In Chapter 36 of
History Alive! The Ancient World, you
learned how Paul helped spread Christianity among Greek-speaking people. In
addition to his missionary work, Paul developed many ideas that became part of
the doctrine, or official teaching, of Christianity. He expressed these ideas
in the epistles, or letters, that he wrote to Christian communities.
Three important ideas in Paul’s letters are salvation, resurrection, and the
Trinity. Let’s explore these ideas and Paul’s role in shaping them.
Salvation
A key belief of Christianity is that Jesus has the power to save those who
believe in him. Christians believe they can be saved from evil and even death
by following the teachings of Jesus. This gift, which Christians believe comes
only through Jesus, is called salvation.
In his letters, Paul spoke often about salvation. One example comes from a
letter he wrote to Christians in Rome. All who believe, Paul declared, “are now
justified by [God’s] grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
Paul believed that all people could be redeemed, or saved, through belief in
Jesus. Although the first Christians, like Jesus himself, were Jews, Paul
taught that salvation was available to Jews and non-Jews alike. By spreading
this belief, he helped to spread Christianity beyond Jewish communities.
Resurrection
Belief that Jesus rose from the dead is a basic part of the Christian faith.
According to the New Testament, Jesus departed into heaven shortly after his
resurrection. Early Christians believed that Jesus would return at the end of
the world. They expected that this would occur in their own lifetimes. But what
would happen to believers then? And what of those who had already died?
Paul believed that Christians would live forever. Even those who had died would
be resurrected when Jesus returned to Earth. In his first letter to the
Thessalonians (people of Thessalonica), Paul wrote,
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so,
through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare
to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord
himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of
God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds
together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord
forever.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14–17)
Paul’s words were comforting, because they assured Christians
that even if they died before Jesus returned, they would be resurrected and
enjoy eternal life. This belief became accepted throughout the church. It is
still one of the basic beliefs of Christianity.
The Trinity
Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. From the early days of the
church, Christian thinkers pondered over what this means. Jesus, they believed,
was truly God, yet in some way God was more than Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus
himself prays to his Father in heaven. The New Testament also speaks of a Holy
Spirit that dwells in the hearts of Christians.
To the ears of a non-Christian, this could sound like Christians believed in
three gods instead of one. Yet Christians, like Jews, insisted that there was
only one true God.
The doctrine of the Trinity was an answer to this puzzle. Most Christians came
to believe that God exists as three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit. The union of these three persons in a single divine being is called the
Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity developed gradually over time, but it has a basis
in Paul’s letters. Paul himself never used the word Trinity to describe God.
But he did write in terms of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For
example, in his second letter to the Corinthians (people in the city of
Corinth), Paul wrote, “But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and
has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our
hearts as a first installment” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22).
In this passage, “God” refers to the Father, “Christ” means the Son, and
“Spirit” is the Holy Spirit. Paul says that the Father will give Christians all
the good things that Jesus Christ promised them. He also says that God lives in
the hearts of Christians as the Spirit. This Spirit is like a sign from God
that Jesus’ promises will come true.
The Trinity is a difficult concept that caused much discussion and argument in
the early church. By around 400
c.e., the church had worked out its basic
teaching about the Trinity. It has remained a key belief of most Christians
ever since.
These three teachings of Paul illustrate his enormous influence on Christian
doctrine. In the words of one New Testament scholar, “No Christian has been
unaffected by what he has written. Whether or not they know Paul’s works well,
. . . all Christians have become Paul’s children in the faith.”
Enrichment Activity
Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper. Write in complete
sentences, and be sure to check your punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
| 1.
|
According to Paul, to whom did God offer
salvation?
|
| 2. |
How did Paul’s teaching about salvation help to
spread Christianity?
|
| 3.
|
What did Paul teach about the resurrection of
the dead?
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| 4. |
Why were Paul’s teaching about resurrection so
appealing to Christians? |
| 5. |
How does Paul’s letter to the Corinthians show
the basis of the concept of the Trinity?
|
| 6. |
A scholar wrote that “all Christians have become
Paul’s children in the faith.” Based on the essay, what do you think this
statement means?
|
