Paul, apostle to Gentiles
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· 15 viewsPaul saw his encounter with the risen Christ as a call to apostleship, with a special mission to proclaim the gospel to the Gentile world. Paul’s complete dedication to Jesus Christ made his own personal weaknesses a vehicle for the power of God.
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Paul’s calling as an apostle: origins and implications
Paul’s calling as an apostle: origins and implications
His calling began with his encounter with the risen Christ
His calling began with his encounter with the risen Christ
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
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His calling involved his being sent to the unevangelised Gentile world
His calling involved his being sent to the unevangelised Gentile world
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
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His calling put him under an obligation to preach the gospel
His calling put him under an obligation to preach the gospel
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
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Paul’s commitment to his apostolic calling
Paul’s commitment to his apostolic calling
He supported himself in order to present the gospel free of charge
He supported himself in order to present the gospel free of charge
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
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He put the gospel before everything else
He put the gospel before everything else
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
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He boasted in his weaknesses
He boasted in his weaknesses
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
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He experienced God’s power at work through him
He experienced God’s power at work through him
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
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He had a confident attitude to death
He had a confident attitude to death
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
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Paul and the example of Jesus Christ
Paul and the example of Jesus Christ
His appeal to Jesus Christ as an example to the churches
His appeal to Jesus Christ as an example to the churches
Paul here uses the example of Jesus Christ in order to encourage the Corinthians in their giving.
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His own exemplary imitation of Jesus Christ
His own exemplary imitation of Jesus Christ
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
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His sharing of Jesus Christ’s sufferings
His sharing of Jesus Christ’s sufferings
Paul is not suggesting here that there is any deficiency in Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Rather, there are some aspects of suffering which Christ could not experience because they arose only as a result of people preaching the message of the cross and suffering because of it.
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Paul and the churches
Paul and the churches
His integrity in dealing with the churches
His integrity in dealing with the churches
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
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His love for the churches
His love for the churches
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
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His prayers for the churches
His prayers for the churches
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
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His dependence on the prayers of the churches
His dependence on the prayers of the churches
Brethren, pray for us.
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Paul’s imagery of apostleship
Paul’s imagery of apostleship
As Jesus Christ’s ambassador
As Jesus Christ’s ambassador
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As a builder
As a builder
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As a farmer
As a farmer
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
As a father
As a father
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As a mother
As a mother
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As God’s captive
As God’s captive
; Paul portrays God as a victorious Roman general, with himself as a captive, bringing up the rear of the triumphal procession.
As Jesus Christ’s slave
As Jesus Christ’s slave
The word translated “servant” in these verses commonly meant “slave”:
The word translated “servant” in these verses commonly meant “slave”:
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Paul’s successors were to safeguard the truth of the gospel after his death
Paul’s successors were to safeguard the truth of the gospel after his death
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
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