Dictionary of Bible Themes Paul saw his encounter with the risen Christ as a call to apostleship, with a special mission to proclaim the gospel to the Gentile world. Paul's complete dedication to Jesus Christ made his own personal weaknesses a vehicle for the power of God. Galatians 1:15-16Paul's calling as an apostle: origins and implications See also His calling began with his encounter with the risen Christ Acts 9:3-191 Corinthians 9:1 pp Ac 22:6-16 pp Ac 26:12-18 Galatians 2:9See also His calling involved his being sent to the unevangelised Gentile world Acts 22:21Romans 15:18-21 2 Corinthians 10:13-16 Ephesians 3:7-9 1 Corinthians 9:16 See also His calling put him under an obligation to preach the gospel Romans 1:14-152 Corinthians 5:11-14 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9 Paul's commitment to his apostolic calling See also He supported himself in order to present the gospel free of charge 1 Corinthians 9:3-182 Corinthians 12:13 2 Corinthians 4:5 See also He put the gospel before everything else Romans 9:1-31 Corinthians 9:19-23 Philippians 1:12-26 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 See also He boasted in his weaknesses 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 6:3-10; 11:21-292 Corinthians 12:11-12 See also He experienced God's power at work through him Acts 13:6-12; 19:11-12Romans 15:18-19 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 Philippians 3:10-11 See also He had a confident attitude to death 2 Corinthians 5:6-10Philippians 1:20-24 2 Timothy 4:6-8 2 Corinthians 8:9 Paul and the example of Jesus Christ His appeal to Jesus Christ as an example to the churches See also Romans 15:1-3Paul here uses the example of Jesus Christ in order to encourage the Corinthians in their giving. Philippians 2:5-111 Corinthians 11:1 See also His own exemplary imitation of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 4:14-17Philippians 3:12-17; 4:8-9 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 Colossians 1:24 His sharing of Jesus Christ's sufferings See also 2 Corinthians 1:5-9; 4:7-12Paul is not suggesting here that there is any deficiency in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. Rather, there are some aspects of suffering which Christ could not experience because they arose only as a result of people preaching the message of the cross and suffering because of it. Galatians 6:172 Corinthians 1:12 Paul and the churches See also His integrity in dealing with the churches Acts 20:17-212 Corinthians 2:17; 4:1-2 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Philippians 1:8 See also His love for the churches 2 Corinthians 11:7-11; 12:14-151 Thessalonians 3:12 1 Thessalonians 1:2 See also His prayers for the churches Romans 1:8-10Ephesians 1:15-19 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 1 Thessalonians 5:25 See also His dependence on the prayers of the churches Romans 15:30-32Ephesians 6:19-20 Philemon 1:22 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul's imagery of apostleship Ephesians 6:19-20As Jesus Christ's ambassador Romans 15:201 Corinthians 3:10 As a builder 1 Corinthians 3:5-9As a farmer 1 Corinthians 4:151 Thessalonians 2:11-12 As a father Galatians 4:191 Thessalonians 2:6-7 As a mother 1 Corinthians 4:92 Corinthians 2:14-16 As God's captive Paul portrays God as a victorious Roman general, with himself as a captive, bringing up the rear of the triumphal procession. Romans 1:1As Jesus Christ's slave 2 Corinthians 4:5The word translated "servant" in these verses commonly meant "slave": Philippians 1:1Titus 1:1 2 Timothy 2:1-2 Paul's successors were to safeguard the truth of the gospel after his death See also 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 3:10-4:8See also 1416 miracles2339 Christ, example of 3030 Holy Spirit, power 5112 Peter 5560 suffering 7020 church, the 7510 Gentiles 7706 apostles 8342 servanthood 8357 weakness 8428 example |
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