Paul Profile
APOSTLE PAULOne Ambition
There are so many characters we could choose from in the Bible... why Paul? We need to look at Paul because he tells us to! Brothers, join in imitating me (Philippians 3:17). It’s important to look at Paul, not so we follow him but rather we follow his example and join him in humble, radical, dependance and devotion to Christ.
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles. (Gal 1:15)
Factfile
Born Saul of Tarsus and raised in Jerusalem under the training of Gamaliel, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and renowned teacher of God’s law. During the period of the early church, Saul wrought havoc and persecuted many believers. Five years after Christ’s Ascension, Saul was gloriously converted on the road to Damascus and became Paul, Christ’s chosen witness to the Gentiles. Paul’s name comes from the Greek, Paulos, meaning ‘small.’
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To know Him and to make Him known
Paul may have been small in stature but his effect on millions of people through the ages has been enormous. There isn’t enough room in this entire website to speak of the accomplishments and inspired teachings of Paul, yet alone this small section – but one thing for sure is that Paul has set an example in his life and ministry that all Christians should follow. He was persecuted and suffered for the Gospel and his display of faith and his works are so deep and profound that it would benefit any Christian to take a closer look at this great man of God. Paul was officially the first missionary – along with his companion Barnabus as in they were set apart and commissioned specifically by the church in Antioch to go to the gentiles. Of course Jesus had already commissioned ALL his followers before he ascended to heaven to go to Jews and gentiles! If one word could sum up Paul's life it would be 'ambition'. Ambition to know and gain more of Christ and count all things loss in comparison, and ambition to make him known, especially to those who've never heard.
His missions, firstly to the Jews and then to the Gentiles in Asia, N.Africa and Europe have literally changed the face of the world we live in. The scale of the impact of his work is incalculable. He had a passion to preach Christ where he was not known (Romans 15:20). Paul evidently was willing to suffer for the Gospel. His 30 years or so of service is marked by suffering for the sake of the gospel, he was stoned, left for dead, imprisoned, beaten, whipped, ship-wrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake. He suffered hunger, sleep deprivation, homelessness and lonliness; all for the sake of making Christ known. He almost single-handedly saw small churches established in dozens of the most strategic cities of the civilized world at that time. Rome, Athens, Corinth, Philippi and Ephesus are just a few of the many key places that Paul and his companions preached the gospel. Paul was passionate for solid Biblical doctrine too! His 13 letters (more than any other author in the Bible) contained some of the most importatnt teachings contained in the Bible today. He emphasized that a Christian need not first become a Jew in order to follow Jesus. Paul said that like Abraham Christians are saved by grace through faith alone. This insistence would have huge repercussions in the 16th Century, as it was the writings of Paul that sparked the reformers like Luther, Calvin and Knox.
So, what was the secret to the ‘success’ of Paul’s ministry? – was it stature, strength, knowledge and riches or was it something far more contrary to the way the world views the requirements of success? Paul was persecuted and suffered for what he believed and preached – together with his humility, servant nature, obedience, holiness, long-suffering and perseverance, he transformed the world we live in – all through faith in Christ. He told Timothy to ‘not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God’. He also admonishes all Christians that in order to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus, persecution will come! Not only was he the greatest missionary ever but he was also a martyr for Christ. At the age of approximately 60, Paul was killed for his faith. These few pointers on Paul give us some clues as to why he was such a world changer.
