The Life And Work Of St. Paul, Volume 1 [you are here] 

The Life And Work Of St. Paul, Volume 2 

TABLE OF CONTENTS. BOOK I. THE TRAINING OF THE APOSTLE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Various types of the Apostolate — St. Peter and St. John — The place of St. Paul in the History of the Church — His training in Judaism — What we may learn of his Life — Modern Criticism of the Acts of the Apostles — Authorities for the Biography of St. Paul — Records, though fragmentary, suffice for a true estimate — Grandeur of the Apostle's Work 1 CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD IN A HEATHEN CITY. Date of his Birth — Question of Birthplace — Giscala or Tarsus? — The Scenery of Tarsus — Its History and Trade — Paul's indifference to the beauties of Nature — His Parentage — Early Education — Contact with Paganism — Paganism as seen at Tarsus — Paganism as it was — A decadent culture — Impressions left on the mind of St. Paul — St. Paul, a Hebraist — His supposed familiarity with Classical Literature shown to be an untenable opinion 13 CHAPTER III. THE SCHOOL OF THE RABBI. Roman Citizen ship — 8chool Life at Tarsus and Jerusalem — Gamaliel — Permanent effects of Rabbinic training as traced in the Epistles — St. Paul's knowledge of the Old Testament — His method of quoting and applying the Scriptures — Instances — Rabbinic in form, free in spirit — Freedom from Rabbinic faults — Examples of his allegoric method — St. Paul a Hagadiat — The Hagada and the Halaoha 40 CHAPTER IV. SAUL THE PHARISEE. Early straggles — The minutiae of Pharisaism — Sense of their insufficiency — Legal blamelessness gave no peace — Pharisaic hypocrisies — Troubled years — Memories of these early donbts never obliterated — Had Saul seen Jesus? — It is almost certain that he had not — Was he a married man? — Strong probability that he was 62 CHAPTER V. ST. PETER AND THE FIRST PENTECOST. Saul's First Contact with the Christians — Source of their energy — The Resurrection — The Ascension — First Meeting — Election of Matthias — The Upper Room — Three Temples — The Descent of the Spirit at Pentecost — Earthquake, Wind, and Flame — Tongues — Nature of the Gift — Varying opinions — Ancient and Modern Views — Glossolaly at Corinth — Apparent nature of the sign — Derisive Comment — Speech of Peter — Immediate Effects on the Progress of the Church 88 CHAPTER VI. EARLY PERSECUTIONS. Beauty and Power of the Primitive Christian Life — Alarm of the Sanhedrin — Peter and John — Gamaliel — Toleration and Caution — Critical Arguments against the Genuineness of his Speech examined — The Tubingen School on the Acts 106 BOOK II. ST. STEPHEN AND THE HELLENISTS. CHAPTER VII. THE DIASPORA: HEBRAISM AND HELLENISM. Preparation for Christianity by three events — Spread of the Greek Language - Rise of the Roman Empire — Dispersion of the Jews — Its vast Effects — Its Influence on the Greeks and Romans— Its Influence on the Jews themselves — Worked in opposite directions — Pharisaic Jews — Growing Power of the Scribes — Decay of Spirituality — Liberal Jews — Commerce Cosmopolitan — Hellenes and Hellenists — Classes of Christians tabulated — Two Schools of Hellenism — Alexandrian Hellenists — Hebraising Hellenists — Hellenists among the Christians — Widows — The Seven — Stephen 114 CHAPTER VIII. WORK AND MARTYRDOM OF ST. STEPHEN. Success of the Seven — Pre-eminent faith of Stephen — Clear Views of the Kingdom — Tardier Enlightenment of the Apostles — Hollow Semblance of Union with Judaism — Relation of the Law to the Gospel — Ministry of St. Stephen — Hellenistic Synagogues — Saul — Power of St. Stephen — Rabbinic Views of Messiah — Scriptural View of a Suffering Messiah— Suspected Heresies — Discomfiture and Violence of the Hellenists — St. Stephen arrested — Charges brought against him— The Trial — "The Face of an