- Originally a radical Jew who persecuted the Church
Acts 8:1-3 (concerning the killing of Stephen)
1.Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began
against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles.
2.Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3.But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women,
he would put them in prison.
Then...Acts 9:1-3
1.Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2.and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to
the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3.As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him;
- An apostle who received a lot of authority/doctrine from God directly.
Paul received salvation via divine intervention...Acts 9:4
4.and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
Paul became a servent via divine appointment...Acts 13:2
2. While [the prophets and teachers in Antioch] were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Paul became a teacher via divine instruction...Gal 1:11,12
11.For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12.For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
- A missionary pastor who carried the gospel to the Roman empire in Turkey and Greece.
Acts tells of Paul's three missionary Journeys in which he spreads the Gospel to Turkey and Greece.
He is the primary messenger of the Gospel to the Gentile world.
Bottom line: a man transformed by miraculous experiences, giving everything to spread the Gospel in new places.
- Beyond any of Paul's missionary journies, the Roman church was (likely) not founded by an apostle.
No apostle is ever tied to the founding of the Roman church, but Acts 2:10 mentions "visitors from Rome" among
those who heard Peter's Pentecost sermon.
It is possible that these visitors formed the first Roman church.
- Jews only recently allowed back to city after being expelled earlier.
In 49 AD (ish), Claudius kicked the Jews out of Rome after they rioted "at the instigation of Chrestos" (reported to Seutonius).
Many guess that this was a riot about Christ/Christianity...
Acts 18:2 mentions that Paul met "Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,
because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome".
When Calaudius died in 54 AD, Nero became Ceasar and allowed the Jews back to Rome.
Bottom line: a Church somewhat outside the established network and authority, but not hostile to Paul.
- Written by Paul from Corinth around 55/58 AD
Paul declares that he is the author, and few dispute this.
Paul probably wrote it from Corinth, based on the people he mentions.
Romans 16 speaks of Gaius and Erastus; Gaius is also mentioned in 1 Cor 1:14.
Erastus is called 'the city treasurer', and it is some archeological evidence may verifiy this...
from "http://www.parsagard.com/erastus&paul.htm"
"During an archeological excavation of Corinth in 1929, a first century pavement was uncovered
which contains the following inscription: "Erastus, Procurator and Aedile, laid this pavement at
his own expense." The pavement was in the public square and Erastus had apparently paid for it
in return for his election to the aedileship."
problems?
treasurer != aedile (maybe promoted later?)
erastus is a common name.
Other theories have Paul writing from Ephesus, but nearly everyone says Corinth.
This would mean it was written at the close of his 3rd missionary journey during the 3 months he was in Corinth (Acts 20:2,3).
- Probably composed to establish the Roman Church as a base for missionary activity to the west.
Paul says that he wishes to involve the Romans in a mission to Spain, 15:24: "I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on
my way [to Spain] by you".
The book is often viewed as Paul's attempt to ground the Roman church with a broad and organized view of Christian belief
so that they will be able serve as a stable base for the Western portions of the Roman Empire.
Bottom line: unique among Paul's letters, Romans was written not to respond to a specific situation but to ensure a good foundation
for the Roman church.