Romans: Introduction

Introduction

• St Paul’s Gospel and the most important of his epistles
• What is salvation? Saved from what? Saved how?
• The entirety of Christian teaching
• Rome
  • Rome was the most important area in those days - it had philosophy, education, etc. The Roman Empire was the leader of the world in those days.
• St Paul
  • The twelve disciples were all from Judea, uneducated, simple jobs, poor, lived with Christ, fled during the Cross, witnessed the Resurrection and Ascension, received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
  • St Paul was neither from the 12 nor from the 70. He was not chosen by the Lord during His time on earth, but he was chosen by Him after the Ascension
  • St Paul’s father was a wealthy Jew in a wealthy city called Tarsus. In those days, the wealthy would buy Roman Citizenship in order to reap its benefits (e.g. not anyone can judge him in any court, he can request an audience with Caesar, etc.). St Paul was born wealthy, a Roman Citizen, and born in a religious Jewish household.
  • He was educated in Greek - the language of the world (and education and philosophy) was Greek. Prior to his time were Plato, Aristotle, etc.
  • Around 16 years old, they would be sent to be educated in the Temple in Jerusalem in order to live as good Jews. This is why St Paul says he is a “Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee.” He learned under Gamaliel.
    
  • We don’t know where St Paul was during the Crucifixion of the Lord.
  • In his 20s, now being skilled in Greek and in Old Testament, was when the Jews and the Early Church began to clash. He started to join in this - the first mention of Saul of Tarsus is at the stoning of Stephen, that Saul was consenting to.
    • The sight must have been weird to him - this youth around his age, face shining, being stoned, praying that he sees heaven opened and Christ on the right side of the Father, and praying that their sin be forgiven… definitely this sight affected him.
  • Saul had letters from the chief priests to go and capture the Christians. He knew the ways of the roads and so he headed to Damascus to capture the Christians.
  • On the way, the first interaction between Saul and the Lord happened. The Lord appeared to him as light and said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And told him “I am the One who you are persecuting.”
  • 11:41