Angel" — The Speech delivered in Greek — Line of Argument — Its consummate Skill — Proofs of its Authenticity — His Method of Refutation and Demonstration — Sudden Outburst of Indignation — Lawless Proceedings — "He fell asleep" — Saul 135 BOOK III. THE CONVERSION. CHAPTER IX. SAUL THE PERSECUTOR. Age of Saul — His Violence — Severity of the Persecution underrated — "Compelled them to blaspheme" — Flight of the Christians — Continued Fury of Saul — Asks for Letters to Damascus — The High Priest Theophilus — Aretas 169 CHAPTER X. THE CONVERSION OF SAUL. The Commissioner of the Sanhedrin — The Journey to Damascus — Inevitable Reaction and Reflection — Lonely Musings — Eioking against the Pricks — Doubts and Difficulties — Noon — The Journey's End — The Vision and the Voice — Change of Heart — The Spiritual Miracle — Sad Entrance into Damascus — Ananias — The Conversion as an Evidence of Christianity 180 CHAPTER XI. THE RETIREMENT OF ST. PAUL. Saul a "Nazarene" — Records of this Period fragmentary — His probable Movements guided by Psychological Considerations — His Gospel not "of man" — Yearnings for Solitude — Days in Damascus — Sojourn in Arabia — Origin of the "Stake in the Flesh" — Feelings which it caused — Influence on the Style of the Epistles — Peculiarites of St. Paul's Language - Alternating Sensibility and Boldness 205 CHAPTER XII. THE BEGINNING OF A LONG MARTYRDOM. "To the Jew first" — Reappearance in Damascus — Saul in the Synagogues — No ordinary Disputant — The Syllogism of Violence — First Plot to Murder him — His Escape from Damascus — Journey to Jerusalem 222 CHAPTER XIII. SAUL'S RECEPTION AT JERUSALEM. Visit to Jerusalem — Apprehensions and Anticipations — St. Peter's Goodness of Heart — Saul and James — Contrast of their Character and Epistles — The Intervention of Barnabas — Intercourse with St. Peter — Saul and the Hellenists — Trance and Vision of Saul at Jerusalem — Plot to Murder him — Flight — Silent Period at Tarsus 229 CHAPTER XIV. GAIUS AND THE JEWS — PEACE OF THE CHURCH. "Then had the Church rest" — Survey of the Period — Tiberius — Accession of Gaius (Caligula) — Herod Agrippa I. — Persecution of the Jews of Alexandria — Fall of Flaccus — Madness of Gains — Determined to place his Statue in the Temple — Anguish of the Jews — The Legate Petronius — Embassy of Philo — Murder of Gains — Accession of Claudius 248 BOOK IV. THE RECOGNITION OF THE GENTILES CHAPTER XV. THE SAMARITANS — THE EUNUCH — THE CENTURION. The brightening Dawn of the Church — "Other Sheep not of this Fold" — Consequence of Saul's Persecution — Philip in Samaria — Simon Magus — The Ethiopian Eunuch — Significance of his Baptism — St. Peter at Joppa — House of Simon the Tanner — Two Problems : (1) What was the Relation of the Church to the Gentiles? (2) and to the Levitical Law? — Christ and the Mosaic Law — Utterances of the Prophets — Uncertainties of St. Peter — The Tanner's Roof — The Trance — Its Strange Significance and Appropriateness — "This he said making all meats pure" — Cornelius — "God is no respecter of persons" — Bold initiative of Peter — Ferment at Jerusalem — How it was appeased 256 BOOK V. ANTIOCH. CHAPTER XVI. THE SECOND CAPITAL OF CHRISTIANITY. Hellenists boldly preach to the Gentiles — Barnabas at Antioch — Need of a Colleague — He brings Saul from Tarsus — The Third Metropolis of the World, the Second Capital of Christianity — Site and Splendour of Antioch — Its Population — Its Moral Degradation — Scepticism and Credulity - Daphne and its Asylum — The Street Singon — The Name of "Christian" — Its Historic Significance — Given by Gentiles — Chris tiani and Chrestiani — Not at once adopted by the Church — Marks a Memorable Epoch — Joy of Gentile Converts 284 CHAPTER XVII. A MARTYRDOM AND A RETRIBUTION. A Tear of Happy Work — Another Vision — Agabus and the Famine — Collections