Discipleship in Saint Paul Summit on Lay Ministry – June 6, 2017

Exploring discipleship Going to the source: Sacred Scripture

and Sacred Tradition

Chronological precedence

Paul’s letters (48-58 CE) Gospels (70-95 CE)

Who is this man – Saul/Paul of Tarsus?

A.Dates; B. Influences; C. His Story; D. Sources; E. “Founder” of

Christianity?

Paul’s Dates Born – first decade CE ca. 34 CE – Encounter

with risen Lord 37-49 CE – 1st mission

activity 50-52 CE – 2nd mission

activity 53-58 CE – 3rd mission

activity 58 CE – arrest in

Jerusalem 58-60 CE – in prison

61-63 CE – house arrest in Rome

64-68 CE – martyrdom

Influences Pharisaic Judaism Sanctification of domestic

life and dietary practice

Belief in resurrection from the dead and reward and punishment

Right living beyond ritual

Apocalyptic expectation

Diaspora Judaism Diverse and more tolerant

perspective to surrounding culture

Greek language, use of LXX, reliance on Greek educational system

Less emphasis on Temple and greater familiarity with synagogue

Paul’s Story A. Life BEFORE his

encounter with Christ

B. His encounter with Christ

(reformulating views of Jesus; the

Law; and Jews/Gentiles)

C. Life AFTER his encounter with

Christ

Sources on Paul I Paul’s Letters

Primary Letters: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon

Deutero-Paulines and Pastorals: Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians / 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus

Acts of the Apostles

Written by Luke, Acts of the Apostles features Paul’s story as the second (and larger) half of this interpretive view of the growth of the early community

It does not always agree with Paul’s letters

Legends and ancient

perceptions Paul, his story and his

message were expanded by 2nd and

3rd century works such as: The

“Correspondence between Seneca and Paul,” The “Acts of

Paul,” the “Apocalypse of Paul,” and the “Acts of Paul

and Thecla.”

Modern perceptions Paul’s letters played a dominant role in Reformation

theology. Many view Paul as a rigorous moralist and a misogynist

Did Paul “found” Christianity? Founder? No! Influential? Absolutely!

Discipleship in the Ancient World

A. The word mathetes; B. What are its main features?; C. Where is it found in Paul and how is it used?

Mathetes – “disciple” in Greek

While mathetes could also designate an apprentice, it was primarily used to identify individuals who followed a “master teacher,” especially in philosophical schools

Mathetes in the Greek translation of the Bible

Amazingly, the Hebrew word for “disciple” (talmîd) occurs only one time in the entire Hebrew Bible, and mathetes NEVER appears in the LXX as a translation for talmîd

Due to Israel’s corporate nature – the whole nation is the “disciple” and the lack of any master other than God, the master/disciple relationship is lacking in the LXX

Mathetes in the New Testament

Mathetes is a commonly used term in the New Testament, appearing some 250 times, but only in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles

While most uses refer to Jesus’ disciples, others are also identified as having disciples: John the Baptist, the Pharisees, and even Paul

The main features of mathetes

First, there is ALWAYS a relationship with a Master/Teacher

In the NT, the initiative always comes from the master / teacher (didaskalos)

Second, the resulting personal attachment shapes the ENTIRE life of the disciple, even the inner life

Where is mathetes found

in Paul? Paul NEVER used the term to refer to

himself, or to refer to those who believed in his Gospel. Luke did identify him as

both apostle and disciple (Acts 9:26)

Paul and “discipleship”

A. Paul and his call to discipleship; B. Paul’s “service” to Jesus; C. Excursus on why Paul wrote; D. The

community’s call to discipleship; E. The community’s service to the Body of Christ

The divine source of the call “…when He who had set me apart before I was born…was pleased to reveal His Son to me…”(Gal 1:15-16)

Entrusted with a message / given a new identity Paul wrote that: “The

gospel which was preached to me is not of human origin…it came through a revelation of

Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12) Paul shared a series of

images that helped explain how “it is no longer I who live but

Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20-21)

Paul’s manner of service to Christ

1. To serve Christ: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1)

2. To share the Gospel: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” (1 Cor 1:17)

3. To give witness: “…what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord…” (2 Cor 4:5)

4. To suffer in imitation of Jesus: “For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things…” (Phil 3:8)

Excursus on “why Paul

wrote letters” 1. The letter was

Paul’s way of being present

2. His letters were very contextual – they

reflected the circumstance to which they were responding 3. He wrote letters to communities, not to

individuals

Responding to God’s call with FAITH

Faith in the person of Jesus and in his salvific role as presented in Paul’s Gospel was central to the call to discipleship in Paul

Faith was often paired with love, since it was faith that made love possible

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…” (Rom 3:21-22)

Entrance into Christ through baptism Following upon “faith,” the actuation of God’s original call that led to faith is BAPTISM. It resulted in a complete identification

with Christ

Multiple titles for a new identity

Sons of God; God’s Temple; God’s building; God’s

field; a New Creation; the Body

of Christ; a new unleavened lump of dough; Christ’s

‘possession’

The community’s manner of ‘service’ to the Body of Christ

1. Service is love: “…you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (1 Thess 4:9)

2. Love expressed through building up the body: “…strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Cor 14:12

3. Love expressed through working toward unity: “…stand firm in one spirit, with one mind.” (Phil 1:27); “…Live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify God…” (Rom 15:5-6)

Titles for a community in

the service Imitators of me (Paul) and the Lord; Sons of light and sons of day;

blameless and innocent children of

God; lights in the world; runners in a race; obedient from the heart; slaves of

righteousness; a “letter from Christ”

Who is a disciple for Paul?

Going beyond boundaries: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26-28)

Attempting a description of discipleship in Paul

First, without using the term mathetes, Paul reflects the NT features of discipleship: a call initiated by God and the disciple was completely transformed by the encounter

Second, Paul emphasized the role of “faith” and expressed service and witness as “love”

Discipleship in Paul A. Concluding comments on discipleship in

Paul; B. Contemporary lessons and applications; C. Final questions

Paul’s understanding of disciple

It is consistent with other parts of the NT

It applies to all believers, not just a select few

The call begins with God, leads to faith, and is actualized in baptism

Discipleship permeates every dimension of life, and is expressed in love

Contemporary lessons and applications

1. Paul reminds us that our commitment in faith is to the person of Jesus Christ

2. Paul contributes to the idea that the Body of Christ is non-hierarchical

3. Paul reminds us that “putting on the mind of Christ” is not just for Sunday

4. Paul’s discipleship reminds us that its primary expression is in loving service and witness

Questions / Comments?