https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao How location, culture and identity challenged this apostle's mission and message en-us 2016-11-08 06:10:59 UTC 2023-05-05 15:38:55 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/aws/146528315/c5893e6e04a0e3b6893f0642740b207c/St_Paul_ephesus.jpg 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000843 Much of the world was under the Roman rule for over 500 years, for a number of reasons. The Romans were educated and open minded to other cultures and ideas which enabled them to sustain their empire. Their ingenious architectural knowledge also allowed them to construct a network of towns, roads and waterways that were never before established such a way (chain like). This granted the Romans opportunity to globalise the world. There were many different cultural and ethnic groups living in these mains regions like the Galileans from Galilee, Antiochenes from Antioch, Judeans from Judea, Cappadocians from Cappadocia, Phrygians from Phrygia, Damascenes from Damascus, Egyptians from Egypt, Libyans from Libya and the Cyrenese from Cyrene. There were many languages spoken in this period of time which were more common than written communication as education was only available to the privileged. Therefore, spoken languages such as Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic were widespread, permitting the multitudes communication. People and goods were transported from place to place during extensive journeys. The most popular branch of travel was on foot as it was affordable and the Roman roads were well established. Next was by donkey or horse, cart, and boat.]]> 2016-11-08 06:22:19 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000843 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000893 Saul's conversion to Christianity was a significant occurrence that shaped the church to what it is today. Saul was raised as a zealous Jew, hence he perceived Christianity as a threat. Therefore, Saul devoted his life to collecting and supervising Christians to be killed after Jesus’ death. He was responsible for Stephen's, the first Christian martyr's, stoning. On the road to Damascus to condemn more Christians, Saul had a revelation which began his journey with God. After this, Saul was baptised and became Paul. He went from killing Christians to being one. Paul began to preach around the world, develop missionaries and dedicated himself to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. He defied the status quo by helping the converts to open their arms to the message of the risen Christ. Paul followed Jesus’ footsteps and helped to develop Christianity, as a result, he became a significant figure of the Christian movement. 

]]> 2016-11-08 06:23:39 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000893 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000998 After already travelling afar, the purpose of Paul's third missionary journey was to ensure the growth of and to sustain the Christian communities that he had previously converted. Paul journeyed as far north as Philippi, east-south as Jerusalem and as west as Berea. At first, Paul stayed in the Syrian Antioch where he was visited by Peter, who had no problem with celebrating festivities in the company of uncircumcised gentile converts. "After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and travelled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples" (Acts 18:23). Paul then lived in Ephesus for three years where he wrote his first epistle, the 1 Corinthians. His preaching persuaded Romans to cease the purchasing of idols and pagan Gods, in the Temple of Artemis. From Ephesus, he planned to go to Syria however an assassination plot reasoned Paul to continue north-east to Macedonia. He travelled around Macedonian regions such as Neapolis, Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea for three months until he ended in Corinth. This is where he wrote his letter to the Romans. Paul journeyed back through Macedonia to Troas where he performed a life-saving miracle. He then walked to Assos and continued to sail to Mitylene, Tropylium and Miletus, through the islands of Cos and Rhodes to Patara. After this, he journeyed across the Mediterranean Sea to Tyre. From there Paul went to Prolemais and Caesarea. In Caesarea, Paul stayed at an evangelists house where he received a prophecy of his capture. Resolutely, his companions pleaded with him not to continue south to Jerusalem, but he ignoring their plea. Paul's third journey proved hard and dangerous for a gentile yet the rewards that came were far greater, as Paul enforced the Good News and Christian beliefs.]]> 2016-11-08 06:25:17 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136000998 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001026 During St Paul’s life, he wrote many epistles to the Christian communities that he had converted or were urging to convert. These letters addressed questions about their new religion such as laws and practices. Paul established an enduring connection between him and the converts in order to sustain a development and unite the community's. The purpose of Paul’s preaching was to spread the Good News: that Jesus was the Messiah, who died to eliminated our sins, therefore granting us eternal life. Then resurrected and ascended into heaven. The main message was that we are part of God's ultimate plan, therefore we need to act with morality according to what we believe God intends. Being thankful of God's lasting love and wisdom, being equal and welcoming to all and of course to exhibit hope and joy were all themes that were eminent in St Paul's preaching. He taught anyone that would listen, from Romans worshiping pagan Gods at the Temple of Artemis to the audiences and prisoners attending gladiator fights. Paul took on God and Jesus' messages and assumed the role of a prophet to become a pivotal role in the Christian movement.

]]> 2016-11-08 06:25:42 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001026 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001060  Paul faced many cultural challenges as he opposed the status quo. Judaism, being the main religion of the time seemed to empower Jewish Christians to perceive themselves as superior to Gentile Christians. According to the Jewish laws, one must exhibit cleanliness. In being clean, the Jews must be circumcised. Hence the Jewish Christians still believed that to be faithful to God they must abide by this strict law. Paul counters this saying: if you love god and your neighbour as yourself you will be granted salvation. He enforced that that was old law. The cultural tension between these two groups escalated. As seen in Acts 15:5 and Colossians 3:11, this was a major barrier of Paul's unification of Christians that he was forced to overcome. If you know and love God you will receive eternal life, no matter what race, culture, past faith or gender you are. God will accept you for who they are. ]]> 2016-11-08 06:26:07 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001060 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001088 Upon reflecting on Philippians 2:1-5, I can see that the world that we live in offers us superficial and transient happiness by enhancing our surroundings. This branch of joy is always fleeting. In this passage we are asked to establish a pure joy and love, deriving from biblical relationships, compassion, tenderness, spirit, mindfulness and humility – valuing others above yourself, not in your own interests but that of others. Rather than humans endless desire for tangible, material possessions and temporary success. This message is relevant for individuals in today’s society as we need to realise what is really important. Not the latest mobile phone but others well being. By using Paul's scriptures we can see that love hasn't changed over 1000's of years and his messages can help us to change the world. ]]> 2016-11-08 06:26:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136001088 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136907669 2016-11-10 22:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/136907669 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137236351 2016-11-13 23:06:03 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137236351 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137272851 2016-11-14 06:39:44 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137272851 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137580300 http://three.flash-gear.com/npuz/puz.php?c=v&id=4139394&k=53258486]]> 2016-11-14 23:29:00 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/137580300 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138277291 2016-11-16 23:20:43 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138277291 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138277536 "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priestand asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'"

]]> 2016-11-16 23:23:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138277536 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138278512 2016-11-16 23:32:12 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138278512 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138278552 2016-11-16 23:32:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138278552 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138279034 "A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all."]]> 2016-11-16 23:35:55 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138279034 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138279611 "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."]]> 2016-11-16 23:40:45 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138279611 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138280431 2016-11-16 23:49:38 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138280431 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138301734 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."]]> 2016-11-17 03:53:39 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138301734 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138306729 Video]]> 2016-11-17 05:27:26 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138306729 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138308578 Video]]> 2016-11-17 06:05:26 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138308578 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138613867 2016-11-18 05:53:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138613867 20mcmao https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138849098 Quote from Aristotle]]> 2016-11-18 23:31:24 UTC https://padlet.com/20mcmao/_20mcmao/wish/138849098