View source for Paul the Apostle

[[File:paulmosaicgsw.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Paul the Apostle]] was a complex man that spoke to Christians about things hard to understand.  Between 44 and 48 CE Jerusalem was hit hard by a depression. Paul who was [[Was Paul a Roman Citizen|Rhomaios]] and others were consistently able to collect food and funds to help the needy in a [[daily ministration]] of [[Pure Religion]] across international boundaries through a [[network]] of [[early Christian]] communities meeting in local [[free assemblies]] according to the [[Tens|pattern]] that was [[commanded]] by Christ.]]

== Paul the Apostle ==

Paul the Apostle (Greek: Παῦλος Paulos; c. 5 – c. 67), original name Saul of Tarsus (Greek: Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς Saulos Tarseus), was called an apostle. He taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world.

Because of his Epistles and travels he is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. From his own conversion until the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul used his status as both a [http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/paulroman.php Rhomaios] Jew from Celicia and Tarsus  and his relationship with his Roman half brother and royal in-laws to his advantage in his ministry.

Paul was born Saul the son of Prassede, his mother, and a wealthy Benjaminite of the republic of Tarsus, whose father had purchased the status of [http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/paulroman.php Rhomaios] for himself and his descendants. 

== Pudens and Paul ==

Clement, presented as the third bishop of Rome, claimed "St. Paul came to Britain and preached in the extremity of the West." When Saul's Father died Prassede  married, Pudentinus, a high Roman official stationed in Cilicia who Fathered  Rufus Pudens, born in Umbria.

It is believed by many that Rufus met and married a British Princess Gladys who was renamed Claudia by the Emperor Claudius.  She was the daughter of Caratacus or Caractacus, also known as Caradoc, Caradog who was quartered in the Plautium Britannicum during the time Paul visited Rome.

Paul makes mention of his half brother in Romans 16:13  “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” Rufus Pudens and Claudia had at least two daughters  Prassede and  Pudenziana named after their grand parents.
The church of Santa Prassede and Santa Pudenziana still stand in Rome. The church of Santa Pudenziana, "the most sacred and most ancient of churches,"  bears the second century inscription "known as that of the Pastor, dedicated by Sanctus Pias Papa, formerly the house of Sanctus Pudens, the Senator, and the Home of the Holy Apostles."

* ''Prassede, Paul's mother >> Benjaminite>> Saul
	Prassede's husband died and She married
* Prassede, Paul's mother >> Pudentinus, Who Fathered Rufus

* Caradoc, King in Britain >> Gladys /Claudia- Rufina  <>  Rufus Pudens
**                                   Linus , Bishop Prassede  Pudentiana   
''
“Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.” 2 Timothy 4:21  

'''Opposing Opinions pertaining to Paul'''

== N. T. Wright ==

An Anglican bishop and a leading New Testament scholar, N. T. Wright, notes that Romans is:
“ ...neither a systematic theology nor a summary of Paul's lifework, but it is by common consent his masterpiece. It dwarfs most of his other writings, an Alpine peak towering over hills and villages. Not all onlookers have viewed it in the same light or from the same angle, and their snapshots and paintings of it are sometimes remarkably unalike. Not all climbers have taken the same route up its sheer sides, and there is frequent disagreement on the best approach. What nobody doubts is that we are here dealing with a work of massive substance, presenting a formidable intellectual challenge while offering a breathtaking theological and spiritual vision.”3

== Joseph Fitzmyer ==


According to Jesuit scholar Joseph Fitzmyer:
"overwhelms the reader by the density and sublimity of the topic with which it deals, the gospel of the justification and salvation of Jew and Greek alike by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, revealing the uprightness and love of God the father."4

== Ambrosiaster ==

The most probable ancient account of the beginning of Christianity in Rome is given by a 4th century writer known as Ambrosiaster, the name given to the writer of a commentary in the 4th century on St Paul's epistles:

“It is established that there were Jews living in Rome in the times of the Apostles, and that those Jews who had believed [in Christ] passed on to the Romans the tradition that they ought to profess Christ but keep the law [Torah] … One ought not to condemn the Romans, but to praise their faith, because without seeing any signs or miracles and without seeing any of the apostles, they nevertheless accepted faith in Christ, although according to a Jewish rite.”5
Adam Clarke, a British Methodist theologian:

“The occasion of writing the epistle: … Paul had made acquaintance with all circumstances of the Christians at Rome … and finding that it was … partly of heathens converted to Christianity, and partly of Jews, who had, with many remaining prejudices, believed in Jesus as the true Messiah, and that many contentions arose from the claims of the Gentiles to equal privileges with the Jews, and from absolute refusal of the Jews to admit these claims, unless the Gentile converts become circumcised; he wrote this epistle to adjust and settle these differences.”6

== Peter on Paul ==

2 Peter 3:15-18  “And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

== Protestant on Paul ==

In the Protestant interpretation, the New Testament epistles (including Romans), describes salvation as coming from faith and not from righteous actions. For example, Romans 4:2–5 

Romans 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;   And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Paul says that God will reward those who follow the law and then goes on to say that no one follows the law perfectly but of course that is where grace comes in:

Rom 2:20–25 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

== Catholics on Paul ==

Catholics accept the necessity of faith for salvation but point to Romans 2:5–11 for the necessity of living a virtuous life as well:
Romans 2:5-11  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  For there is no respect of persons with God.


{{Contradictions of Paul}}

{{Paul of Tarsus}}

== Footnotes == <references />


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