Paul of Tarsus is an extraordinary, innovative, passionate, and unique man. He has fascinated both believers and unbelievers for centuries. Biblical scholars have written numerous monographs about the life, ministry, and theology of Paul. Why does Paul awaken such curiosity? Why are people so impassioned about Paul? Why does Paul invoke such hate and disdain from some, yet such love and respect from others? I cannot even begin to exegete and delineate how people have answered these questions. However, what I can comment on is how Paul stirs me. Paul was one of the first victims of the overly enlarged ego I possessed, when I begin my ministry. Initially, I believed that Paul was the least worthy of the biblical writers to occupy a place in scripture. I confess that I had created my own canon, which only included snippets from Paul’s writings. However, my biased and misinformed attitude of Paul would not allow me to escape the obvious: Paul’s letters were in my Bible, his thoughts, his teachings, his ethics were drilled in my consciousness. As a result, Paul began to teach, pastor, and inspire me. Thus, Paul and I have long been engaged in a Jabbok battle. He and I throw each other about, diligently trying to get a hold on one another. Daylight has come and gone; yet we continue. No matter how long the struggle, I am not going to let him go until he blesses me!
Paul was a Christian in the sense that he was a believer in Jesus, but more than that he was a disciple of Christ, who daily took up his cross to follow Christ. Paul’s dedication and commitment to the risen Jesus epitomized who he was. He was Christ-centered and kingdom focused. These characteristics are not what made Paul stand out from the other apostles; what made Paul stand out was the nature of his apostleship and the quality of the story Paul’s heritage evoked: the story of a messiah who had been in God’s plan for his people from the creation of the world.
To say Paul suffered for the cause of Christ is to put it lightly! He was beaten, flogged, jailed, imprisoned, disgraced, and homeless. More profound is the fact that Paul can say “therefore I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul actually considers it an honor to suffer for Christ! In addition, in true servant fashion, Paul humbled himself so he could bring the gospel to the gentiles, fulfilling the words of the prophet, Isaiah: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Indeed, Paul was despised. There were many who did not want to recognize him as commissioned by Christ, and he was disputed as an apostle by the early church leaders and some in the churches he founded.
In his sufferings, in his compliance with servant hood, in his joy for being the cross-bearing imitator of Christ, Paul reveals the characteristics of an apostle, who stood out from the rest: a man who would be nothing that Christ may be glorified in all things. Paul is and forever will be for me my wrestling angel, my voice of humility, and my pastor, who reproves and challenges me. |
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