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One of the messages for us today from Paul is in the Galatians 2;11-14. This bible passage describes a time that was difficult for Paul where he needed to confront another apostle, Peter for hypocritical behaviour. In this passage, Peter has declared that salvation is by faith in Christ and not the law.  When he is seated with people with different views, he is hesitant to live by that truth.  From this we can learn that we need to live truthfully, even when those around us don’t approve. We need to stay strong to our beliefs.

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A cultural challenge for Paul that is revealed in a epistle he wrote to the Corinthians, was debating  the status of the Jewish law and what was required for the Gentiles to be Christian.  When the Galatian communities became Christian there was no requirement for circumcision for the Gentiles. Sometime after the conversation, a group of Jewish Christians went to Galatia and started to preach, saying that if one was to feel God’s love, one needed to follow the requirements of the Jewish law, specifically being circumcised. This was believed at the time because of the Jewish background of Jesus and his Apostles. Paul believed that Jews should stay Jews and nations should stay as nations, but both must unite in worship of the one true God. “Each one should go on living according to the Lord’s gift to him, and as he was when God called him. This is the true rule I teach in all the churches. If a circumcised man has accepted God’s call, he should not try to remove the marks of circumcision; if an uncircumcised man has accepted God’s call, he should not get circumcised. For whether or not a man is circumcised means nothing; what matters is to obey God’s commandments.” (1 Cor. 7:17-19)

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The Letters of Paul were written to inform people on the true ways of the Gospel and to provide a guide for Christians and all people on how to live a holy life.  Many of Paul’s letters are still used in schools and churches as they explain the strong faith and hope of the Lord and turning away from sin. The three main message that come from Paul’s letters are to put faith in God, as he will always love, care and look after you, that God loves you for you and that everyone is special in their own way and that Christians should live by the gospel.

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Post 3 - Paul's First Missionary Journey

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Post 3 - Paul's First Missionary Journey

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Over 10 years, Paul went on 3 main journeys, travelling over 32 000km to spread his message. On his journeys he did 4 main things, he spread the Gospel values, he converted Jews and Gentiles, he started Christian communities and gave support and guidance to established communities. In the late Spring of 44 CE, Paul’s first missionary journey begun. Paul travelled to a total of 10 places, where he went to preach Gods words. He’s journey begun when he travelled from Antioch to Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch so that he could sail to Salamis, the primary city of Cyprus. While in Salamis he preached the gospel in several synagogues (Acts 13:5). On the island of Cyprus Paul travelled across the island on foot to arrive at Paphos. During his time in Paphos, Paul met with the island’s Roman governor at the governor’s request that he could personally hear the word of God. Form Paphos Paul then sailed north and travelled the short distance up the river Cestrus to Perga. Paul then continued inland for about 160km, up to Pisidian Antioch, where many were converted when Paul made his first recorded address there (Acts 13:16-51). However, not long afterward they encountered some harassment from certain people who refused to hear the gospel. After traveling southeast to Iconium, he again made many convert among Jews and Gentiles (Acts 14:1), where they again received harassment. From Iconium he continued southward to Lystra where they made many more converts (Acts 14:8). Unfortunately, the people of the city, who were familiar to worship, went too far in their honour for Paul and Barnabas, who they proclaimed as "gods." (Acts 14:11-18). Paul and Barnabas quickly tried to explain that they were simply men sent to teach, but it didn't go over very well with a number of the people. Some of the harassers from Antioch and Iconium had followed them and provoked the crowd. Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead, but after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. After preaching the good news in Derbe, they then returned back, through Lystra, then Iconium and then Antioch. After this they then continued southward through the regions of Perga until they arrived at the seaport of Attalia (Acts 14:24-25). Where they boarded a ship and sailed back home to Seleucia, where they travelled in land to Antioch, where they had begun 2 years before. "On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." (Acts 14:27). Paul’s first missionary journey ended in the fall of 46 CE.

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Post 2 - The conversion of Saul of Tarsus

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Post 2 - The conversion of Saul of Tarsus

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One day a bright light shone down on Saul and told him to turn to Jesus and to preach the good words of the Gospel.  Before his conversion, Saul had been a Jew and he had scoffed at the idea of God being the true ‘King’ and not the Roman Empire. Saul’s conversion changed his life forever and was of great significance to the Christian faith as he traveled tens of thousands of miles around the Mediterranean spreading the word of Jesus.

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The Roman empire was the dominant ruler of Europe around 33CE for a period of about 500 years. The Empire’s political domination and their alliances with Central Italy and the Italian Peninsula were two of the main reasons that they were on top for so long. During the Roman Empire there were many different languages used for different purpose and by different people. Greek and Latin were used for official documents while the Christians used Aramic.  The locals of the area used Coptic, Syriac and Hebrew. The Latin Language was used as it was seen to be the ‘language of power’. The ethnic groups living in the regions during this time were Hebrew, Jews, Romans, Galileans and Corinthians.  The cultural groups were artist, philosophers and lawyers. The movement of people and goods during this time was by land and sea.  The people and goods were mainly transported across the Mediterranean Sea on boats. The main regions controlled by the Roman Arm were Britannia, Hispania, Gaul, Achaea and Judea. The main city was Rome which was built ease of the Tiber River.  Other significant cities were Ostia Antica, Aquileia and Zenobia. Zenobia controlled significant trading roots to Antioch and Rome, Ostia Antica was an important trading port and Aquileia was an important commercial centre.