Chapter VIII: Part ONE

Before we enter upon the study of "The church among the Gentiles," our next period, there is a preliminary topic to be considered. The only record which we possess of the period before us, the Book of Acts, not only represents Paul as the leading worker for the gospel, but it even omits all reports of the work of other apostles and evangelists. There must have been other workers: Peter, Barnabas, Philip, and other workers were still living, and must have been active in founding churches; but their work is not mentioned. We find mention of churches which Paul had not founded (Acts 21. 3, 7; Acts 28. 13, 14, 15). Paul stands before us as the leading and the typical worker in the gospel. We will therefore take for our theme, =The Preparation and Methods of Paul=.

At A. D. 50 Paul is now at Antioch, about fifty years old, having been born probably about four years after Jesus Christ. His first missionary journey has taken place, and he is now about to enter upon his second missionary journey. Let us notice some of his advantages for leadership in the gospel.

I. He was =a Jew=. (See Phil. 3. 5; Rom. 11. 1). The leader in this movement must be a Jew. 1. Because as a Jew he would have a _training_ in Bible knowledge, and in the _faith_ of a coming Messiah such as no Gentile could possess. 2. Moreover the work in nearly all places must begin in the synagogue. (See Acts 17. 1; 2. 10; 18. 1, 4; 19. 1, 8). And only a Jew could take part in its services.

II. He was a =Trained and Recognized Rabbi=: an accredited teacher of the law; "a college man" with the prestige of scholarship won in the school of Gamaliel, the greatest Jewish master of that age (Acts 5. 34; Acts 22. 3). Such a teacher would be welcome in any synagogue. In this respect contrast Paul with Peter and the other apostles (Acts 4. 13).

III. He was a =Hellenist=, or "Grecian Jew;" i. e., a Jew of the Dispersion; by birth and environment broader than the Jews of Jerusalem, who rarely came in contact with Gentiles. He was a traveler acquainted with the world; spoke Greek as fluently as Hebrew, an absolute necessity for preaching to Gentiles (Acts 21. 37, 40). He spoke to the Greek philosophers in their own tongue and after their own manner. Contrast Acts 17. 22 with Acts 22. 1. Tradition says that Peter, when at Rome, used an interpreter in preaching to the church. Paul's ability to speak at least two languages gave him a great advantage.

IV. Another advantage was that he was by birth a =Roman Citizen= (Acts 16. 37. Acts 22. 25-28). This privilege, at that time rare among those outside of Italy, gave the apostle safety, immunity from imprisonment by the local rulers, and the right to a trial before a Roman judge, with appeal to the emperor. James was put to death, and Peter thrown into prison by King Herod (Acts 12. 2-4); but Paul was by his citizenship undoubtedly saved more than once from torture and from death.

V. He was a divinely-called =Apostle=. When he spoke it was with all the fervor and authority of one who had seen the Lord and had received a special command from the lips of the ascended Christ to bear testimony to his gospel. His call came with his conversion (Acts 26. 12-19). He claimed the authority of an apostle (Gal. 1. 1; 1 Cor. 9. 1). Notice that in his letters Paul always places "apostles" before "prophets" (Eph. 2. 20; 3. 5; 4. 11), as holding the higher office in the church.

VI. He possessed rare =Natural Endowments= for his work.

1. He was a man of _sympathy_, warm-hearted and tender; making strong friendships, drawing men after him. Note how in every place he found friends (Acts 19. 31; 20. 4; 27. 3, 43).

2. He was a _preacher_ of power. He was a master of the art of public speaking; and people would always listen to him with the deepest interest (Acts 17. 22-31. Acts 22. 1-2. Acts 26. 1-26).

3. He was a _theologian_. He saw the great truths of the gospel in clearer light than any of his co-workers. Under the guidance of the Spirit he formulated a system of doctrine (Gal. 1. 11, 12), which he sometimes called "my gospel" (Rom. 2. 16; 2 Tim. 2. 8). This "gospel according to Paul," presented in his great epistles, came to be the theology of the church, and so remains.

4. He possessed rare _tact_ in dealing with men; knew how to adapt his methods to people of varied races and views. His manner of preaching at Athens was very different from that in Jerusalem. Note 1 Cor. 9. 19-22.

5. He was a _natural leader_ of men; ready to take responsibilities, quick to decide, yet thoughtful of others. He possessed the ruling spirit, yet was no imperious, self-willed man. People were as ready to follow as he was to lead.

6. He was a _tireless worker_; indomitable and undiscouraged, caring little for hardship (2 Cor. 11. 23-28), although he seems to have been delicate in health. See allusions 2 Cor. 12. 7-10. Gal. 4. 13. Notice the field of his labors, in the middle of his ministry (Rom. 15. 19). Notice too his plans for regions more distant (Rom. 15. 24).

Blackboard Outline

PART ONE

=Pau. Prep. & Meth.=

I. =Je.= 1. Train. fai. 2. Part in Syn.

II. =Trai. Rec. Rab.= Sch. of Gam.

III. =Hell.= "Gre. J." Trav. Gre. Lang.

IV. =Rom. cit.=

V. =Apos.=

VI. =Nat. Endow.= 1. Sym. 2. Pre. 3. Theol. 4. Tac. 5. Nat.
lead. 6. Tir. Work.

Review Questions

PART ONE

What prominence does the book of Acts give to Paul in
the period of the church among the Gentiles? How do we
know that there were other workers at that time? Name
some of these other workers. What churches are named
which could not have been founded by Paul? What was
Paul's age at the opening of this period? What were
some advantages which Paul possessed for his work?
What were the advantages of his birth and training as
a Jew? What education did he receive, and wherein was
it a help to him? To what great branch of the Jews did
Paul belong? How was this fact an advantage in his
work? Of what nation was he a citizen? Name instances
when this fact was of avail to Paul. With what
authority could Paul speak? Whence came this
authority? What were some of Paul's natural endowments
for his ministry? What does Paul mean by the
expression, "my gospel"? What showed his industry as a
worker?