How did Saint Paul influence the development of the Christian church?

Answer 1

St Paul was not one of the original disciples. He was a highly trained jewish leader called a Pharisee. He witnessed and approved of the murder of Christians and wanted the cult of Christianity suppressed. However following an extraordinary experience when he heard God telling him that in persecuting Christians he was persecuting God himself, he went blind and then changed radically. He spent several years in prayer and repentance before going to Jerusalem to meet other disciples, who were initially suspicious and frightened of him. However he was reconciled and began a work of teaching travelling and helping found churches throughout the region. He travelled very greatly by boat and land and wrote letters to the churches he founded which survive to this day. They are called the Epistles. He was imprisoned and beaten several times for his faith and eventually taken to Rome where he died some years later. We know more about the early church from St Paul's writings than from any other source, and they form most of the New Testament which is the part of The Bible devoted to the time of Jesus and later. He is read and studied by everyone in the church today.

Answer 2

Paul was the main missionary to the gentiles. He took the gospel message to Galatia, Asia, Mecedonia and Achaia.

Paul not only established churches in the above areas but also discipled individuals to continue the preaching of the gospel

Paul's theology is found in his letters to the New Testament churches. In his letters to various churches Paul deals with different situations whether doctrinal or practical that needed attention.

Answer 3

I believe that Paul is the only writer in the New Testament (or at least by far the most influential writer) who made the very specific case as to how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brought the story of Israel (Old Testament) to a surprising, yet Scripture-honoring climax.

Answer 4

Surprisingly, we know little about the theology that Paul taught, but we do know that, more than any other early apostle, he insisted on taking Christianity to gentiles. Without Paul, Christianity might have remained a marginal religion for Jews, eventually competing with rabbinical Judaism for the hearts and minds of the Jewish people.

Paul insisted that Christian communities that he founded do not listen to competing gospel views from other missionaries. Conversely, he somewhat relaxed his rule for the Christians of Rome, because he sought to visit Rome and preach there, but did close his Epistle to the Romans by assuring them that he had no intention of stepping on toes and would not outstay his welcome. This may have had a cultural influence on the Church which, while accepting new ideas from respected insiders, has throughout history strenuously resisted the introduction of alternative teachings.

Answer 5

He wrote 12 of the New Testament. He also made a complete 180 turn with his life. He started out as the Believers' Mortal Enemy #1.

Answer 6

The Apostle Paul's primary mission was to spread the message of Christ about the soon coming Kingdom of God. He did that with voracity and a tireless effort in the lands of the gentiles.

Answer 7

by setting a great example