for Poor Brethren of Jerusalem — Paul and Barnabas sent with the Chaluka — The Royal Family of Adiabene — The Policy of Herod Agrippa I. — Martyrdom of St. James the Elder — Seizure and Escape of Peter — Agrippa in his Splendour — Smitten of God — St. Mark 304 CHAPTER XVIII. JUDAISM AND HEATHENISM. The Church at Antioch — Stirrings of the Missionary Spirit — The Prophets and the Gentiles — Difficulties of the Work — Hostility of the Jews to the Gospel — Abrogation of the Law — A Crucified Messiah — Political Timidity — Hatred of Gentiles for all Jews and especially for Christian Jews — Depravity of the Heathen World — Influx of Oriental Superstitions — Despairing Pride of Stoicism — The Voice of the Spirit 322 BOOK VI. THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. CHAPTER XIX. CYPRUS. "Sent forth by the Holy Ghost" — Ancient Travelling — Prospects of the Future — Paul, his Physical and Moral Nature — His Extraordinary Gifts — Barnabas — Mark — Arrival at Cyprus — The Pagan Population — Salamis — The Syrian Aphrodite — Paphos — Sergius Panins — Elymas — Just Denunciation and Judgment — "Saul who also is called Paul" 336 CHAPTER XX. ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA. Perga — Defection of Mark — Passes of the Taurus — St. Paul's Absorption in his one Purpose — Pisidian Antioch — Worship of the Synagogue — The Parashah and Haphtarah — The Sermon in the Synagogue — Example of Paul's Method — Power of his Preaching — Its Effect on the Jews — Immediate Results — "We turn to the Gentiles" — Driven from the City 357 CHAPTER XXI. THE CLOSE OF THE JOURNEY. Iconium — Persistent Enmity of the Jews — Lystra — Healing of the Cripple — Unwelcome Honours — The Fickle Mob — The Stoning — Probable Meeting with Timothy — Derbe — They Retrace their Steps — Return to Antioch — Date of the Journey — Effects of Experienoe on St. Paul — The Apostle of the Gentiles 377 CHAPTER XXII. THE CONSULTATION AT JERUSALEM. "Certain from Judaea" visit Antioch — A Hard Dogma — Circumcision — A Crushing Yoke — Paul's Indignation — Reference to. Jerusalem — The Delegates from Antioch — Sympathy with them in their Journey — The First Meeting — The Private Conference — The Three won over to St. Paul's Views — Their Request about the Poor — Titus — Was he Circumcised? — Strong Reasons for believing that he was — Motives of St. Paul — The Final Synod — Eager Debate — The Speech of St. Peter — St. James, his Character and Speech — His Scriptural Argument — Final Results — The Synod not a "Council" — The Apostolic Letter — Not a Comprehensive and Final "Decree" — Questions still Unsolved — Certain Genuineness of the Letter — Its Prohibitions 398 CHAPTER XXIII. ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL AT ANTIOCH. Joy at Antioch — Ascendency of St. Paul — St. Peter at Antioch — Arrival of "certain from James " — " He separated himself" — Want of Moral Courage — Unhappy Results — Arguments of St. Paul — Character of St. Peter — A Public Rebuke — Effects of the Rebuke — Malignity of the Pseudo Clementine Writings — Mission - Hunger — The Quarrel of Paul and Barnabas — Results of their Separation — Overruled for Good — Barnabas and Mark 437 CHAPTER XXIV. BEGINNING OF THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY — PAUL, SILAS, TIMOTHY — PAUL IN GALATIA. Paul and Silas — The Route by Land — The Cilician Gates — Derbe — Where is Barnabas? — Lystra — "Timothy, my Son" — His Circumcision and Ordination — The Phrygian and Galatian District — Scanty Details of the Record — The Galatians — Illness of St. Paul — Blindness of the Galatians — Varied Forms of Religion — Pessinus, Ancyra, Tavium — Their course guided by Divine intimations — Troas — The Vision — "Come over into Macedonia and help us" — Meeting with St. Luke — His Character and Influence 454 BOOK VII. CHRISTIANITY IN MACEDONIA. CHAPTER