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"Reality Search" Letters of the Apostle Paul |
| Michelle Nailon B. Arts, B.Theol., M. Theol. Grad.Dip.Theol. |
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 More Recent Publication on the subject of money, power and relationship Is Christian Morality Unique? Part 1 Book's Section on the Letters of Paul as a: 1. PowerPoint/Video 2. Booklet based on the Video |
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This site of www.lettersofpaul.org does not claim to be a "last word" on the Apostle Paul. However considerable work was done on Paul in the
lead-up to writing Part 1 of Is Christian Morality Unique? A Focus on Money, Power and Relationship Paul was writing in the 50's about 20 years after the public life and death of Jesus. He was also writing about 15 years before the first gospel was written by Mark around 70 CE (when Jerusalem and its Temple were being destroyed by the Roman army). Before his conversion to a following of Jesus, Paul was already well known as a very highly educated Pharisee. His scholarship was even recognised by people such as the ruler Festus who said "Paul, you are mad. Your great learning is turning you mad." (Acts 26:24). As a Pharisees, a group within Judaism, Paul put special emphasis on the following of Jewish law. Paul was also a Roman citizen apparently because he was born in Tarsus. Such citizenship was highly prized at the time and the law punished those who put Roman citizens in chains (Acts 22:22-29). In fact the book of Acts tells us how Roman soldiers stepped in a number of times and saved Paul from various mobs. They even kept him in prison to keep him safe (Acts 23). In Part I of Is Christian Morality Unique? there is research into the extent to which Paul developed a "map" of morality which was based, at the |
social level, on the commandments of "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal." It is demonstrated how Paul
developed an interpretation of these three commandments by "raising the bar of their observance". Arguably, he idealised them. Paul used a similar
development of the commandments by the Council of Jerusalem (50's CE) as a "formula" for the morality he taught. Such a "formula" was basic to a following of
"the way". These three focal points of social morality could also be labelled as "money, power and sex". An interesting aside to this is that it has been said the Murdoch press of the 21st century puts a focus on these three things as well - not necessarily for the sake of morality but because it is in these social areas that "the news" happens. Obviously the three things of "money, power and sex" remain relevant to the morality issues of the present day. Perhaps another way of describing them are with the labels of 'the world, the flesh and the devil". Also the lifestyle of Religious Life with the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are an idealised practice of "Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill." Paul the pious Jew turned Apostle, also constantly opposed idolatory in his letters, that is, the failure to recognise the one true God of the Jewish Torah. |
Related Sites:A Description of books on the Reality Search Analysishttps://www.realitysearch.com.au Gospel of the Day https://www.realitygroups.org Animated workshops https://www.realityworkshops.com Gospel Workshops (a different approach) https://www.gospelworkshops.org All the pages of the Reality Search Analysis, in their analysed format https://www.realityworkshops.org Also: Gospel of Mark Gospel of Luke Book of Acts (Pt 2 of Luke) Gospel of John Gospel Sociology Project Employment Inc the writer Project Employment Inc Sunshine Melbourne Australia 3020 ABN 39 566 577 931 tel 03 9311 5352 email: admin@realitysearch.com.au |
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