Did St. Paul leave behind a legacy?

Answer 1

Very much so.

It is probably fair to say that this one-time evil bigot who was a persecutor of the fledgling church became, after his dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road when he encountered the risen Christ, the greatest evangelist and theologian the world has ever seen.

Unlike the disciples who were a motley crew and not educated to a high degree, and who had to rely totally on the Holy Spirit for guidance and their strength, Paul, when he was known as Saul, was a learned Pharisee. He was taught by the great Gamaliel, an expert in scripture and the Law and someone who knew the Jewish Law inside out. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit too Paul then became a force to be reckoned with.

He was responsible for founding many many churches across the Mediterranean area. We know of only a few where records have been preserved in the New Testament, but it is certain that there were many others that were never recorded or where records are now lost. As a result of his work those churches spread across the then known world and the Christian Church was born - to grow ito what it is today, the largest religion that the world has ever seen.

His letters to the churches, that make up a large percentage of the New Testament, are masterpieces in encouragement and Christian guidance. Though written 2000 years ago they are as fresh and vibrant today as they were then.

His absolute masterpiece is the letter to the Romans which sets out Paul's beliefs in detail. You have to remember that the Roman Church was one of the few not set up by Paul and so in this letter he is speaking to strangers, and sets out in a systematic way just what the Gospel that Jesus taught is really all about. In Romans chapter 9, where he makes the great confession that it is by faith alone that we are saved and not by anything that we have done, or do, was the profound turning point for many people throughout history including John Wesley who founded the Methodist Church after reading this passage, and Martin Luther himself who realised that salvation by faith was what Christ was about and not about salvation by works. He went on to form the Protestant movement and as a result there were significant changes for the better in the church both Catholic and protestant.