XXV. PHILIPPI. The Sail to Neapolis — Philippi — The Place of Prayer — Lydia — Macedonian Women — Characteristics of Philippian Converts — The Girl with a Spirit of Python — The Philippian Pnetors — Their Injustice — Scourging — The Dungeon and the Stocks — Prison Psalms — The Earthquake — Conversion of the Jailer — Honourably dismissed from Philippi 482 CHAPTER XXVI. THESSALONICA AND BERCEA. Thessalonica and its History — Poverty of the Apostles — Philippian Generosity — Success among the Gentiles — Summary of Teaching — St. Paul's, State of Mind — The Mob and the Politarchs — Attack on the House of Jason — Flight to Bercea — "These were more noble" — Sopater — Escape to Athens 504 BOOK VIII. CHRISTIANITY IN ACHAIA. CHAPTER XXVII. ST. PAUL AT ATHENS. The Spell of Athens — Its Effect on St. Paul — A City of Statues — Heathen Art — Impression produced on the Mind of St. Paul — "Altar to the Unknown God" — Athens under the Empire — Stoics and Epicureans — Curiosity excited — The Areopagus — A Mock Trial — Speech of St. Paul — Its Power, Tact, and Wisdom — Its many-sided Applications — Mockery at the Resurrection — Results of St. Paul's Visit 521 CHAPTER XXVIII. ST. PAUL AT CORINTH. Corinth — Its Population and Trade — Worship of Aphrodite — Aquila and Priscilla — Eager Activity — Crispus — Character of the Corinthian Converts — Effect of Experience on St. Paul's Preaching — Rupture with the Jews — Another Vision — Gallio — Discomfiture of the Jews — Beating of Sosthenes — Superficial Disdain 553 CHAPTER XXIX. THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. Timothy with St. Paul — Advantages of Epistolary Teaching — Importance of bearing its Characteristics in Mind — Vivid Spontaneity of Style — St. Paul's Form of Greeting — The Use of "we" and "I" — Grace and Peace — The Thanksgiving — Personal Appeal against Secret Calumnies — Going off at a Word — Bitter Complaint against the Jews — Doctrinal Section — The Coming of the Lord — Practical Exhortations — Unreasonable Fears as regards the Dead — Be ready — Warning against Insubordination and Despondency — Its Reception — The Seoond Advent — Conclusion of the First Epistle 574 CHAPTER XXX. THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. News from Thessalonica — Effects of the First Letter — A New Danger — Eschatological Excitement — "We which are alive and remain" — St. Paul's Meaning — The Day of the Lord — Destruction of the Roman and the Jewish Temples — Object of the Second Epistle — The Epistles Rich in Details, but Uniform in Method — Consist generally of Six Sections — The Greeting — Doctrinal and Practical Sections of the Epistle — Moral Warnings — Autograph Authentication — Passage respecting "the Man of Sin" — Mysterious Tone of the Language — Reason for this — Similar Passage in Josephus — What is meant by "the Checker" and "the Check" — The rest incapable of present explanation 599 APPENDIX. Excursus I. — The Style of St. Paul as Illustrative of his Character 619 Excursus II. — The Rhetoric of St. Paul 625 Excursus III. — The Classic Quotations and Allusions of St. Paul 630 Excursus IV. — St. Paul a Hagadist 638 Excursus V. — Gamaliel and the School of Tubingen 644 Excursus VI. — On Jewish Stoning 647 Excursus VII. — On the Power of the Sanhedrin to Inflict Capital Punishment 648 Excursus VIII. — Damascus under Hareth 650 Excursus IX. — Saul in Arabia 651 Excursus X. — St. Paul's "Stake in the Flesh" 652 Excursus XI. — On Jewish Scourgings 661 Excursus XII. — Apotheosis of Roman Emperors 664 Excursus XII. — Burdens laid on Proselytes 666 Excursus XIV. — Hatred of the Jews in Classical Antiquity 667 Excursus XV. — Judgment of Early Pagan Writers on Christianity 669 Excursus XVI. — The Proconsulate of Sergius Paulas 671 Excursus XVII. — St. John and St. Paul 673 Excursus XVII. — St. Paul in the Clementines 675