Explain the contribution of Paul of Tarsus in the development and expression of Christianity and analyse the impact of Paul on Christianity. Paul’s original name was Saul, who took the familiar name of Paul after his conversion to Christianity. Saul was born around 10 C.E in Tarsus, modern-day Turkey. Paul was in the Jewish variant of the Second temple Judaism. Paul was one of the first delegates to oppose the elders of the church in Jerusalem, and the observance of the Mosaic Law, as long as it did not interfere with the liberty of the Gentiles.
Many believe in him, others don’t. Anselmo d’Aosta said that we should not give sentences on things out of our sensitive knowledge – the experience. In fact, why should we try to find explanations for things that probably doesn’t exist?!? only because the church tries to make us believe in such things? I don’t think is enough… the so called ‘sacred texts’ that form the Holly Bible, were re-written after the 4th century, probably during the Constantine’s reign. In 325 at Nicaea the Christian Creed was composed, and many other writings that formed the Holly Bible were retouched trying to give a certain form, useful to the emperor.
I learned long ago as a new Christian that if I leaned on my own understanding and trusted my “gut”, I would probably arrive at the wrong decision. This is not due to a lack of intelligence on my part but rather the understanding of the fact that my carnal man, if left to making the decisions for my life, will stray to the things of this world. So I must trust in the Lord for His guidance and direction. Part II: Origin: As stated in the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). I would like to emphasize the first part of that scripture, In the beginning God… My worldview begins and ends with that fact.
They particularly stress that salvation is accomplished through faith in the Trinity, action and Baptism. Baptism is seen as a compulsory sacrament that all Catholics must participate in although they do accept that one can be baptised just by believing in Jesus Christ: “He said, ‘John indeed baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 11: 15). Anglicans believe that one must be baptised (or christened) in order to receive salvation. They believe that once a person is baptised salvation is instantly granted to them and is only strengthened through “faith alone” (Romans 2: 4-5). Baptism is also compulsory in Anglicanism and must be performed in a certain way unless the person has been baptised as Catholic or Orthodox.
So, Augustine emphasized the grace of God in his theological writings. For example, Augustine says in his book, Answer to the Pelagians, “ Conversion Proves the Gratuity of Grace—For, if faith comes only from free choice and is not given by God, why do we pray that those who do not want to believe may come to believe? We would surely do this to no purpose if we were not perfectly correct in believing that almighty God can convert to the faith even perverse wills which are opposed to the faith.” [2] Augustine's path to conversion was long. He had sought about the wisdom for the salvation but he found finally grace in the only way to be saved. He found his salvation in one miraculous moment of divine intervention.
A. Examine the key characteristics of Situation Ethics (21 Marks) Although Christian ethics has traditionally followed divine command ethics – the view that morality came directly from God – an alternative approach emerged in the 1960s that could be used more widely in ethical decision making. Situation Ethics, a teleological theory, most commonly associated with Joseph Fletcher (an American Episcopalian moralist from the US) and J.A.T. Robinson (Was the Bishop of Woolwich, from the UK), emerged at a time when society and the Church were facing drastic and permanent change. Situation ethics is a consequentialist theory, as well as a relativist one; an action is only wrong if the motive for the action is wrong i.e.
Similarities and differences are found in these empires through religious, economical, and governmental factors. The first and most important factor to look at when comparing the two empires is their differences and similarities is the empires’ outlook on religion. One common similarity both groups shared was how they based their life off a monotheistic religion. The Byzantines ran their empire through Christianity, a belief based off the teachings and life of Jesus Christ, and the thought that there is only one true God. The Caliphates were influenced by Islam, a religion that believes there is only one God named Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet.
Does God belong in the White House? For many Americans the answer to this question is YES! America is a Christian nation. American politics were derived and subsequently a result of Christianity. When President Harry Truman composed a letter to Pope Pius XII in 1947 that "This is a Christian nation.” He wanted to acknowledge that this nations institutions and laws, was established on the Biblical philosophy found in Christianity.
These teachers urged the Galatians to add to their faith in Christ by adding the law to it, particularly circumcision. Modern day Christians do not face such influence, which is the major difference between Galatians and current biblical audiences. However, modern day Christians do face some denominational differences that could be deemed similar to what the Galatians of that time were facing. Paul commands the Galatians, in Galatians 5:16, saying “But I say, walk by the Spirit” (ESV), and reveals why this theological principal is so important to Christians past, and
“Yet one cannot call it virtue to kill one's citizens, betray one's friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; these modes can enable one to acquire an empire, but not glory.”(Machiavelli 35) “ God our Father hasmade all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.” (Luther 13) This quote truly shows how strongly Luther felt about faith and the connection to God with no middle man. He thought that the fact that the Catholic Church said you had to confess to a priest so they could talk to God for you was wrong and takes away from your faith. Machiavelli sees virtu as the traits necessary for a prince to acquire to be able to succesfully run a state. “ And above all a prince should contrive to give himself the fame of a great man and of an excellent talent in every action of his.” (Machiavelli 89) In Chapter XVIII “ Of Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Feared, or the Contrary” Machiavelli lists in his writing traits to be a succesfull Prince. He expresses how it is better to be feared rather than loved and to recognize the people around you and in