background to Paul's letters, summary of themes in Paul's letters, grouping the letters and themes of Paul's epistles
https://moodle.mta.qld.edu.au/course/view.php?id=870

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Scripture referenced in Post 2 - Acts 9

World behind the text activities - Moodle
- Location of Christian communities, Paul's background, who was St Paul, Paul's journeys and St Paul's conversion
https://moodle.mta.qld.edu.au/course/view.php?id=870

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Acts 21: 37-40 (Greek & Hebrew, Jew, Citizen)

World behind the text activities - Moodle
- Roman empire background, Roman empire war and languages
https://moodle.mta.qld.edu.au/course/view.php?id=870

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Depiction of what Paul's conversion may have looked like

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Depiction of what Paul's conversion may have looked like

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Post 1: St Paul: The Mediterranean world

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Post 1: St Paul: The Mediterranean world

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In 27 BC, the Romans began to gain power and formed, destroying the power of the Carthage before ending in 476 AD when the Visigoths attacked Rome. Rome gained control in order to increase wealth, source of slaves and increased patriotism. Hence, the Roman army was strong and defended the empire. To keep their empire united and maintain control, Roman ships patrolled the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the development of roads and trade routes to ensure easy movement and access, as well as for the transportation of goods and people. Additionally, the Roman empire stretched from Britain in the west to Mesopotamia in the east. Forts were also built where soldiers would hold power over regions, alongside their army made up of legions who wore armour. Even though Rome detained authority, they allowed people to farm and trade in peace, permitting some leniency to prevent rebellion. Furthermore, Latin was the main language and Greek was the language of the scholars. Several wealthy upper-class romans spoke Latin, however, many people continued to speak local languages such as Celtic, Coptic and Aramaic. Other local languages spoken were Libyan, Thracian, Armenian, Iberian and Greek. Several different ethnic and cultural groups living in the regions included Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, Syrians, Africans, Germans and Celts.

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There are many lessons that we can learn from St Paul’s writing, an example of this being that no one is beyond the saving grace of God. God was willing to forgive Paul for the many lives he had taken and wrongdoings he had committed. God can accomplish the same for us as he did for Paul. We are broken humans who can be transformed by God's redemptive grace, in which he lovingly gives us despite our lack of merit. We are able to understand God’s forgiveness and salvation when Paul was washed away of his sins through baptism; “Ananias said to Paul, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). So, Paul as soon as he obeyed, had his sins washed away. He was saved” (2 Timothy 1:9). This means that God saved Paul and transformed him, therefore he is willing to do the same for us. We can apply this to our own lives by recognising that anyone is worthy and capable of forgiveness and our past does not define us. This teaching also depicts that we can do the same, helping others through encouraging them to reach their full potential.

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As revealed in Acts of Apostles, many of Paul’s messages were different from the understanding of the Jews, which created conflict as evident in Acts 18:4-6. The main cultural issue demonstrated in Paul’s letters is the issue of circumcision. Jewish Christians in the early church still followed the Mosaic law and insisted that the Gentile Christians must be circumcised because it is a sign of the covenant made by God with Abraham and his descendants. However, Paul considered that the new covenant made with the sacrifice of Jesus meant Christians did not need to be circumcised; instead, that salvation comes from having faith in Jesus who sacrificed himself for our sins. In Paul’s letters, he deals with this cultural issue many times. Paul’s mission was to encourage the Jews and Gentiles to live harmoniously together, despite the differences regarding traditions and culture within the Jewish community. ‘Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts’ 1 Corinthians 7:19.

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Paul maintained contact with many people through writing purposeful letters to educate and ensure the early Christian communities would grow. To this day, the letters of Saint Paul continue to guide the church and encourage believers. Some examples of themes commonly found throughout Paul’s letters include Christian community, the resurrection of the body and the cross and Christ’s death. The theme of Christian community can be seen in Romans 6:22-23, where it is said that everyone must practice forgiveness and love. This theme implies that everyone is equal in Christ, and there should be unity in the Christian community with no divisions amongst members. The resurrection of the body is another theme highlighted within Paul’s letters, which can be understood in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. This theme displays St Paul’s beliefs that life does not end in death, and our body’s will transform into spiritual beings. We must sacrifice for this by being baptised and be willing to suffer as Christ once did. An additional theme found throughout Paul’s letters is the importance of the cross and Christ’s death. We are told that the greatest symbol of God’s love for humanity is Christ’s death on the cross. This theme can be displayed in the scripture 1 Corinthians 14:12-14, when it is communicated that through his sacrifice, we are reconciled with God.

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Post 3 - Paul's second missionary journey

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Post 3 - Paul's second missionary journey

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As a result of his personal conversion, Paul embarked on a journey to spread the gospel, and in doing so, he travelled to several places. Paul’s second missionary journey occurred between 49 CE and 52 CE, and Paul travelled with Silas. Together, they preached to everyone who would listen. Paul’s journey began in Antioch in modern-day Syria, before reaching the town of Troas, near the northern tip of modern-day Turkey. Here, Paul had a vision telling him to continue proclaiming salvation in Macedonia, which is now known as northern Greece. Thus, Paul continued towards the city of Philippi. During this time, he was wrongfully imprisoned but was released by an act from God. Following time in Athens, Corinth and Ephesus, Paul sailed to Caesarea and later Jerusalem before returning to Antioch where his second missionary journey ended.

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Sometime around 34 – 37 CE, Paul experienced a miraculous conversion in which he was significantly changed. In the beginning, he was a Jew known as Saul who persecuted Christians for their beliefs, torturing and killing them to make them suffer. As described in Acts chapter 9, Saul began on the road to Damascus when a flash of a bright light caused him to be blinded for three days. Saul’s companions guided him into the city where a Christian named Ananias, to whom the Lord had spoken, helped heal Saul before announcing that he was now filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had changed his heart and Saul, referred to as Paul following his baptism, soon became a preacher of the good news of Jesus, teaching others and spreading messages as he travelled. After once being a threat to the Christian community, Paul was now passionate about teaching others of the Christian faith and his miracle vision that transformed his life.